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Mon, 17th Mar 2008  Bangalore: Indian selectors decided to go in with the tried, tested and even the failed, as they announced the squad for the opening two matches of an upcoming Test series against South Africa here on Monday.
The superb form of Delhi openers Akash Chopra and Gautam Gambhir could not earn them Test berths as the selection committee headed by Dilip Vengsarkar opted for Wasim Jaffer, a disappointment on the recent tour of Australia.
Chopra, who scored in excess of 1,400 runs in first-class cricket this season, can only count himself as unlucky. The 30-year-old, who last figured in Tests against Australia at home in 2004, was considered a sure shot selection. Gambhir, who made way for another Delhi opener, Virender Sehwag, for the Tests in Australia because of an injury, has also been in superb touch in the shorter version at the international level as well as in first-class cricket. The left-hander had scored centuries in the semifinal and final of the Ranji Trophy this year and was also a consistent run-getter in the tri-series in Australia which India won in style.
There were no changes in the middle-order either, as Yuvraj Singh kept his place despite aggregating just 17 runs in four innings in the Melbourne and Sydney Tests and being dropped for the subsequent two Test matches.
The experienced foursome of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and VVS Laxman took the middle-order places while left-arm spinner Murali Kartik was selected as the third spinner after Harbhajan and skipper Anil Kumble. Young leg-spinner Piyush Chawla was named a stand-by slow bowler as Kartik has a twisted ankle and Harbhajan is suffering from a hamstring injury.
Harbhajan, along with wicketkeepr Mahendra Dhoni, will undergo a test on March 21, to ascertain their ability to figure in the opening Test in Chennai from March 26. Dinesh Karthik will replace Dhoni in case he is declared unfit.
Meanwhile, pace sensation Ishant Sharma was ruled out of the first Test. He will be considered for the second Test if he recovers in time from injuries to his toe and finger.
Irfan Pathan, S. Sreesanth and R.P. Singh were the three pace bowlers named in the squad.
South Africa tour India after winning both their Tests in Bangladesh, apart from a 3-0 pasting of the home side in the ODIs.
The squad:
Anil Kumble (capt), Mahendra Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, Wasim Jaffer, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Dinesh Karthik, Harbhajan Singh, Murali Kartik, Irfan Pathan, S. Sreesanth, R.P. Singh.
Reserve: Piyush Chawla; Dinesh Karthik.  | 
