Rumble in the dustbowl

The next India-South Africa Test match is a few hours away and there are plenty of storylines to ponder.

• Will VVS Laxman be fit enough to play? A few years ago, while playing in a local league I split the webbing in my left hand between the index and middle finger, requiring 7 stitches. It took about 10 days for the split to heal and the stitches to come off but more than a month or so before my hand stopped feeling tender. Laxman injured himself on 20th January (10 stitches), approximately 15 days ago. My gut feeling is that he has not had enough time to recover from it. I fully expect Rohit Sharma and Badrinath to shore up the middle order between Sachin Tendulkar and MS Dhoni. Murali Vijay will slot in very easily in Rahul Dravid's #3 spot. Ladies and gentlemen, here's a (premature) glimpse of India's future.
• How will the debutants respond to their one chance? Rohit Sharma has the knack of looking uninterested which goes a long way towards masking any outwardly sign of nerves (a la Virender Sehwag) while Badrinath gives off the Mohammad Kaif-like vibes - constant movement betraying an inner excitement and nervousness. 
• Irrespective of what transpires, India loses out on its slip catching heroes but gains three outstanding ground fielders. The fielding stocks of the Indian team look good when you think of an off-side that has Vijay, Sharma, and Badri patrolling gully to cover. Too bad Yuvraj is a ghost of the man that he used to be. Anyone remember those days when the dude patrolled point like no Indian before or since?
• Will I be doing a running diary? I am going to leave it till the last moment possible and gauge my mood. I will be attending a play (Fiddler on the roof) tonight and that may have a role to play. Let's see.