India's poor performances with the ball in the first three one-dayers against West Indies have forced the selectors to bring in reinforcements in that department for the next two matches. L Balaji, the right-arm seamer, and Murali Kartik were included in the squad at the expense of Ajit Agarkar and Anil Kumble. Neither Agarkar nor Kumble can have much cause for complaint. Sourav Ganguly gave plenty of opportunities to Agarkar, promoting him to No. 3 in the batting order, a move which caused plenty of debate. Agarkar didn't do too badly with the bat, scoring 95 from 102 balls at Jamshedpur, but it was as a seam bowler that India most needed him to contribute, and it was here that he let the team down.

In 22 overs in the three matches, Agarkar went for 152 runs, an economy rate – if it can be called that – of 6.9. He'd lost his earlier ability to pick crucial wickets too, managing a solitary scalp. Agarkar has often been touted as a potential allrounder who could serve India for a long time, but his omission might mean that the selectors' patience has finally run out.

Kumble fared little better than Agarkar, on pitches where he was expected to do at least a decent fist of containing the batsmen. One wicket in two matches at 6.23 runs an over was hardly flattering, and most damningly, he was given only six of his allotted 10 overs at Nagpur. Ganguly euphemistically stated that Kumble had been rested for the third match, but it was obvious that he had been pulled up for lack of performance. Kumble will still be a certainty for the tour to New Zealand, and this slight could just spur him on when he dons Indian colours next time.

The selectors have done the right thing by opting for changes, but it's questionable if the replacements will do any better. Kartik had two shots at the West Indians in tour matches, and was unimpressive both times. Balaji toured South Africa and Sri Lanka with the A team, but did little to suggest that he would be the answer to India's pace-bowling woes. And on the shirtfronts which have been the norm in the one-day series, both new bowlers have an unenviable task on their hands.

The squad
Sourav Ganguly (capt), Virender Sehwag, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid (wk), Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Sanjay Bangar, Parthiv Patel (wk), Harbhajan Singh, Murali Kartik, Javagal Srinath, L Balaji, Dinesh Mongia, JP Yadav, Ashish Nehra.

S Rajesh is sub editor of Wisden.com in India.

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