India and South Africa enter the third and final Test on Friday with the series on the line, and having to deal with the threat of a reported terrorist plot against the match. Security was bolstered after police sources said that they had intelligence of a planned attack in the northern Indian city by terrorists. Despite the threat, both teams must attempt to concentrate fully on a game that will decide the series. South Africa leads 1-0 after two Tests, having drawn the series opener and won the second by an innings and 90 runs – India's heaviest home defeat since 1959. The dry surface of the Green Park Stadium's pitch was already displaying cracks Thursday on the eve of the Test, bringing smiles to the Indian team which expected the drying track to aid its spinners while negating South Africa's in-form seamers. Having seen the pitch, India was considering playing three spinners, with Ramesh Powar and youngster Piwush Chawla options to join ace spinners Harbhajan Singh and captain Anil Kumble. South Africa captain Graeme Smith said the tourists may also play a second spinner, with Robin Peterson an option to partner Paul Harris. Kumble is again uncertain to play due to a lingering groin injury, and faces a fitness test on Friday morning, and Smith said questions about his opposing captain's availability further bolstered South Africa. “We're definitely more confident going into this Test match,” Smith said. “We're the team under less pressure. India is the team with more question marks, in terms of selection, in terms of injuries and in terms of being 1-0 down in the series.” South Africa, which is one of two teams to have defeated India in a home series in the past two decades, will move to No. 2 behind Australia in the ICC's Test rankings if it can avoid defeat in Kanpur. “The fact that only two teams have beaten India in India during the last 20 years proves how tough the Indian tour is,” Smith said. “Our team waited a whole season before coming to the subcontinent, first beating Pakistan and then Bangladesh,” said Smith. "Now, we're prepared to go into this Test and play the same brand of cricket.” By dominating India in the second Test – including bowling it out for a dismal 76 in the first innings – Smith's side had eroded India's morale, but Kumble expected his home side to hit back. “We have always come back strongly when pushed against the wall, we are hoping to do that again over the next five days,” said Kumble. Along with the captain, there was also doubt over the readiness of India's pace spearhead Ishant Sharma, who was declared fit after an extensive workout in the nets Thursday. Sharma has not played since the tour of Australia ended two months ago. Kanpur's senior superintendent of police, Ashok Kumar Singh said the district administration had deployed 4,000 policemen for security at the stadium and around it. “We're making effective security arrangements that allow the teams to play in a trouble-free arena and for the fans to enjoy it without any problem,” Singh said. __
