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[LosingNow]

So what should be the team? Should they produce a turner track?

IMO, IKP comes in for RPS, IS for SS. They should produce a turner.

[Poochandi]

My Team:
Wasim J
Virender S
Venkatsai L
Sachin T
Saurav G
Mahendra D
Ishant S
Harbhajan S
Anil K
Srisanth S
Rudra S

[Blwe_torch]

What is the news of Zaheer Khan?

[Blwe_torch]

Tendulkar scare for India ahead of second Test
AFP

CHENNAI, March 30: Sachin Tendulkar faces a race against time to be fit for the second Test against South Africa after aggravating a groin injury, captain Anil Kumble said on Sunday.

The star batsman, who needs 172 runs to take over from West Indian Brian Lara as Test cricket's leading run-scorer, did not field for most of the final day's play in the first Test which ended in a draw.

"Sachin aggravated a groin injury he picked up in Australia and also has an upset stomach, but hopefully he will be fit for the second Test," Kumble said.

The second Test starts in Ahmedabad on Thursday. Former Indian physiotherapist John Gloster had recommended a three-week rest for Tendulkar after the Australian tour ended on March 4.

The 34-year-old, however, declared himself fit for the South African series.

Tendulkar, who fell for zero in India's only innings, has 11,782 runs from 147 Tests, second behind Lara's record tally of 11,953 runs.

The prolific Indian is already the top One-day batsman with 16,361 runs and holds the world record of 39 Test and 42 One-day centuries.

http://cricket.indiatimes.com/Tendulkar_scare_for_India_ahead_of_second_Test/articleshow/2911861.cms

[gouravk]

zaheer will miss the whole series. and rightly so. i personally feel we should stick with the same combination. if we bring back Ishant at this stage it will be the same mistake we made with RP - bringing back an injured player without any match practice. that said i think we will bring Ishant back. he was very active on the field today ... jumping to have a go in the nets immediately after play (and also during lunch i think) prasad was working very hard on him ... which means india desperately want him back. wrong move IMO.

if it is the case that RP is still unfit we should rather go with irfan who at least has no official injury problems.

of course if SRT is unfit Yuvi gets another chance. he should make this one count.

[Libran]

India's hopes of fielding a full-strength side for the second Test in Ahmedabad took a blow after Sachin Tendulkar was ruled out with a groin injury. Tendulkar missed part of the action on the first, second, fourth days and didn't take the field on the fifth day. Mohammad Kaif has been named as his replacement.

Tendulkar was advised two-weeks rest after the Australia tour and the then physio, John Gloster, in his fitness report, warned against the injury entering a chronic phase.

Kaif last played a Test for India during the 2006 tour of the West Indies. He enjoyed an impressive domestic season for Uttar Pradesh and Central Zone, finishing fourth in the list of run-getters, scoring 993 runs in 13 first-class matches at an average of 58.41.

The Indian captain Anil Kumble too suffered a groin strain and both chose not to aggravate their injuries as the game was headed for a tame draw. "I had a slight niggle while I was bowling," Kumble said, one which was later found out to be an adductor strain. "So I didn't want to take any chances because I thought the match was probably over by then. Sachin picked up a slight strain in his groin and that got aggravated in the end. He also had a bit of a tummy upset."

Kumble's availability will be determined on the eve of the second Test. "Kumble sustained a right groin injury while bowling on the last day of the first Test," the Indian board stated in a release. "As a precautionary measure, he was rested from fielding. The physiotherapist is confident that he will be available to play the second Test. A final decision in this regard will be taken on April 2.

Ishant Sharma, who was suffering from injuries to his finger and toes, will remain part of the squad. "He's looking good," said Kumble, "and we'll take it day by day. We'll take a call before the next game."

RP Singh, who recovered from a hamstring injury, remains a concern. Not only did he not make an impact with the ball, but also showed signs of being short of fitness while on the field. With the next Test in four days' time, India's physio, Paul Close, maybe required to work overtime to get things right.

Siddhartha Vaidyanathan is an assistant editor at Cricinfo

© Cricinfo

If Kaif gets into the XI......(personally, I would have preferred Badrinath) ...  hope it is one more of the blinders that DBV is pulling off

[Blwe_torch]

Sachin out of Ahmedabad Test

March 30, 2008 20:30 IST

Sachin Tendulkar [Images] has aggravated his groin injury he picked up in Australia and will not play in the second Test against South Africa in Ahmedabad.

