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Ganguly returns to boost struggling India in South Africa
NEW DELHI—Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly got a chance to extend his
international career when he was named in a 16-man squad for an upcoming
three-Test series in South Africa.
Ganguly’s career seemed to be over after a row with coach Greg Chappell
last year, when he was sacked as captain before being axed from both the
Test and one-day squads. The stylish 34-year-old batsman played his last
Test against Pakistan in Karachi in February this year and his last one-dayer
was against New Zealand at Harare in September 2005. A brittle batting
display by India in the ongoing five-match one-day series in South
Africa, which they trail 3-0 after four matches, led the selectors to
plump for the experienced left-hander. “We decided to go with Ganguly’s
experience because our batting has failed in one-dayers. The youngsters
have not been able to adjust to the bouncy wickets in South Africa,”
said chief selector Dilip Vengsarkar on Thursday.
Ganguly, who has scored 5,221 runs in 88 Tests, said he was hoping to
put his experience to good use in South Africa. “I am happy to be back
but it is always a challenge playing in Tests, whether it is your first
or 100th. As the tour will go on, players will get used to the bouncy
pitches,” he said. “We have done well on bouncy tracks in Australia in
the past and it is pretty much the same group of players and I am sure
they will do well. It is just a matter of adjusting.” Venkatsai Laxman,
recalled for the one-dayers in South Africa after a finger injury to
skipper Rahul Dravid, replaced out-of-form opener Virender Sehwag as
vice-captain for the Tests.
“Laxman has been named vice-captain because he has led various sides in
domestic cricket in the past and also India-A teams,” said Vengsarkar,
who represented India in 116 Tests. Paceman Zaheer Khan, who is playing
in the ongoing one-day series, has also been named in the Test squad for
the first time since the tour of Pakistan earlier this year.
He is one of the five pacemen in the squad including all-rounder Irfan
Pathan, who has struggled in recent Tests and one-dayers. “Pathan bowled
well the other day in a one-dayer and also batted well. He is a player
for the future, we are sure he will perform soon,” said Vengsarkar.—Agencies |
