ID :
22301
Thu, 10/02/2008 - 09:32
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/22301
The shortlink copeid
Ganguly picked for first two Tests against Australia
Mumbai, Oct 1 (PTI) Sourav Ganguly's Test career Wednesday
received fresh lease of life with the newly-appointed national
selection panel naming him in India's 15-member squad for the
first two Tests against Australia starting October 9.
Virtually ignoring the previous selection committee's
stand on the elegant left-hander, the new team of selectors --
headed by former captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth -- included
the 36-year-old Ganguly in the squad which also has Tamil Nadu
batsman S.Badrinath and Delhi leg-spinner Amit Mishra as the
two new faces.
After being dropped from the Rest of India squad for the
Irani Cup match, Ganguly's selection was a subject of intense
speculation with rumours being rife that he might quit the
game if omitted from the national side.
While Badrinath and Mishra got the selectors' nod,
middle-order batsman Yuvraj Singh was ignored yet again for
the longer version of the game.
Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Kaarthick and Pragyan Ojha, who
figured in the Indian squad during the last Test series
against Sri Lanka, were omitted from the team announced by new
secretary S.Srinvisan through a press release.
Immediately after the team was announced, there was
speculation that Ganguly had been given the opportunity for an
"honourable exit" but it could not be immediately confirmed
whether the Board of Control for Cricket in India (B.C.C.I.)
indeed had such plans.
The team: Anil Kumble (capt), Virender Sehwag, Gautam
Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS
Laxman, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan,
Ishant Sharma, Munaf Patel, R P Singh, S Badrinath, Amit
Mishra.
The team, to be led by Anil Kumble, has seven specialist
batsmen, four pacemen, three spinners and a wicketkeeper in
Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Sachin Tendulkar, who sat out of the recent tri-series
against Sri Lanka because of an elbow injury, retained his
place in the Test squad after being declared fit.
The selection of Ganguly reflects a new approach by the
Srikkanth-led committee, which has banked on experience rather
than grooming too many young players for the gruelling series
against Australia.
The Irani Cup snub had put a question-mark on Ganguly's
career and this probably would be the last chance for the
feisty former India captain to prove his worth.
The Bengal stalwart, who made a spectacular entry into
Tests with a debut ton at Lord's in 1996, made a storming
return to the five-day game in South Africa in late 2006 after
losing his place earlier that year due to a fall-out with the
then coach Greg Chappell.
The classy left-hander amassed over 1100 runs with 239,
his career-best score, against Pakistan in Bangalore in late
2007, at a fantastic average of 61.44 last year which compares
favourably with his career average of 41.74 in 109 Tests.
The 28-year-old Badrinath was rewarded for his consistent
performance in domestic cricket and India A engagements in
recent times.
Badrinath has played only three ODIs and with a
well-settled middle-order line-up, it appears extremely
unlikely that he would get a chance to make his Test debut.
Badrinath has scored 4638 runs in 66 first class matches
at an impressive average of 55.21.
Mishra's inclusion has come as a bit of a surprise as the
Delhi leg-spinner has done nothing remarkable whenever he has
been given an opportunity to play an international game.
The 25-year-old has played three ODIs, scalping three
wickets, but in first-class cricket, he averages a decent
25.21 with 289 wickets in 75 matches.
Virender Sehwag and Delhi teammate Gautam Gambhir are the
two specialist openers in the squad and the duo have been in
good form in recent times, which prompted the selectors not to
opt for a reserve opener.
The middle order has a settled look with Rahul Dravid,
Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Ganguly and Dhoni. But all these
experienced batsmen will be under some pressure to perform
particularly after their miserable show in the recent series
against Sri Lanka.
Zaheer Khan will spearhead the pace bowling department
which has Ishant Sharma, Munaf Patel and R P Singh. All the
four have performed well in recent matches.