Mohammad Kaif, who last played in a Test during the 2006 tour to the Caribbean, has been named as his replacement.

Tendulkar did not take the field for most part of the final day of the first Test in Chennai on Sunday, coming in and walking out on two or three occasions.

"During the match, Tendulkar aggravated the groin injury he picked up in Australia. Besides this, he also has bit of a stomach upset," Kumble informed, hastening to add that there was no cause of doubt on the veteran batsman's availability for the second Test starting on April 3.

However, his worse fears seem to have come true. Kumble also himself had a slight niggle on his bowling arm which forced him to take rest for most part of the post-lunch session on Sunday.

"I have a slight niggle in the shoulder of my bowling arm. I knew the match was heading for a draw, that gave me some rest. I should be 100 per cent OK before the second Test," he said.

 
http://www.rediff.com/cricket/2008/mar/30sach.htm

[gouravk]

hmmm ... CB series and all is great ... but playing so many ODIs will take its toll .. sachin should better realize this !

[gouravk]

kaif was in good form lately ?

[RicePlateReddy]

This is a huge break for Kaif. Yuvraj would have flourished as much on home tracks, what with a weak spinner. With Rohit Sharma looking good and with his age advantage, Badrinath might as well move to the ICL 

[dlee1]

i dont think ys should get a chance to play in the second test for several reasons.firstly being that way he performed in australia and more than than the way he carried himself.secondly he cant play quality fast or spin!he is nto a test player at all  .lastly if we have a docile pitch then he might score and selectors will be forced to continue keeping him in squad only for him to fizzle out when situation is demanding..better to give someone else a chance who atleast tries to perform and whose commitment is never under scanner

[gouravk]

he was terrible in australia
but that does not mean he is a terrible player.
he deserves another chance.

[gouravk]

i think yuvi will make the 11 ahead of kaif

[dhruvdeepak]

sachin is a wussy 

[dlee1]

dont think he deserves another chance not because of the scores but because of the way he carried himself in the tests.think others deserve a chance too.also he is not a test material given his inability to play quality spin or fast bowling except on flat tracks

[LosingNow]

I think we should use this opportunity to play 5 bowlers. bring in pc as the 3rd spinner

[gouravk]

what do you mean by way he carried ? it is a pretty subjective issue. plus we all know he was going through a personal crisis in life.

[dlee1]

exactly if he is going thru a personal crisis he has no business ot get it on the field.if he feels that his personal life might spill over in the field and he may not be able to contribute then he would have served us better by sitting out himself and not putting the the team's interests in jeopardy.one of the main reasons that the test scoreline was 2/1 in aus favour was YS .understand the way one carries himself is a subjective thing but stilll his attitude was pathetic and it was there for everyone to see and agree u might say that these are all rumours but dont forget it is not the first time that his atitude has been questioned

[dlee1]

at no cost should ys be given a chance to play in the test!!better to give someoen else a chance

[gouravk]

on the contrary i think it was courageous of him to play for the team while going thru personal problems. in any case this ODI team was extremely weak in batting - and heavily reliant on yuvraj and sachin. yuvraj was our mainstay in the odi team for the last 2 years. so it was important he played despite personal problems.

in the test he shud not have played - not becoz of personal problems but becoz there are other better options for test cricket.

[gouravk]

disagree. this is almost vendetta !!!

[dlee1]

no vendetta..but a reality.y did ys loose the captaincy?attitude!! similarly the way he played in tests inspite of his personal issue is no one one carries on the field.like i said his attitude has been questioned before and besides that he is not a test player..cant play quality spin or fast bowling!!so y take him

[kban1]

Injured Tendulkar to miss second Test

Siddhartha Vaidyanathan in Chennai

March 30, 2008

India's hopes of fielding a full-strength side for the second Test in Ahmedabad took a blow after Sachin Tendulkar was ruled out with a groin injury. Tendulkar missed part of the action on the first, second, fourth days and didn't take the field on the fifth day. Mohammad Kaif has been named as his replacement.

