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Sri Lanka in India 2009-10
Sreesanth and Zaheer Khan recalled for Tests
Sidharth Monga
November 10, 2009
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Temperamental fast bowler Sreesanth has been given another chance to resurrect his stop-start career, after being selected in India's 15-man squad for the first two Tests against Sri Lanka. Weeks after being given a "final warning" for his poor on-field behaviour, Sreesanth is now a candidate to share the new ball with Zaheer Khan, who has recovered from his shoulder injury.
Sreesanth last played for India in 2008, and had his share of injuries and criticism over attitude in equal measure. During the time he spent out of the Indian team, Sreesanth played 10 first-class games for 28 wickets, including one five-wicket haul for Warwickshire, and 23 overs for no wickets against Andhra in his latest Ranji Trophy match. Clearly his selection is a gamble on promise over form. It is a big - bordering on generous - decision made by the selectors, and an equally big chance for Sreesanth to wash away all the criticism against him.
Zaheer made an expected comeback, having recovered from the injury he sustained during the IPL, and having featured in Twenty20 matches during the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament and a Ranji Trophy fixture. He has not missed a Test, but has not played limited-overs cricket for India since the ICC World Twenty20 in June.
The selectors also recalled Pragyan Ojha, the left-arm spinner, and S Badrinath. His Tamil Nadu team-mate M Vijay retained his place as reserve batsman. Ojha, yet to make his Test debut, toured Sri Lanka in 2008, but lost his place to Amit Mishra, who made a strong debut against Australia in Mohali in 2008-09. Vijay, an opener, was handed a debut in Nagpur against Australia after Gautam Gambhir was banned for one Test. Badrinath has yet to play a Test.
There was no place for Ashish Nehra, who has done well after making his ODI return, or Munaf Patel, as India opted for three spinners. There was no reserve wicketkeeper named.
The decision to pick 15 players, and that too an extra batsman, raised questions about the selection. Usually for a home series, only 14 players are picked. And with the middle order set in stone, neither Vijay nor Badrinath has a realistic chance of starting in Ahmedabad. Now both of them will miss important Ranji Trophy matches, when only one was needed as injury cover, unless someone is sent back to domestic cricket on the morning of the Ahmedabad Test.
The selection also left the bowling unbalanced. MS Dhoni is not a fan of playing only two pace bowlers unless the pitch is extremely spin-friendly, and the selectors have given him only three fast bowlers to choose from. Zaheer Khan is coming back from injury, Ishant Sharma is in poor form, and Sreesanth is a completely unpredictable character. One bowling back-up would have been of more value than two batting back-ups. And what about Munaf? He has lost his Test place on the basis of 13 overs bowled in two ODIs against Australia, one of them on a flat Hyderabad pitch.
India squad: MS Dhoni (capt/wk), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, M Vijay, S Badrinath, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Sreesanth, Pragyan Ojha, Amit Mishra.
Sidharth Monga is a staff writer at Cricinfo
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i still can't understand why everyone pointing their finger on sreesanth.He is the only geniune fast bowler in india who can bowl at 140kmph plus.i saw many people people supporting parveen kumar inclusion in team instead of sreesanth.Thats the most funny thing i ever came across.India team need fast bowlers to compete in international arena.Parveen kumar is still in the odi side becoz he is dhoni's best buddy and his avg speed is just 122 kmph.And there is one more thing india have lot of off spinners v have to give some chance to the young blood.
Posted by mohdshujathali on (November 14 2009, 08:21 AM GMT)The selectors of Indian cricket team should select players based on their domestic form and give some reasonable games to proove their metal,giving them a game or two and dropping them and should give more chances to players like Praveen Kumar and Irfan Pathan who can dominate with both bat and ball,so the selection should be done in a wise way rather than giving chances to players based on their fame which will never make India the number one team. better luck Indian Selecters Srikanth and co.
Posted by 10Devils on (November 12 2009, 19:33 PM GMT)I don't understand why Ishant Sharma, an out of form bowler is still in team? What about Praveen Kumar? An emerging allrounder, is not even in 15. Wake up selectors wake up!!!!!! And Sreesanth is back in team!!!!Joke of the year! I hope he will use his aggrassion in a nice way.
