India eye clean sweep

MUMBAI, India (IANS/CMC):

Veteran middle-order batsman VVS Laxman says India are fired up to make a clean sweep of the series against the West Indies, but said the hosts remained wary of a dangerous Caribbean side that played better than results had reflected.

The third and final Test bowled off at the Wankhede Stadium here last night, with India taking a 2-0 series lead into the contest.

"We would like to definitely win the series 3-0. that's our target (but) it's very important to play to our potential and do a lot of hard work, especially after the way the West Indians played in the second innings at Kolkata," Laxman told reporters on the eve of the match.

"We would like to concentrate on the process, and if we end up winning the match, it will be great for us."

Crushing the tourists

India hammered West Indies by five wickets in the opening Delhi Test before crushing the tourists by an innings and 15 runs inside four days, in the second Test in Kolkata last week.

Laxman, who scored an unbeaten 176 in the last Test, said West Indies' performance in the first two Tests did not reflect the true ability of the visitors.

"The results show that West Indies have not done well. But in each and every session they were quite good. End result showed we are leading 2-0, but I think they are a very good side," he said.

"Their bowling attack is one of the best in world cricket, if you see the bowlers they have got. (Fidel) Edwards, (Kemar) Roach bowled really well in the last match.

"(Ravi) Rampaul has been a very good bowler for them in the past two years. (Devendra) Bishoo is a very good spinner. (Darren) Sammy ... all of them are very good. It's a good bowling unit."

He continued: "You saw the way (Darren) Bravo played in the last match (and) Kirk Edwards played against us in Dominica (and got a century on debut). (Shiv) Chanderpaul obviously has been a match-winner for the West Indies for long. It is unfortunate people are not rating this West Indian side."

Meanwhile, the West Indies appear poised to field an all-pace attack. The Wankhede Stadium pitch is expected to be seamer friendly, a fact that prompted West Indies captain Darren Sammy to hint at leaving out rookie leg-spinner Devendra Bishoo from the final XI.

"So far, the practice wickets have been good. There has been something in it for the fast bowlers and the batsmen seem to be playing their shots. Possibly we may have three fast bowlers and Ravi (Rampaul) might come in," said Sammy.