Did you take the chance to ask Chandu Borde, the chairman of India's selectors, a question about the team or his own career? Here's the second batch, with Chandu's answers. There will be another one in a fortnight's time, on the first day of the Trent Bridge Test, so if you want to ask a question send it now to ask@wisden.com I found it very strange that Mohammad Kaif and Dinesh Mongia were kept on in England but told publicly they had no chance of playing in the Tests. What happens if they keep scoring runs (and I see they top-scored in the match at Arundel)? asks Jim Constant from Bristol

Both Mohammad Kaif and Dinesh Mongia have been kept back in England for two reasons. One, there is no domestic cricket being played in India during these monsoon months. Two, the tour of England finishes on September 9, and the Champions' Trophy starts in Sri Lanka within five days. By staying on in England, these players will remain match-fit.

We haven't told anybody that these two players will not play the Tests. If the tour management feels the need to include either of these players for the Tests, they need to get in touch with the selection committee here, and if the situation warrants, they'll be allowed to play in the Tests also. Of course, this would depend on the form of the other batsmen in the squad too.

Two quick questions: Why weren't these players selected for the England tour - Robin Singh, Nayan Mongia, Gautam Ghambir, Reetinder Sodhi and Javagal Srinath? And why did Sachin bat at No. 4 in the one-dayers England even when India were batting first or chasing a score of less than 230? asks Jasmeet Singh Luthra

The squad for the England tour was selected after looking at the domestic performances of the players. Some of these names did crop up as possible choices, but we went on the form of the players in the domestic season. Reetinder Sodhi was injured for much of last season and hence wasn't chosen. We felt Srinath was a better prospect for Tests than one-dayers, but he himself has retired from Test matches. Gambhir is an upcoming youngster, and we're trying to groom him. He was sent on two A tours to South Africa and Sri Lanka recently. He is a good prospect, and in the near future he might find a place in the team. Robin Singh and Nayan Mongia were discussed, but missed out as we thought it would be better to groom younger players.

The decision to move Tendulkar to No. 4 was taken in consultation with the team management. We all felt that Sehwag was doing an excellent job at the top of the order, and since Tendulkar himself was going through a lean patch, we all thought a move down the order would be best for the team.

What was the best innings you witnessed by an Indian during your long Test career? asks Lakshmi

It would have to be VVS Laxman's 281 against Australia at Kolkata last year. India were up against the best team in the world, and a bowling line-up that included McGrath, Gillespie and Warne. Laxman's innings was spectacular - certainly the best I've seen by an Indian.

Mohammad Kaif has been doing really well of late, but keeping in mind that he is a grafter and not a natural strokemaker, wouldn't a powerful striker of the ball like Retinder Singh Sodhi serve our purpose better down the order in one-dayers in the long run? And the team would certainly look more complete if there was a recognised allrounder in it. If ever Sanjay Bangar has to deliver as a bowler, wouldn't it be in English conditions? asks Vikas Madabhushi

Kaif is an excellent improviser and superb between the wickets - anyone who saw him in the NatWest Series, especially the final, would have seen his immense contribution with the bat and in the field. He's got a good temperament too and is an absolute asset at No. 6 or 7.

Sanjay Bangar is a useful allrounder and should find the English conditions beneficial to his type of bowling. He showed that in the tour match against Hampshire, taking seven wickets in the game and scoring a half-century too. I hope he maintains this standard of performance through the rest of the tour.

I would like to commend the selectors for including a very promising young cricketer like Parthiv Patel in the Test squad. But why didn't you give a chance to other promising young players, such as Gautam Gambhir, Vinayak Mane, Abhijit Kale and Murali Kartik to play with the Test team, when SS Das is failing to score runs consistently and bowlers like Harbhajan and Kumble are ineffective on foreign soil? asks Sunil Anaokar from Indiana, USA

I'm glad to know that you agree with the selection of Parthiv Patel. He is a promising youngster and acquitted himself very well in the A tours of South Africa and Sri Lanka. The selection committee been trying to unearth some young talent which will serve the Indian team for some time to come, and Parthiv is one of those who we feel is a fine prospect.

The other players you mention are all good, but where is the place for them in the squad at the moment? It would be unfair to drop SS Das after only one poor series. Kumble and Harbhajan are the two best spinners in the country, and though they didn't have an exceptional one-day series, I expect more from them in the Tests.

I was wondering why Sachin Tendulkar doesn't open the batting in Test cricket? And why isn't Sarandeep Singh in the one-day or Test team, since he has an excellent bowling record in his brief Test career? asks Rod Gundrill from Australia

Sachin has batted at No. 4 through most of his Test career, and the only reason he moved up the order in the one-dayers was to take advantage of the field restrictions in the first 15 overs. Facing the new ball in Test cricket is a different proposition altogether, and we - selectors, coach, captain - feel at No. 4 he can consolidate after a good start or rebuild if we lose early wickets.

Sarandeep wasn't selected for the England tour as he hadn't performed quite up to our expectations in the last year. Also, Harbhajan has been doing well of late, and with Kumble also in the line-up, it's virtually impossible to fit in another spinner.

Why has Sridharan Sharath of Tamil Nadu has never been considered so far for the Indian team, despite displaying amazing consistency over the years? I think he is a much better player technically than most of the players in the Indian team, says Sreeni Vash

Sharath is among the crop of middle-order batsmen who have consistently scored runs on the domestic circuit, but in an Indian line-up which already has so much talent, where do you fit him in? Also, he is only an average fielder, unlike some of the younger players knocking on the doors today. That goes against him too.

Why wasn't Debasis Mohanty selected for the English tour? I think he is the best swing bowler in India at the moment, says Rashmi

Mohanty went with the A team to South Africa, but had a poor series. His name did come up for discussion before this series, but we felt Nehra, Zaheer, Agarkar, Yohannan and Bangar constituted a useful seam-bowling attack. It's for Debasis to force his way back with strong performances next season.

One of the things that seems to be missing in our Indian team is consistency and application in the crunch moments. Do you think the psychologist appointed for the team is doing enough to improve the performance of the Indian players? asks Aryan from Dubai

I'm afraid I can't agree with that assessment. The team was extremely consistent in the NatWest Series, losing just one match out of seven. They didn't do too badly in the home series against England and Zimbabwe either. Also, I'm not aware of a psychologist being appointed for the team. The three people working with the team are the coach (John Wright), the physiotherapist (Andrew Leipus) and the trainer (Adrian Le Roux), and they are all doing a great job. At the moment, I don't see the need for a psychologist.

I was lucky enough to see your 121 at Bombay in 1966-67, against the mighty West Indian side that had just humbled England. Was that your best innings, and was it the best side you played against? asks Mohandas

The 121 I scored at Bombay was a satisfying knock, but I would rate the 109 I scored against them at Delhi in 1958-59 a notch higher. The bowling attack in both matches was pretty much the same - Hall, Griffith and Sobers were there both times - but in 1959 they were younger and much quicker. On the other hand, I was playing only my fourth Test, and hadn't scored too many runs in the three earlier matches. I followed that 109 - my first Test century - with 96 in the second innings.

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