Captain Kumble and Harbhbajan Singh will shoulder the
spin bowling responsibility and will have to play a key role
in home conditions if India wish to regain the Border-Gavaskar
Trophy.
received fresh lease of life with the newly-appointed national
selection panel naming him in India's 15-member squad for the
first two Tests against Australia starting October 9.
Virtually ignoring the previous selection committee's
stand on the elegant left-hander, the new team of selectors --
headed by former captain Krishnamachari Srikkanth -- included
the 36-year-old Ganguly in the squad which also has Tamil Nadu
batsman S.Badrinath and Delhi leg-spinner Amit Mishra as the
two new faces.
After being dropped from the Rest of India squad for the
Irani Cup match, Ganguly's selection was a subject of intense
speculation with rumours being rife that he might quit the
game if omitted from the national side.
While Badrinath and Mishra got the selectors' nod,
middle-order batsman Yuvraj Singh was ignored yet again for
the longer version of the game.
Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Kaarthick and Pragyan Ojha, who
figured in the Indian squad during the last Test series
against Sri Lanka, were omitted from the team announced by new
secretary S.Srinvisan through a press release.
Immediately after the team was announced, there was
speculation that Ganguly had been given the opportunity for an
"honourable exit" but it could not be immediately confirmed
whether the Board of Control for Cricket in India (B.C.C.I.)
indeed had such plans.
The team: Anil Kumble (capt), Virender Sehwag, Gautam
Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS
Laxman, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan,
Ishant Sharma, Munaf Patel, R P Singh, S Badrinath, Amit
Mishra.
The team, to be led by Anil Kumble, has seven specialist
batsmen, four pacemen, three spinners and a wicketkeeper in
Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Sachin Tendulkar, who sat out of the recent tri-series
against Sri Lanka because of an elbow injury, retained his
place in the Test squad after being declared fit.
The selection of Ganguly reflects a new approach by the
Srikkanth-led committee, which has banked on experience rather
than grooming too many young players for the gruelling series
against Australia.
The Irani Cup snub had put a question-mark on Ganguly's
career and this probably would be the last chance for the
feisty former India captain to prove his worth.
The Bengal stalwart, who made a spectacular entry into
Tests with a debut ton at Lord's in 1996, made a storming
return to the five-day game in South Africa in late 2006 after
losing his place earlier that year due to a fall-out with the
then coach Greg Chappell.
The classy left-hander amassed over 1100 runs with 239,
his career-best score, against Pakistan in Bangalore in late
2007, at a fantastic average of 61.44 last year which compares
favourably with his career average of 41.74 in 109 Tests.
The 28-year-old Badrinath was rewarded for his consistent
performance in domestic cricket and India A engagements in
recent times.
Badrinath has played only three ODIs and with a
well-settled middle-order line-up, it appears extremely
unlikely that he would get a chance to make his Test debut.
Badrinath has scored 4638 runs in 66 first class matches
at an impressive average of 55.21.
Mishra's inclusion has come as a bit of a surprise as the
Delhi leg-spinner has done nothing remarkable whenever he has
been given an opportunity to play an international game.
The 25-year-old has played three ODIs, scalping three
wickets, but in first-class cricket, he averages a decent
25.21 with 289 wickets in 75 matches.
Virender Sehwag and Delhi teammate Gautam Gambhir are the
two specialist openers in the squad and the duo have been in
good form in recent times, which prompted the selectors not to
opt for a reserve opener.
The middle order has a settled look with Rahul Dravid,
Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Ganguly and Dhoni. But all these
experienced batsmen will be under some pressure to perform
particularly after their miserable show in the recent series
against Sri Lanka.
Zaheer Khan will spearhead the pace bowling department
which has Ishant Sharma, Munaf Patel and R P Singh. All the
four have performed well in recent matches.
Captain Kumble and Harbhbajan Singh will shoulder the
spin bowling responsibility and will have to play a key role
in home conditions if India wish to regain the Border-Gavaskar
Trophy.
