Sourav Ganguly's return from the treatment table and the banishment of VVS Laxman - less than a year after being acclaimed for the greatest innings ever played by an Indian - will be the main talking points when India take to the field at Green Park against England on Monday (Jan 28). In Ganguly's absence at Chennai, Anil Kumble led the team with flair and imagination. While the victory itself was marred by some inexplicably poor batting as the target got nearer, there were only hosannas for the attacking instincts that Kumble showed in what is unlikely to be his last stint at the helm. So far, Ganguly's one-day form has allowed him to maintain his tenuous grip on the top job. If that too fails him, then a spell on the sidelines, shorn of all epaulettes, beckons. For the moment though, Sanjay Bangar will drop back to the bench to accommodate the general.

The jettisoning of Laxman comes as no surprise and it should also serve as a warning to others that have become marooned in the complacency zone. For a batsman of Laxman's ability, 20s and 30s - no matter how attractively compiled - are simply not good enough. He has to get the message that his sublime skills should be utilised to craft magnificent symphonies, like the 281 at Kolkata, and not three-minute pop ditties.

Mohammed Kaif - who has done little with the opportunities that he's been given so far - has to seize the moment if he is to bat himself into contention for the tours of the Caribbean and England. One of the pillars of the India U-19 side that was so impressive a couple of seasons ago, Kaif, like Yuvraj Singh and Reetinder Singh Sodhi, has found it difficult to swim with the bigger fish. His classical wristy strokeplay evokes memories of a young Azharuddin at times, though there are enough technical kinks there to encourage bowlers and worry team-mates.

The most disappointing aspect of the Indian team selection has been the reluctance to experiment on the bowling front. With the World Cup looming ever closer, it would have been worthwhile to test the new-ball claims of Tinu Yohannan and Ashish Nehra. Zaheer Khan has been part of the 14 against England but has done little more than sit on his backside the whole time.

The spin department has been no different. Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble hardly set the Southern Cape alight when India toured there a couple of months ago. With the World Cup to be held in the high - and not so high - veldt, it surely serves Indian cricket to give a couple more spinners the chance to stake their claims. Otherwise, they will go to South Africa with all eggs in the one basket. Embarrassment and a big omelette are never far away in such situations. Team: India (probable): 1 Sourav Ganguly (capt), 2 Sachin Tendulkar, 3 Dinesh Mongia, 4 Virender Sehwag, 5 Mohammed Kaif, 6 Hemang Badani, 7 Ajit Agarkar, 8 Ajay Ratra (wk), 9 Anil Kumble, 10 Harbhajan Singh, 11 Javagal Srinath.

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