No pace in India's attack?

Durban:

It is often said that it's the bowlers and not the batsmen who win Test matches for a team and that seems an unlikely prospect with the lot that India have currently with the exception of Zaheer Khan.

On fast South African tracks one would expect the fast bowlers to do the job. However, it is these fast bowlers that have been India's bane on their African sojourn.

Just one Test match into the series and the Indian pace attack has already been termed as a failure. In fact for some experts it's an attack minus the pace.

Former South African fast bowler Fanie Devillers said: "These guys are bowling at 125 kmph. You can't come to South Africa with medium pacers and then hope to win."

Interestingly, it's Sreesanth that had helped India register this historic win in Johannesburg four years ago, and while his pace may not have dropped much, it's fair to say Sree has certainly lost his swing.

"I have always said someone who moves the ball is far more dangerous. As an opening batsman, I know I would much rather have a quick bowler bowl because once you get used to his pace there is not much more that he can do. But if the bowler is going to move the ball then you much rather watch him all the time," former India captain Sunil Gavaskar said.

So then would it be fair to say that the Indian selectors' have missed a trick by not including Praveen Kumar, who has had great success in the one-day game, thanks to his ability to swing the ball both ways?

"Yes I think Praveen Kumar could have been brought in because I think if he can move the white ball so much, he will move the red ball even more prodigiously," Gavaskar said.

And if a team needs swing bowling the most on any ground in the world then it has to be Kingsmead in Durban, where India play their second Test. Who can forget Ashish Nehra swinging 2003 World Cup game against England in India's favour. Maybe we could expect an encore from Zaheer this time.