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| October 6, 2002 | Sunday | Rajab 28, 1423 |
Srinath makes return for WI Tests
BANGALORE, Oct 5: Fast bowler Javagal Srinath has returned from Test retirement for the first two games of a three-Test home series against West Indies starting in Mumbai next week.
The 33-year-old Srinath was included in a 14-player squad named by the national selectors Saturday.
Srinath, who announced his retirement in June after a five-Test West Indies series, recently reversed his decision, the Indian board secretary Karunakaran Nair told reporters after the selection meeting.
“He has sent a letter to the board saying he is reconsidering his decision and will be available for the West Indies series,” Nair said.
Srinath has taken 232 wickets at 30.46 runs apiece in 64 Tests to be India’s second most successful fast bowler behind Kapil Dev’s record Test haul of 434.
He abruptly retired from Tests on his return from West Indies but he was keen to continue playing one-day games to be in contention for next year’s World Cup in South Africa.
Skipper Saurav Ganguly unsuccessfully tried to persuade him to return for a four-Test series in England, but said during last month’s Champions Trophy that he has had a change of mind.
Srinath played his first India game for four months in the Champions Trophy final against hosts Sri Lanka last weekend as a replacement for injured left-arm seamer Ashish Nehra.
Nehra, who was ruled out because of a torn webbing in his bowling hand, will be considered only if he passes a fitness test Monday.
Uncapped Amit Mishra was included as the second leg spinner along with Anil Kumble in the only other change made by the selectors from the squad which drew 1-1 in England.
The talented 19-year-old who plays for the northern Haryana state in the national Ranji trophy competition, came into contention after bagging 67 wickets from 15 games.
The selectors axed wicket-keeper Ajay Ratra from the squad which toured England.
The first Test will be played from Oct 9 to 13 followed by matches in Chennai (Oct 17 to 21) and Kolkata (Oct 30 to Nov 3).
SQUAD: Saurav Ganguly (captain), Shiv Sundar Das, Sanjay Bangar, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Vangipurappu Laxman, Parthiv Patel, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Javagal Srinath, Ashish Nehra, Amit Mishra.—Reuters
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