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Batsman Rohit Sharma has been included as a cover for VVS Laxman for the first Test against South Africa scheduled to begin on February 6 in Nagpur. It is uncertain whether V. V. S. Laxman will be able to play the match, as he suffered an injury on his left hand during the first Test against Bangladesh at Chittagong in January. Laxman appeared for the training secession and practiced batting however his name did not appear for the catching practice secession indicating that the injury has not healed completely. Rohit also took part in the training secession. The team management did not want to take any chances and hence decided to call in Rohit. The Board of Control for Cricket in India did not comment on Rohit being called in ascover for Laxman.
Rohit has captained Board President's XI in tour game against South Africa and was also part of the Test squad on India's tour of Sri Lanka in 2008; however, he did not get a chance to play. Other players including Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh and Sreesanth were ruled out of the series because of injuries suffered by them. What a change from the rather chaotic Chittagong, where Team India’s last Test series began three weeks ago. What a change, too, in the manner and content of what the captains said on the eve of that two-match affair — from “Bangladesh is an ordinary side” to South Africa and Australia being “much better” than India. It was, to say the least, explosive and provocative stuff. The series beginning on Saturday also features two Tests (for the Jaypee Infratech Cup). Plenty more, though, is at stake.
Actually, for all intents and purposes, it’s like the title-decider of a world championship. And, so, finishing second-best won’t mean anything. Both Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Graeme Smith have done their bit to take some of the glare away from the rankings, but the fact is that the two top teams are confronting each other. South Africa rose to No.1 last August, but lost that ranking to India in early December. Actually, little separates the two (a mere four ratings points on the ICC table). A draw would help India retain the top position, while a win for South Africa would take them right back to the summit, this time without Mickey Arthur. “We’ve never called ourselves anything... It’s just that we go with a mindset of winning... We don’t believe in tags, of the favourite or the underdog... It’s what we do on the field for six hours (each day) that matters,” Dhoni pointed out.
Batsman Rohit Sharma has been included as a cover for VVS Laxman for the first Test against South Africa scheduled to begin on February 6 in Nagpur. It is uncertain whether V. V. S. Laxman will be able to play the match, as he suffered an injury on his left hand during the first Test against Bangladesh at Chittagong in January. Laxman appeared for the training secession and practiced batting however his name did not appear for the catching practice secession indicating that the injury has not healed completely. Rohit also took part in the training secession. The team management did not want to take any chances and hence decided to call in Rohit. The Board of Control for Cricket in India did not comment on Rohit being called in ascover for Laxman.
Rohit has captained Board President's XI in tour game against South Africa and was also part of the Test squad on India's tour of Sri Lanka in 2008; however, he did not get a chance to play. Other players including Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh and Sreesanth were ruled out of the series because of injuries suffered by them. What a change from the rather chaotic Chittagong, where Team India’s last Test series began three weeks ago. What a change, too, in the manner and content of what the captains said on the eve of that two-match affair — from “Bangladesh is an ordinary side” to South Africa and Australia being “much better” than India. It was, to say the least, explosive and provocative stuff. The series beginning on Saturday also features two Tests (for the Jaypee Infratech Cup). Plenty more, though, is at stake.
Actually, for all intents and purposes, it’s like the title-decider of a world championship. And, so, finishing second-best won’t mean anything. Both Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Graeme Smith have done their bit to take some of the glare away from the rankings, but the fact is that the two top teams are confronting each other. South Africa rose to No.1 last August, but lost that ranking to India in early December. Actually, little separates the two (a mere four ratings points on the ICC table). A draw would help India retain the top position, while a win for South Africa would take them right back to the summit, this time without Mickey Arthur. “We’ve never called ourselves anything... It’s just that we go with a mindset of winning... We don’t believe in tags, of the favourite or the underdog... It’s what we do on the field for six hours (each day) that matters,” Dhoni pointed out.
