Martin, Dighe barge in ahead of veterans

Martin, Dighe barge in ahead of veterans
EXPRESS NEWS SERVICE

Selectors ignore unfit Jadeja while making 5 changes
MUMBAI, DEC 30: The Indian cricket team management comprising captain Sachin Tendulkar, vice-captain Saurav Ganguly and coach Kapil Dev had the final say on Thursday in ruling out ex-captain Mohammad Azharuddin from the forthcoming tri-series in Australia.

``There was a lot of discussion on Azharuddin. But the team management felt that since they have a young team, they should continue with it. In fact, we are continuing with our policy of looking ahead,'' remarked National selection committee chairman Chandu Borde after emerging from a marathon meeting of the panel lasting more than three hours, which included a tele-conference with the team's think-tank in Australia.

Also benched with Azhar were two senior members Ajay Jadeja and wicket-keeper Nayan Mongia by the national selectors, who affected six changes from the Test squad currently touring Australia. While Jadeja was ignored on medical grounds, Mongia case wasn't even discussed, according to Borde.

Venkata Sai Laxman, MSK Prasad, Harbhajan Singh, T Kumaran, Vijay Bharadwaj and Sadagopan Ramesh, who fractured his thumb during the Melbourne Test, are the casualties of the 16-member Test squad pruned to 15 for the tri-series.Propelled into the spotlight were Mumbai wicket-keeper Sameer Dighe and Vadodara middle-order batsmen Jacob Martin, who form the five-member replacement squad that also features Robin Singh, Nikhil Chopra and Sunil Joshi.

Lacklusture performances were the reasons cited for the axing of Bharadwaj, Prasad, Harbhajan and Laxman while Kumaran couldn't figure in the think-tank's plans. ``The team-management felt the need of only four medium-pacers. We have to consider the team combination too. It is unfortunate that we had to omit him,'' explained Borde dwelling on Kumaran's exclusion.

Commenting on 31-year-old Dighe's inclusion, Borde said: ``The selection committee was unanimous in its decision that MSK Prasad's wicket-keeping was not upto the mark. So Dighe, who is also a good striker, of the ball was considered. Besides, he can also be useful as an opener.''

Dighe's cause was supported by coach of the India A coach Roger Binny's report on the team's recent tour to West Indies which lauded the wicket-keeper batsman's abilities.

With the injured Ramesh being ruled out of the tri-series, Dighe alongwith Devang Gandhi, who was lucky to retain his place, are being touted to open the innings with skipper Sachin Tendulkar. In the event, Saurav Ganguly might be asked to strengthen the middle-order paving way for a new opening pair in the limited-overs tournament.

Terming the Indians' performances in the first two Tests as ``unsatisfactory'', Borde hoped they would improve at Sydney and the tri-series.

In
Jacob Martin, Robin Singh Sr, Nikhil Chopra, Sunil Joshi, Sameer Dighe, VVS Laxman

Out
Sadagopan Ramesh, Vijay Bharadwaj, T Kumaran, Harbhajan Singh, MSK Prasad

Team
Sachin Tendulkar (captain), Saurav Ganguly (vice-captain), Devang Gandhi, Rahul Dravid, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, Jacob Martin, Robin Singh, Sameer Dighe (wicket-keeper), Sunil Joshi, Nikhil Chopra, Ajit Agarkar, Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, Debashis Mohanty, Venkatesh Prasad.

Other players considered for selection: Mohammed Azharuddin, Reuben Paul (Tamil Nadu wicket-keeper), Mohammad Kaif (Uttar Pradesh middle-order batsman), Virender Sehwag (Delhi all-rounder) and Reetinder Singh Sodhi (Punjab all-rounder).