By Tony Becca, Senior Sport Editor 
Chanderpaul... only batsman to shine in first Test. - File
THE SECOND Test between the West Indies and India opens in Chennai (Madras) tomorrow (tonight local time) with India the overwhelming favourites to win it and take a winning 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Following their victory in the first Test in Mumbia - their first by an innings over the once mighty Windies, India are bubbling with confidence, and unless the tourists come up with something extra special, not only will they lose but they will also be easy pickings once again.
The question, however, is this: who in their midst, batsman and bowler, can come up with something special?
Based on their surrender in Mumbai, only Shivnarine Chanderpaul of the batsmen seems capable, and although Mervyn Dillon bowled well at the start of the second day, none of the bowlers seems capable.
There is one batsman with the skill to do so, however, and he is captain Carl Hooper.
There is one problem with Hooper, however. As technically equipped as he is, as classy as he is, as exciting a stroke-player as he is, he seldom performs when it really matters. Based on his record he is a big man on small occasions, a little man on big occasions.
It is, however, never too late, this second Test is as good a time as any to prove his class, Chennai as good a place as any, and the West Indies must be praying that he will rise to the occasion and lead from the front.
As far as the bowling is concerned, the West Indies do not even possess one with a hint of class, and in their quest to come up with something special, they should omit Cameron Cuffy and look to one of their young fast bowlers - Daren Powell and Jermaine Lawson, preferably Powell.
In fact, looking at the performance of their bowlers generally and in Mumbai and remembering that fortune favours the brave, the West Indies should be bold and go for both Powell and Lawson.
They are young, they are rearing to go, Powell has pace, Lawson swings the ball a bit and bowls a good line and length, they are both aggressive, they could surprise the Indian batsmen, and on top of that, there is nothing to lose.
The truth, however, is that the West Indies will need a miracle to win the Test match.
Apart from their dominating performance in Mumbai, India will be in action on their favourite hunting ground against the West Indies.
Following defeats in 1948-49 and 1958-59 by an innings and 193 runs and by 295 runs respectively, and a draw in 1966-67, India have won the past three matches in Chennai.
In 1974-75, they won by 100 runs although fast bowler Andy Roberts took 12 wickets in the match; in 1978-79, they won by three wickets; in 1987-88, they won by 255 runs; and as it was in Mumbai where the West Indies were routed by legspinner Anil Kumble and offspinner Harbhajan Singh with a little help from left-arm pacer Zaheer Khan, it was India's spin that destroyed the visitors on all three occasions.
On the first occasion, offspinner Prasanna, left-arm spinner Bedi and legspinner Chandrasekhar shared 18 wickets between; on the second occasion, it was a combination of pace and spin with Kapil Dev and Venkat pocketing seven wickets each; and on the third occasion, legspinner Hirwani took eight wickets in one innings and eight in the other.
It may not be as embarrassing for the West Indies in Chennai as it was in Mumbai. Barring a miracle, however, it should be one more for India - Hooper or no Hooper.