Posted by Bharat1981 on (November 12 2009, 09:29 AM GMT)It is good M. Vijay, Badrinath, Pragyan Ojha and Sreesanth have been selected in the squad as they have been around for quite sometime now. But what is the point in picking them up and keeping them for benchwarming for some time and dropping them and doing the same thing with some other new face. Sachin, Dravid and Laxman are irreplaceable but we need to test our bench strength. We saw in the recent odi series how Aussies fared so well without their regular players because of their bench strength. We should rest our senior batsmen for one matches each and give chance to Badri and Vijay. Same in the bowling, We should rest Harbhajan and give chance to Ojha. I also believe we should play 5 batsmen + Dhoni + Zaheer, Sreesanth, Ishant + two spinners.
Posted by Mahendra_Ishant_Pathan on (November 12 2009, 05:20 AM GMT)Mr. Nehra is prone for injuries....i dont think he is ready for longer version of the game yet.....I am surprised that he lasted the whole one day series against Australia. Looking at the recent domestic performances, i would have retained Munaf. I am a big fan of sreesanth.....so, i would be exicted to see him bowling for india. Ishant should be given a break. He should play domestic cricket and sort out his bowling.... It will be interesting to see one-day selection...., sudeep tyagi should be given chances continuously for one dayers....and also....i think maneesh pandey should be given a chance too....he is an exciting player..
Posted by Romeo248 on (November 11 2009, 23:47 PM GMT)Where is Irfan Pathan...why is he dropped...can someone answer me...such a good batsman, bowler and fielder....there is no reason for him to be dropped...if his bowling is not very good he will make it up ith his batting and fielding...hes not fast bowler...hes a fast bowling allrounder....india still lacks a good allrounder...which can only be fullfilled with the return of irfan pathan...
Posted by Romeo248 on (November 11 2009, 23:44 PM GMT)After the poor selection from Indian selection committee for INdo-Oz Series they have done a very good job here. The team is very good. Sree is back...He is such an awesome bowler with a lot of talents but he dont use it always...This is a great chance for him to make a good come back with Zaheer and be one of the best bowlers. He has talents to be but he has to control his nerves...Good to see Zaheer back too. He is simple awesome..He is at his best when he comes back after an injury....Hoping for the same...Ishanth is the togh choice..If its his day he will rock the field...if its not captain/selection committee will regret his selection...There should have been one mor pacer ahead of Ojha or Mishra...Sudeep Tyagi should have given an opportunity...he has performed well and didnt get a chance in indo-oz series....Nehra is no good..His bowlng is alright but he is giving away those runs in fielding...Same with Praveen but now he is an allrounder within one series..
Posted by 10Devils on (November 11 2009, 19:28 PM GMT)C'mon give Sudeep Tyagi at least one chance to prove himself. I was hoping that he will be on the ground this time. But I guess selectors are very happy with the performance of old dude's and they don't want to see new faces. I hope this time they play for winning. Good Luck to Mr.Big D and his partners in loss.
Posted by JackJak on (November 11 2009, 18:41 PM GMT)The Veterans like Sachin Tendulkar Virender Sehwag, Zaheer Khan can be picked for the occasional big series or big games - When Experience is really needed!!!! And if they are really in form and fit! If so many players nearly 50 are rotated then where is the question of being jaded. This is how Indian cricket should be going forward. But is anyone listening?
Posted by JackJak on (November 11 2009, 18:04 PM GMT)Nothing about India's selection policies can ever be termed as intelligent In test match cricket its a foregone conclusion that they wouldnt be trying any new faces, and in the one day matches too they went with the same jaded looking Ishanth Sharma, the unimpressive Nehra who cant field hold a bat and can never ever be termed a great bowler...Praveen Kumar who is a gentle medium bowler who is more in the James Hopes mould and the overrated Harbhajan Singh. Even Nathan Hauritz, Saeed Ajmal, Afridi, not to mention Ajanta Mendis and Murali are far more impressive than Harbhajan. Yet the Indian media and its band of drummers keep drumming the cause of India's overrated cricketers terming them the best and the World No 1 or Number 2 when the situation suits them. In reality India are probably 5th or 6th in rankings but Indian media, commentators and companies manipulate brainwash and convince all indians about Indias greatness. And now Tyagi has been shoved out of the team? any guesses