PORT OF SPAIN — India faces a test of motivation and fitness against the West Indies in a must-win fixture for the World Cup holders as the Tri-Nation Series resumes Friday at the Queen's Park Oval in Port of Spain. India is still smarting from the 161-run hammering handed by Sri Lanka Tuesday at Sabina Park. The squad, now being led by Virat Kohli in the absence of the injured Mahendra Singh Dhoni, has had very little turnaround time before going back into battle. On Friday it faces a home side that is confident and riding high at the top of the standings with two wins in two matches in Jamaica, including a one-wicket victory over the Indians last Sunday.Defeat Friday will end any chance of India reaching the final on July 11. And while this may be seen as a huge embarrassment for the world's top One-Day International side to be effectively eliminated less than two weeks after lifting the Champions Trophy in England, it does raise questions about the Indians' ability to stay motivated in the midst of an intense period of almost continuous cricket going back to the start of the Indian Premier League at the beginning of April. They looked a jaded, almost disinterested outfit in the field against the Sri Lankans and never mounted any serious challenge at the crease to the daunting target of 349. However in coming to Trinidad and Tobago for the final stages of the tournament, they can expect significantly greater spectator support than in Jamaica. There is a significant ethnic Indian population in the twin-island state. For the Caribbean side, concerns remain over the fitness of Dwayne Bravo. The all-rounder could not lead the team in the match against India because of a groin strain and it probably will not be confirmed until just before the toss whether he returns or if fellow Trinidadian Kieron Pollard will again be called upon to captain the West Indies. Steyn rested South Africa has decided to rest fast-bowling spearhead Dale Steyn for this month's one-day tour of Sri Lanka. The paceman had injury problems in the recent Champions Trophy in England, forcing him to miss the semi-final defeat by the hosts, and that has weighed heavily on the minds of the selectors with Test series coming up against Pakistan, India and Australia. “We are resting Dale Steyn as we have a very important and crowded Test season ahead of us and we want to be absolutely certain that, as the leader of our attack, he is properly rested and fit,” Cricket South Africa selection convener Andrew Hudson said in a statement Thursday. Test captain Graeme Smith is also out after the opening batsman had ankle surgery in May but fast bowler Morne Morkel is fit after missing most of the Champions Trophy with a groin strain. Young wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock has been recalled while all-rounder David Wiese was named in the Twenty20 squad for the first time. South Africa will play five 50-over matches and three Twenty20s in Sri Lanka between July 20 and Aug. 6, the first series since Domingo replaced Gary Kirsten as coach. — Agencies
