Expect a cliff - hanger here

This second Test in Trinidad, the home of calypso and carnival, is turning into a really closely-fought tussle. As I write, with two days finished, the game is on a knife-edge. By the time Sri Lanka wakes-up on Sunday morning, I hope that we will still be batting with a healthy lead already in the bank.

The Guyana pitch was slow and lifeless. The cricket, as a result, was attritional with patience needed in abundance. But the green-tinged surface here at the historic Queens Park Oval, one of the most picturesque grounds in the Caribbean, has been far more sporting for the quick bowlers, providing plenty of lateral movement, especially during the first two sessions of the opening day.

The question is just how it plays on day three and four. Some of the moisture has now gone after a drier day on Friday, but we have also seen the first signs of variable bounce. One delivery from Murali, sadly pitched just a little short, literally scuttled along the ground during Friday’s last session, an ominous sign.

Historically, the Queens Park Oval, which has staged Test matches since 1930. However, between 1896 and 1954 the turf pitches were plagued with problems – including serious damage by an infestation of moles – and between 1930 and 1954 they actually used matting pitches. Since then, the bowlers have usually been given a fair chance and batting in the second innings has rarely been easy.

Variable bounce was most famously exploited by Curtley Ambrose in 1994 against England. It was one of the most dramatic spells in the game’s history as he blew England off the park, bowling them out for a humiliating 46. Ambrose’s huge height, coupled with his speed and accuracy, allowed him to exploit those conditions beautifully.

This all means that the third day – now finished for The Sunday Times readers – is likely to be crucial. We should in theory have an advantage batting third and bowling last, but we must limited West Indies’ first innings lead and then bat really well. Crucially, while being positive is important, out shot selection must be very good.

A last innings target above 250 could be very difficult for the West Indies assuming we bowl to our potential. However, having said that, we can’t just assume the cracks will crumble and pitch will break up. Remember, this was also the venue where India scored 406 for 4 in 1977 to beat Clive Lloyd’s might West Indian team. We will just have to see how it plays and concentrate on our game.

Great credit should go to the bowlers, especially Murali, for dragging us back into the contest on the second day. With the West Indies 137 for one at one stage we were obviously on the back-foot. We’d wanted a score of around 300 and then didn’t bowl that well with the new ball. Fortunately, Vaasy broke through, bowling Chattergoon with a beauty, and that was the catalyst for a fine fightback that left the game back on an even keel.

Special mention should also be made for Dilshan and Chamara. Their partnership was brilliant. At 117 for 5 we were in deep trouble. West Indies were bowling well and the ball was darting around. Batting was not easy. But by being aggressive they were able to seize back the momentum and put their bowlers under some pressure.

Dilshan played a similar-style innings against England in Galle, an equally valuable knock on his return to the Test team, but Chamara’s 76 was extra special for him because he would have felt plenty of pressure after a lean trot in recent months. He showed, though, the talent he has and hopefully he’ll be able to cash-in during the second innings too.

We certainly need contributions from everyone. My gut feeling is that this game could have a really tense finale. Every single run will be precious. We have to fight hard every single ball and believe in ourselves at all times. At the end, it may well come down to mental strength. I know we have what it takes, but we have to be right on the ball.