SEWAG RECALLED FOR INDIA AUSTRALIA CRICKET TEST SERIES, SPORTS NEWS HEADLINES: -
India recalled attacking opener Virender Sehwag to a 16-player squad on Wednesday for the four-test series in Australia starting on Dec. 26. "Gambhir has a sore shoulder and it requires three weeks' rest," Indian board secretary Niranjan Shah told a news conference. Sehwag, discarded for the last two test series against England and Pakistan due to poor batting form, was included after an injury to his fellow Delhi batsman Gautam Gambhir.
The selectors retained Irfan Pathan, recalled for the drawn final test against Pakistan, and impressive teenager Ishant Sharma and called up uncapped Pankaj Singh while naming five specialist new ball bowlers. Shanthakumaran Sreesanth was ruled out with injury and Shah said Munaf Patel needs match practice before playing international cricket again. Left-armer Rudra Pratap Singh also returned after missing the home series against Pakistan due to an abdomen injury, shoring up the pace department which has been hit by fitness woes.
The Pakistan series saw almost all of the Indian batsmen come into form, prompting captain Anil Kumble to believe that his team can challenge top-ranked Australia. Second wicketkeeper Dinesh Karthik retained his spot despite struggling as a makeshift opener against Pakistan, after hitting a half century in the final test which ended in a draw on Wednesday, giving India a 1-0 series win. "I think in terms of the players, the potential that we have, and the experience, yes, definitely it is probably the best-equipped side to go and compete in Australia," Kumble told a press conference. "We have done well there before."
India drew the test series 1-1 on their previous tour in 2003-04. Although Rahul Dravid's inability to convert starts since quitting the captaincy in September is a cause for concern, opener Wasim Jaffer, Saurav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Vangipurappu Laxman and Yuvraj Singh were among runs in the Pakistan series. "We have a couple of injuries which I am sure will be fine by the time we land in Australia." "It's a great comfort to know that all your batsmen are in good form and in great nick," Kumble said.
India - Anil Kumble (captain), Wasim Jaffer, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Saurav Ganguly, Vangipurappu Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Rudra Pratap Singh, Ishant Sharma, Pankaj Singh, Dinesh Karthik. India play four tests in Melbourne (Dec. 26-30), Sydney (Jan. 2-6), Perth (Jan. 16-20) and Adelaide (Jan. 24-28). The series will be followed by a one-day tri-series also involving Sri Lanka.