Tendulkar was advised two-weeks rest after the Australia tour and the then physio, John Gloster, in his fitness report, warned against the injury entering a chronic phase.

Kaif last played a Test for India during the 2006 tour of the West Indies. He enjoyed an impressive domestic season for Uttar Pradesh and Central Zone, finishing fourth in the list of run-getters, scoring 993 runs in 13 first-class matches at an average of 58.41.

The Indian captain Anil Kumble too suffered a groin strain and both chose not to aggravate their injuries as the game was headed for a tame draw. "I had a slight niggle while I was bowling," Kumble said, one which was later found out to be an adductor strain. "So I didn't want to take any chances because I thought the match was probably over by then. Sachin picked up a slight strain in his groin and that got aggravated in the end. He also had a bit of a tummy upset."

Kumble's availability will be determined on the eve of the second Test. "Kumble sustained a right groin injury while bowling on the last day of the first Test," the Indian board stated in a release. "As a precautionary measure, he was rested from fielding. The physiotherapist is confident that he will be available to play the second Test. A final decision in this regard will be taken on April 2.

Ishant Sharma, who was suffering from injuries to his finger and toes, will remain part of the squad. "He's looking good," said Kumble, "and we'll take it day by day. We'll take a call before the next game."

RP Singh, who recovered from a hamstring injury, remains a concern. Not only did he not make an impact with the ball, but also showed signs of being short of fitness while on the field. With the next Test in four days' time, India's physio, Paul Close, maybe required to work overtime to get things right.

Siddhartha Vaidyanathan is an assistant editor at Cricinfo

http://content-usa.cricinfo.com/indvrsa/content/current/story/344516.html

[dlee1]

i think we r talking bout tests here and its in this context i have said that he not be in the test team for simple reason that he is not a test materialand gor me his attitude has been a concern.and i dont agree that playing in tests inspite of his problems was courageous!!it was foolish and selfish.it cost us the series

[gouravk]

in the test he shud not have played - not becoz of personal problems but becoz there are other better options for test cricket

[dlee1]

if above is true then srt should be pulled up !he is a professional and should take these suggestions seriously .he himself is not a physician and should not try to act like one.bcci should also take the blame as it should have made sure srt listened

[gouravk]

yuvi lost the vice captaincy - but captaincy like most selection decisions in india particularly under the monkey man was a joke really. we had the right idea when we were grooming sehwag, then suddenly we drop him ... and we are left with no one so we go to yuvraj ... then suddenly dhoni comes up ...

[dlee1]

thats what i am saying he should not play in tests

[dlee1]

true but ys lost the vc /or captaincy primarily because of the so called attitude problems

[gouravk]

that time there was no vacancy in the test squad ... now there is ... situation is different. given vacancy, he shud get it.

[gouravk]

maybe .. or maybe the monkey man's whims ...

why was he made vice captain in the first place ?

and wasnt sachin suddenly made vice captain in between for no apparent reason ?

[dlee1]

a person should not considered for a test spot just coz there is a vacancy! he should deserve that spot and ys in my opinion does not deserve a test spot. so tha fact that we now have a vacant spot should not mean ys should be getting it ,.we should try someone else out who is more deserving

[poondu]

Looking forward to sporting pitch at Ahmedabad: Smith


Sports Reporter
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sehwag made all the difference

Dale Steyn and Paul Harris bowled well


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------



Chennai: South African captain Graeme Smith said Virender Sehwag had made the difference in the match.

“We had set the game up well and I think it needed an incredible innings and India got that. I think even if Virender had been out for 200, we would have had an opportunity to have a go at India.

“It was a good batting track. Even though the Test ended in a draw it has set us up very nicely for the next Test. There are a few things we’ve learned, and we can hopefully make it count in the next Test.

“Obviously you would love a wicket that allows a little bit more for the bowlers. It will be interesting to get to Ahmedabad and see what the pitch looks like. We’re hoping for a pitch that can provide a good balance between bat and ball,” he said.

Praise for batsmen


The batting came in for praise from the skipper. “I’m very happy with the way the top six have performed. We’ve provided scores in recent Tests.

Hashim (Amla) played superbly in this game, and taken his game to a new level, and is technically and mentally looking sound. I’ll love to see him build on where he is now, get better and better. Neil (McKenzie) is quite an experienced cricketer. He’s added value to our team, and was very much in control through this Test. In our bowling, (Dale) Steyn and (Paul) Harris have done well.

