Questions face India's Test readiness

Colombo: Watching television images of South Africa drilling England the past week is a dangerous exercise. India, for example, are nowhere near the level of the Proteas who drew the first Test at Lord's with character and quality and have outplayed Michael Vaughan's team with style and panache at Leeds.

Fighting centuries and determined concentration explains why the Proteas are second on the Test rankings. There is also quality support in their bowling now. They have found their radar again and sorted out their length and pace.

The Indian team for the first Test of the Idea Cup series are still several rungs below in terms of form and match-fitness, which means that Gary Kirsten and Co. still have a lot of work to do. While the former South African opening batsman may have been happy four days ago at the preparation for the Sri Lanka Test series, he will be wondering whether a second practice match might have been an advisable option.

Sachin Tendulkar apart, the batting lacks the composed confidence expected of a side which has some of the top names in international Test level at their disposal. Hence, it is worrying as well.

Kirsten and others may want to argue otherwise, but a nondescript performance at the Nondescripts Cricket Club is not the build up India team would have liked to beat Sri Lanka at home where they are far from easy to beat.

On Day three against the Sri Lanka Board XI, the bowling was decidedly average, lacking the penetration it needs to put opposition batsmen under pressure. If the batting on Saturday revolved around the mastery of Tendulkar's skilled 69, on the final afternoon there were the usual jitters as the Indians reached 129/2 when bad light brought an end to the game.

As for example, Virender Sehwag played as he usually does: impetuous and prone to giving top-edge catches on the hook or pull, the immaculately graceful Rahul Dravid promised to display the quality for which he is known until undone by the left-arm Test spinner Rangana Herath.

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