India wait on Laxman fitness

Injury worries have continued to haunt India with VVS Laxman remaining an uncertain starter for the first Test against South Africa in Nagpur. He hasn't yet fully recovered from the finger injury he sustained while fielding during the first Test against Bangladesh in Chittagong last month.

Laxman did take part in the nets session at the VCA Stadium on Friday, but a final call on his fitness had not yet been taken. "Of the 15-16 players in the squad, only regarding VVS Laxman is there a little uncertainty," MS Dhoni said on Friday morning. "He's at the nets now, he'll come back and share with the physio how he is feeling, apart from that everyone is fit."

The home side are already without two first-choice batsmen Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh due to injuries, and if Laxman is unavailable, India will be forced to hand debuts to two batsmen - S Badrinath and Rohit Sharma - besides fielding the inexperienced M Vijay.

India will also miss Laxman's safe pair of hands at slip, as he is unlikely to field in that position even if he plays. "There is less chance of Laxman standing in the slip cordon," Dhoni said.