Team for Zimbabwe: Major changes unlikely

It certainly has been a camp with a difference. After a morning session of nets, fielding practice and stretching, John Wright adjourned his wards to an indoor session of tape viewing in the afternoon. Using aids of this kind is not synonymous with Indian cricket, but Wright seems to bringing about a metamorphosis.

On the subject of changing things, high on Wright's priorities is India's away record. Despite being champs at home, the away victory remains as elusive as ever. The Zimbabwe tour provides an ideal opportunity to set the record straight.

To achieve this, India are likely to opt for a bowling attack that has room for as many as five seamers. The trio of Javagal Srinath, Ajit Agarkar and Zaheer Khan are certainties to make the trip. With two warm up games to be played in the course of the Test series, India need to have enough hands on board in the fast bowling department. Reetinder Singh Sodhi might squeak in on virtue of the fact that he is likely to play the one-dayers. With Robin Singh not being selected in the initial probables list, the young Punjab all-rounder is a strong contender for a place. The slot for the fifth mediumpacer is still wide open, with Debashish Mohanty and Ashish Nehra being the contenders. If indications here in Bangalore are to be believed, it seems as though the Delhi left arm mediumpacer might well get the nod.

Skipper Sourav Ganguly, speaking to reporters recently has given strong indications that Sameer Dighe will be the man doing the job behind the stumps. The Mumbai stumper's cause has been amply helped by the fact that the two other keepers in the squad, Deep Das Gupta and Ajay Ratra have very little experience between them. With a vital unbeaten 22 that saw India to victory on the final day of the decisive third Test against Australia at Chennai in March, Dighe seems to have done enough to catch the eye of the selectors.

The opening batsmen, Sadagoppan Ramesh and Shiv Sunder Das will lose no sleep this evening. The pair have done more than enough to be guaranteed of their places. With almost no competition for the openers' slots, Das and Ramesh will make the tour to Zimbabwe. In the middle order, India's greatest strength, VVS Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Ganguly will call the shots. Hemang Badani has done well in the few chances he has got in limited overs cricket, and has impressed with his levelheadedness.

No prizes for guessing who the number one spinner will be. With 32 wickets in the three match series against Australia, Harbhajan Singh is easily the strike bowler of the lot. Anil Kumble, still out with a shoulder injury has had an uneven record - doing exceptionally well at home while flattering to deceive abroad. Whether Harbhajan Singh will go the same way remains to be seen. The Punjab offspinner however, can take heart from the fact that the Zimbabwe batting line up has plenty of left handers in it. As during the series against Australia the second spinner's place is still very much up for grabs.

With only two of the five national selectors in Bangalore on Wednesday, one day before the final 15 is selected, indications are clear that the team is unlikely to be drastically different from the one that played against Australia.