Playing spin


“I think we’ve played spin pretty well this season, in Pakistan, Bangladesh and here. We’ve generally proven we can play it well. Depending on what we get now, it’s going to be a challenge in the subcontinent,” he said

[CLR James]

South Africa in India 2007-08

Kaif's recall a reward for his dedication

Sidharth Monga

March 30, 2008

 
 
Mohammad Kaif returns to the Test squad on the back of some impressive performances in first-class games in India this season © AFP
 
 
 

By choosing Mohammad Kaif ahead of some of the younger, perhaps flashier, batsmen who replaced him in the limited-overs sides, India's national selectors have sent out two positive messages: that performances in first-class cricket do count after all, and that they look at Test cricket as a different discipline. The likes of Gautam Gambhir and Aakash Chopra, who have the right to feel aggrieved at losing out on a recall after a prolific season, can at least take heart from the message even if they don't directly benefit from it.

Although surprising on the surface, Kaif's selection actually is a logical move: the selectors put him ahead of Suresh Raina, Cheteshwar Pujara and S Badrinath [the other prolific middle-order batsmen this season], while the ODI middle order [Rohit Sharma and Robin Uthappa] has struggled badly in the four-day game this season. Rohit's performances for India in the CB Series earned him widespread praise but he was criticised after faring poorly for Mumbai in the Ranji Trophy this season. "If he's still in the mode of Twenty20 and one-day cricket, he needs to come out of it," Amol Muzumdar, the Mumbai captain, said after Mumbai were knocked out of the Ranji Trophy this season. "It doesn't matter whether he has played for India. He is playing for Mumbai now and there is a responsibility to shoulder."

Kaif, who last played a Test in the West Indies in 2006 - ironically the series in which he scored his only Test century in - has done himself no harm, though, by staying focused on his game. His biggest plus is a maniacal attitude to fitness; unlike some others who lose their fitness as soon as they fall out of the national scene, Kaif, at 27, remains one of the fittest cricketers in Indian cricket. He has also altered his batting grip, which he says allows him to play more freely, as a strike-rate of close to 60 this season suggests. All that, of course, would be wasted if he hadn't scored the runs.

Scored he has, and some quality runs at that. In the 2007-08 first-class season in India, he finished fourth on the list of run-getters, scoring 993 in 13 first-class games at 58.41. It must have helped that Dilip Vengsarkar, chairman of the selection committee, was present when he played one of the most important innings of the season, in the Ranji Trophy semi-final against Saurashtra. On a Vadodara wicket where nobody else looked like scoring runs, Kaif scored 80 off 122 balls, countering the seam movement and counterattacking at the same time to lead UP to a 48-run win.


     
 

Every time one went to a domestic game he was playing in, a cheery Kaif would be sure to greet you with: "What are you doing at this useless game, you should be at the India game?" That spirit has got him back into the squad

 


   

 


Out of the Indian team for almost two years, Kaif has often expressed a gripe that he didn't know why he was dropped. Or why, for a considerable period of time, he didn't know which number he would bat at, as he told Cricinfo last January. Some will argue he got enough chances before he was dropped, but one can also see where Kaif is coming from: in the last seven ODI innings he played he batted at all positions between Nos 3 and 7. It must have been awfully easy to get distracted - there were rumours he was about to join the Indian Cricket League, which Kaif emphatically denied, but he has stuck on. While some of the other national players found it tough to motivate themselves in the non-glamorous domestic game, Kaif was one of the most determined.

Every time one went to a domestic game he was playing in, a cheery Kaif would be sure to greet you with: "What are you doing at this useless game, you should be at the India game?" That spirit has got him back into the squad. And he has a better idea of where he will fit in the frame after the Fab Four are gone.

Sidharth Monga is a staff writer at Cricinfo

© Cricinfo

[CLR James]

South Africa in India 2007-08

Injured Tendulkar to miss second Test

Siddhartha Vaidyanathan in Chennai

March 30, 2008

 
 
Sachin Tendulkar did not take the field on the fifth day after aggravating a groin strain © AFP
 
 
 

India's hopes of fielding a full-strength side for the second Test in Ahmedabad took a blow after Sachin Tendulkar was ruled out with a groin injury. Tendulkar missed part of the action on the first, second, fourth days and didn't take the field on the fifth day. Mohammad Kaif has been named as his replacement.

