The suspense over whether Ajay Jadeja will or will not go to Australia is over. The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Sunday decided to replace the injured Jadeja. The chairman of the national selection committee Chandu Borde, coach Kapil Dev and captain Sachin Tendulkar will meet in Mumbai on Monday to pick the replacement. The front runners are Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Jacob Martin, both of whom are now with the India A team in the West Indies.

Initially, doubts were raised whether Jadeja would be in a position to go to Australia when it was announced that he would be going to South Africa for specialised treatment to his injured shoulder. There was immediate speculation on his successor and the names doing the rounds included, besides Martin and Kanitkar, Azharuddin and Mongia. Then came the news that Jadeja would, after treatment, fly straight to Australia from South Africa. However the BCCI announcment on Sunday set to set all doubts and speculative stories.

The decision to replace Jadeja was made when Dr Anant Joshi and the Indian team physio Andrew Leipus gave separate letters to the BCCI. Leipus ruled out Jadeja for the Test series while Dr Joshi had told the BCCI that Jadeja would require a minimum of three weeks rest. However if it is any comfort to Jadeja he may be conisdered for the Carlton and United tri series should he be declared fit by January. The third and final Test against Australia ends on January 6 and the tri nation series starts on january 9 with a match in Brisbane between Pakistan and Australia.

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