Jadeja ruled out of Australian tour
The suspense over whether Ajay Jadeja will or will not go to Australia is over
Partab Ramchand
22-Nov-1999
The suspense over whether Ajay Jadeja will or will not go to Australia
is over. The Board of Control for Cricket in India on Sunday decided
to replace the injured Jadeja. The chairman of the national selection
committee Chandu Borde, coach Kapil Dev and captain Sachin Tendulkar
will meet in Mumbai on Monday to pick the replacement. The front
runners are Hrishikesh Kanitkar and Jacob Martin, both of whom are now
with the India A team in the West Indies.
Initially, doubts were raised whether Jadeja would be in a position to
go to Australia when it was announced that he would be going to South
Africa for specialised treatment to his injured shoulder. There was
immediate speculation on his successor and the names doing the rounds
included, besides Martin and Kanitkar, Azharuddin and Mongia. Then
came the news that Jadeja would, after treatment, fly straight to
Australia from South Africa. However the BCCI announcment on Sunday
set to set all doubts and speculative stories.
The decision to replace Jadeja was made when Dr Anant Joshi and the
Indian team physio Andrew Leipus gave separate letters to the
BCCI. Leipus ruled out Jadeja for the Test series while Dr Joshi had
told the BCCI that Jadeja would require a minimum of three weeks
rest. However if it is any comfort to Jadeja he may be conisdered for
the Carlton and United tri series should he be declared fit by
January. The third and final Test against Australia ends on January 6
and the tri nation series starts on january 9 with a match in Brisbane
between Pakistan and Australia.