|
|
|
|
|
  |
|
Three openers, please Wisden CricInfo staff - March 20, 2002
It's India's first five-Test series since … their last tour of the West Indies in 1996-97. The 16-man Indian team will be announced on Thursday, and before the selection committee reveal their choices, here's the men that Wisden feel should make the squad. Openers SS Das is the only opener who selects himself. The two other openers' slots – a five-Test series in the Caribbean merits three openers in the squad – have at least four contenders. Wasim Jaffer, Deep Dasgupta, Connor Williams and Gautam Gambhir have all staked their claims, but the first two seem the best bets. Jaffer, a tall, upright, technically correct player, looked the part when he played a couple of Tests against South Africa in 1999-2000. He never got among the runs though, and was dumped when India toured Bangladesh. However, two superb centuries in a Duleep Trophy match against Central Zone on a seamer's pitch in Rajkot have brought him back in contention. His compact defence and accomplished back-foot play – something even Ian Chappell spoke about in glowing terms – make him the most likely candidate to succeed in the West Indies. Dasgupta has been solid at the top of the order, and even though he didn't get too many runs against Zimbabwe, deserves another chance as an opener. After all, not too many batsmen volunteer to open in South Africa and make a success of it. Though originally selected in the Indian team as a specialist wicketkeeper, he gets into this squad on the strength of his batting. Williams played in the unofficial Test at Centurion and wasn't entirely convincing, while Gambhir looks promising but hasn't really been tested yet. He should get an opportunity to press his claims when India A tour South Africa in April. Middle order Most of the middle order select themselves. Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, and Sourav Ganguly are certainties, and VVS Laxman is almost there too. Virender Sehwag would have been a definite selection prior to his shoulder injury, but his absence opens up a spot. On current form in the one-day series against Zimbabwe, Mohammad Kaif and Dinesh Mongia are front-runners. While it might be dangerous to read too much into one-day performances, Kaif has played Tests and looked the part. His temperament is excellent – as he showed during the one-dayers - his technique is sound, and he should get the nod ahead of Mongia. Allrounder Sanjay Bangar is the closest India have been to a genuine allrounder in the last seven years, and he is the only one in contention for that spot in the squad. The century he made in his second Test against Zimbabwe was spectacular; his performances thereafter in the one-dayers only lukewarm. But he has a mature head, is a complete team-man, and has an attitude that pleases coach John Wright. His wicket-to-wicket medium-pacers could come in handy on the slowish pitches in the Caribbean. Wicketkeeper Nayan Mongia is still the best in the land, but since he is out of favour with the selectors and the team management, Ajay Ratra is our man. This may not be a bad thing because Ratra was impressive behind the stumps in the one-day series against Zimbabwe. Dasgupta is the back up, though the Indian bowlers would be hoping he isn't required to don the gloves. Bowlers Javagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan, Ajit Agarkar, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh should have booked their tickets already, leaving just one berth vacant. The contenders are many: Ashish Nehra, Tinu Yohannan, Irfan Pathan (Jr), and Murali Kartik are all in the fray. The nod should go to Yohannan, simply because he didn't do much wrong in the two Tests he played against England. He was particularly impressive against the left-handers, and in a West Indian line-up that could have three or even four left-handers in the top seven, Yohannan will be a useful weapon in the Indian attack.
The probable squad
S Rajesh is sub editor of Wisden.com India © Wisden CricInfo Ltd |
|
|
| |||
|
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
| |||
|