Tendulkar was advised two-weeks rest after the Australia tour and the then physio, John Gloster, in his fitness report, warned against the injury entering a chronic phase.

Kaif last played a Test for India during the 2006 tour of the West Indies. He enjoyed an impressive domestic season for Uttar Pradesh and Central Zone, finishing fourth in the list of run-getters, scoring 993 runs in 13 first-class matches at an average of 58.41.

The Indian captain Anil Kumble too suffered a groin strain and both chose not to aggravate their injuries as the game was headed for a tame draw. "I had a slight niggle while I was bowling," Kumble said, one which was later found out to be an adductor strain. "So I didn't want to take any chances because I thought the match was probably over by then. Sachin picked up a slight strain in his groin and that got aggravated in the end. He also had a bit of a tummy upset."

Kumble's availability will be determined on the eve of the second Test. "Kumble sustained a right groin injury while bowling on the last day of the first Test," the Indian board stated in a release. "As a precautionary measure, he was rested from fielding. The physiotherapist is confident that he will be available to play the second Test. A final decision in this regard will be taken on April 2.

Ishant Sharma, who was suffering from injuries to his finger and toes, will remain part of the squad. "He's looking good," said Kumble, "and we'll take it day by day. We'll take a call before the next game."

RP Singh, who recovered from a hamstring injury, remains a concern. Not only did he not make an impact with the ball, but also showed signs of being short of fitness while on the field. With the next Test in four days' time, India's physio, Paul Close, maybe required to work overtime to get things right.

Siddhartha Vaidyanathan is an assistant editor at Cricinfo

© Cricinfo

[poondu]

from the BBC comments section... 

posted 2 Hours Ago

Badrinath cannot be officially selected in India fro Tests because he is from tamilnadu - the Punjabi and Marathi lobby in India run cricket and they do not like to see Tamilnadu players because we endorse English and repel Hindi as a foisted language

The age old hatred and dislike towards Tamilnadu is deeproote din the Indian culture - Tamil is an independant language and has no partaking with Urdu and Hindi - North Indians share more culturally with Pakistanis than they do with Tamilnadu people - this is again a culturae thing in a large country like India

Vegsarkar chose Karthik for a few matches becuase he married a girl from Mumbai - not a joke by the way

[pzd]

from the BBC comments section... 

posted 2 Hours Ago

Badrinath cannot be officially selected in India fro Tests because he is from tamilnadu - the Punjabi and Marathi lobby in India run cricket and they do not like to see Tamilnadu players because we endorse English and repel Hindi as a foisted language

The age old hatred and dislike towards Tamilnadu is deeproote din the Indian culture - Tamil is an independant language and has no partaking with Urdu and Hindi - North Indians share more culturally with Pakistanis than they do with Tamilnadu people - this is again a culturae thing in a large country like India

Vegsarkar chose Karthik for a few matches becuase he married a girl from Mumbai - not a joke by the way

Badrinath's form has tapered off this season. Last season was an excellent one for Badri. Actually Gambhir deserved a chance ahead of Kaif after his good display in Australia.

[LosingNow]

My team
VS
WJ
VVS
SG
RD
MSD
IKP
AK
HS
PC
IS

The Motera pitch better be a rank turner.  Even Kanpur should be a turner. No point getting YS or MK in temporarily.

[poondu]

My team
VS
WJ
VVS
SG
RD
MSD
IKP
AK
HS
PC
IS

The Motera pitch better be a rank turner.  Even Kanpur should be a turner. No point getting YS or MK in temporarily.

I would pick MK over PC.

I don't expect too much contribution from IKP or PC with the bat against Steyn and Morkel...

[Cover Point]

I have never seen the importance of having a third spinner. Usually thats an over indulgence. Since spinners can bowl all day ... and its not too much to expect a spinner to bowl 28-30 overs a day .... assuming new ball bowlers take 15-20 overs a day .... where is the need for the third spinner?

Plus u have the likes of Sehwag who can tweak it a bit if a break to main spinners is needed.