The Offside

For a bowler with 318 Test wickets, Anil Kumble's away record is dismal. In 33 Tests abroad, he has only claimed 108 Test wickets at an undeniably high bowling average of 40.5. A strike-rate of 95.6 also does his cause no good. True, in six matches against the West Indies in the West Indies, his record reads relatively better - 21 wickets in six Tests at 34.33. But no one would disagree with the fact that that these aren't confidence-inspiring figures from a bowler touted as India's greatest match-winner in recent times.

Kumble's successes, in fact, have mostly come on Indian pitches deliberately left under-prepared to suit his brand of leg-spin. The variable bounce that comes into play as a result is what transforms Kumble into a deadly match-winner.

But on the hard and true pitches abroad, Kumble has been known to struggle. He has also not been helped by batsmen around the world cottoning onto the fact that he loses his potency once they treat him as a medium-pacer who hurries on to them on occasions.

Being imperative that India play three medium-pacers, Harbhajan Singh naturally seems the better bet as a spinner. The young man has been gaining in confidence even as Kumble has struggled to regain his rhythm after a return from injury. The fact that at least two of the top West Indies batsmen - Brian Lara and Shivnarine Chaderpaul - are left-handers is also an eloquent reason for Harbhajan to be preferred over Kumble.

The off-spinner, with his excellent arm-ball, is a good enough bowler against the right-handers too. All said, it then makes very good cricket sense to rest Kumble.

The Onside

Kumble is without a doubt India's most experienced cricketer. There is no denying the fact that his away record is abysmal. But then Harbhajan Singh, who has been preferred over him, too does not have all that great a record abroad. Compared to Kumble's bowling average of 40.5 abroad, Harbhajan sports an average of 41.58.

A major factor in Kumble's favour is his record in the West Indies. He has twice claimed five wickets in an innings in the Caribbean - once at Kingston and once in Port of Spain, in the only series he played there in 1997. In contrast, Harbhajan has a best of three for 87.

As a bowler who relentlessly pegs away at batsmen, Kumble seems better placed to keep the West Indies batsmen on a tight leash. Harbhajan, in the two Tests he has played, has been rather wayward while also failing to attack the batsmen. This is where the experience of Kumble could prove significant. He can be relied to bowl according to the situation, unlike Harbhajan, whose youthful impetuosity makes him prone to bouts of inconsistency.

Kumble's inclusion could also lend greater solidity to the fragile Indian lower-order. He might not be the most attractive and talented batsman, but the team can depend on him to stick around and contribute his mite. As the ultimate team-man and India's most experienced and successful bowler, it should be Kumble who should be the first-choice spinner always.

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