It was the kind of session Indian fans dreamed of. After a resounding loss by 10 wickets at Barbados, nothing short of a solid performance would help restore confidence.

Strangely enough, Jaffer, coming into the series as the second opener, came into his own. After playing most of his best strokes through the point region, Jaffer showed that he had far more strokes in his armoury. A perfect straight drive beat the field completely, went past the bowler on the offside – something we haven’t seen much of this series. Unbeaten on 80, Jaffer looked good for a century away.

For his part, Dravid was all fluency. Although his critics claim he has found the fielders more than the gaps in his career, Dravid’s contribution to India’s cause is being recognised more and more in recent times. Apart from a decent amount of runs this series, Dravid has managed to dominate the bowling in extended phases. Driving on the up, Dravid managed to thump a fair few runs, if not boundaries, through the offside. Having gotten a good measure of the bowling Dravid was on 67 when tea was taken.

Although not nearly as quick and bouncy as the wicket at Barbados, the Antigua strip did give batsmen a thing or two to think about. At least three deliveries hit a spot, reared and sailed through. One of those, delivered by Pedro Collins, was too good for Das.

With the left-arm seamer slanting the ball away from the diminutive right handed opener, a bit of extra bounce forced a mistake. Playing back and tentatively across Das (3) could only inside edge the ball back onto his stumps. Not new for Das. This has happened more than once this season.

Then came the partnership that would ensure that India did not suffer a similar fate as the first day of the Barbados Test. Dravid began by punching a perfect on drive back past the bowler to the fence. And went on to repeat the stroke many, many times. He plays the on drive as well as anyone else in the game; today was a particularly good exhibition of playing straight, with the full face of the bat. Batting on 21, Dravid looks good for more.

Jaffer, joining Das as opener late in the series, showed impeccable touch and timing. After an initial flash at Cameron Cuffy that just eluded point, Jaffer unveiled some handsome strokes. Standing tall and getting right behind the line of the ball, the opener peppered the region between point extra cover and third man with boundaries. 8 of them to be exact. When lunch was taken Jaffer had played the strongest hand, making 48.

The pitch at Antigua is not one that screams for a result. Although the Antigua Recreation Ground, St. John’s was once a pacy wicket, it has slowed down in recent times, throwing up draws that allow the batsmen long stints at the crease.

India and West Indies have played two drawn Test matches here in Antigua. The first Test between the two countries was in May 1983 - A lot of runs were scored in the Test match. West Indies made 550 in their first innings, replying to India's 457. India managed to draw the match, thanks largely to a fighting 116 by Mohinder Amarnath.

The second time the two countries met was in April 1997, again a drawn match. The first three days were washed away by rain. Brian Lara hit 103 cracking runs.

For this match, the West Indies have dropped out of form opener Stuart Williams and dashing middle-order batsman Wavell Hinds gets a look in. Hinds, who scored 175 against the Indians in a side game will be keen to prove himself.

In the bowling department the hosts have made no changes, going in with four seamers – the combination that brought them victory in the third Test at Barbados.

Perhaps on account of this, on winning the toss, Carl Hooper had no hesitation in putting India in to bat.

All eyes of course are on Brian Lara, who made his world record 375 at this very ground. Although he has shown patches of good form, Lara has not really been at his best in the series thus far.

India’s only change comes in the form of one spinner replacing another. Veteran Anil Kumble, dropped for two Tests, returns to the playing eleven in place of Harbhajan Singh.

India: Sourav Ganguly (captain), Shiv Sunder Das, Wasim Jaffer, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Ajay Ratra, Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan, Javagal Srinath, Ashish Nehra.

West Indies: Carl Hooper (captain), Wavell Hinds, Chris Gayle, Stuart Williams, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Brian Lara, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ridley Jacobs, Pedro Collins, Mervyn Dillon, Cameron Cuffy, Adam Sanford.

Umpires: David Shepherd (England) and Russel Tiffin (Zimbabwe).

Match-referee: Ranjan Madugulle (Sri Lanka).