LAXMAN
MUMBAI, India (CMC):
INDIA'S SELECTORS yesterday recalled batsman V.V.S. Laxman for the forthcoming four-match Digicel Test series in the West Indies.
The 31-year-old Laxman was dropped during the home series against England earlier this year, but his experience will compensate for the absence of injured Sachin Tendulkar. He averages 61 in 12 previous Tests against West Indies.
Star batsman Tendulkar was ruled out of the tour on Tuesday because he has still not fully recovered from shoulder surgery.
The selectors have named three uncapped players in the 16-man squad - offspinner Ramesh Powar along with batsman Suresh Raina and paceman Vikram Rajvir Singh.
The three players have all appeared in one-dayers for India, but have yet to turn out in a Test.
Powar and Raina have been picked for the Test series mainly on the basis after their impressive performances so far in the ODIs in the Caribbean.
SOLID FORM
And Singh, the Punjab fast bowler, gets in following solid form in domestic competition.
The selectors have again ignored former captain Sourav Ganguly, who is now likely to take up a contract with English county side Northamptonshire.
Explaining Powar's inclusion as the spin bowling back-up to Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, chief elector Kiran More described him as "the find of the season".
And he added: "Most of the pitches in the West Indies have been re-laid in recent years and they've been assisting spin."
Virender Sehwag and Wasim Jaffer are the only specialist opening batsmen in the squad, but both skipper Rahul Dravid and keeper Mahendra Dhoni could be considered as alternatives if necessary.
The first of four Tests begins in Antigua on June 2, with games to follow in St Lucia (June 10-14), St Kitts (June 22-26) and Jamaica (June 30 to July 4), and India will be seeking their first series win in the Caribbean since 1971.
India Test squad: Rahul Dravid (captain), Virender Sehwag, Wasim Jaffer, V.V.S. Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Mohammad Kaif, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Dinesh Karthik, Irfan Pathan, Ramesh Powar, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Munaf Patel, Sreesanth, V.R.V. Singh.
