No real surprises

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But for the welcome inclusion of young Parthiv Patel, there are no real surprises in the Indian squads for the one-day tri-series and the Test matches in England. And why should there be? Despite recent reverses abroad, there is very little scope for making sweeping changes in the squad that, quite predictably, is composed of established stars, youngsters who are hopefully are on their way up and players who despite failures of late deserve another chance to prove themselves.

Indeed, both the Test and one-day squads are quite watertight these days and it would require an astonishing feat, amazing consistency or a young player with exceptional talent and ability to get in. And there is no doubt that Patel is uncommonly gifted.

Playing in various age-group competitions, the 17-year-old from Gujarat exhibited his skill early and as captain of the Indian under-19 side, he has displayed maturity far beyond his age. An admirer of Adam Gilchrist, the left-handed Patel is known to pace his innings with a blend of calculated attack and rock-solid defence. But he has made it clear that he wants to make his mark first with his work behind the stumps. "I am a wicketkeeper/batsman, not a basman/wicketkeeper"he is quoted to have said and this can only be good news for Indian cricket.

There was never really much chance of Javagal Srinath making the limited overs side once he had announced his retirement from Test cricket. He missed a number of one-day competitions over the last few years, preferring to conserve his energies for Test matches. As the series in the West Indies proved, he is over the hill and the selectors have done well in turning their backs on him. It is time now to look to the future, with the focus firmly on next year's World Cup and the present quartet of Tinu Yohannan, Ashish Nehra, Ajit Agarkar and Zaheer Khan look good enough to represent India even a year from now, provided they make the most of the opportunities the tour of England will present them.

It is not often that India have gone to England with just two specialist spin bowlers in the Test squad. But in taking only Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh, the selectors have underscored the theory that seam, more than spin, will be required in England. Srinath and Venkatesh Prasad proved this in England in 1996 and in the post-spin-quartet period, bowlers like Kapil Dev, Roger Binny and Chetan Sharma have both done the bulk of the bowling as well taken the majority of the wickets though spinners like Maninder Singh and Dilip Doshi have had their moments.

It is a pity that Murali Kartik had to be left out but once Kumble was declared fit, this was always on the cards. Kartik should not take his omission to heart and instead must continue to work hard to get back into the side.

The selectors have done well in persisting with Shiv Sundar Das despite his failures in the West Indies. Too often has this unfair and short-term policy of hiring and firing dealt an adverse impact on the team. Das and Wasim Jaffer are still our best bet for a durable opening pair and it is hoped that the duo will make the most of their chances and solve Indian cricket's long standing problem. As an insurance, the inclusion of Sanjay Bangar as a reserve opening batsman-cum-utility player is most welcome.

As to the regulars in both the squads, one can only hope that they live up to their reputation. The youthful tilt in the oneday squad, thanks to the presence of players like Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Dinesh Mongia and Virender Sehwag, is bound to give fielding standards a fillip. Sehwag, of course, is also in the Test squad and about the only iota of doubt is to whether his airy-fairy, blustery kind of batting can come good in England, given the fact that Krish Srikkanth was not exactly a success on the 1986 tour.

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Agarkar, another player in both the squads, gets yet another opportunity to cement his place in the Test side. One sincerely hopes he grabs this chance with both hands. The slimly built Mumbai all-rounder is undoubtedly gifted but his performances have not seen him live up to his potential. This could well be a make-or-break tour for him.