The Hindu : Sport : Team for tri-series selection today

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Jul 20, 2006

Sport

Sport

Team for tri-series selection today

Special Correspondent

Mumbai : All speculation has come to an end with regard to Sachin Tendulkar's fitness, with the BCCI on Tuesday announcing that the veteran of 362 one-day internationals has made satisfactory progress from his shoulder injury. He would be a sure shot selection as an opener along with Virender Sehwag for the tri-series in Sri Lanka when the national selectors meet here on Thursday afternoon at the MCA. This would be the committee's first meeting after India's tour of the West Indies.

Karnataka's Robin Uthappa, who made his one-day debut against England and scored a sparkling half century, was retained for the two-match series against Pakistan in Abu Dhabi and the five-match series against the West Indies, has not been capped more than three times and hence he's not likely to be displaced from the squad.

The middle order has bulk and a wealth of experience in Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif. The young left-hander, Suresh Raina's mature display since last winter has come as a boon for Indian cricket. Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Irfan Pathan provide the depth and quality.

The selectors — Ranjib Biswal, V. B. Chandrasehkar and Kiran More — made staggered visits to the West Indies — and the team management have realised that spin is more likely to deliver the goods in the West Indies during the World Cup and also at the R. Premadasa and SSC stadiums in Colombo. Precisely the reason they are thinking of bringing in Dinesh Mongia.

Since Greg Chappell took charge as coach of the Indian team a little over 12 months ago, there has been considerable debate on the utilisation of Pathan as an one-drop batsman and bold steps taken by the team's think tank. Chappell and Dravid have articulated their views on getting the process and balance of the team right for the ICC World Cup 2007 in the West Indies. They now have a fair idea of the combination that would work in the Caribbean; the results achieved in the tri-series in Colombo and the ICC Champions Trophy would offer them more inputs.

Tri-series schedule: Aug. 14: Sri Lanka v South Africa (Premadasa), Aug. 16: Sri Lanka v India (Premadasa), Aug. 19: India v South Africa (SSC), Aug. 21: Sri Lanka v South Africa (SSC), Aug. 24: Sri Lanka v India (Preamadasa), Aug. 26: India v South Africa (R. Premadasa), Aug. 29: Final (Premadasa).