The humiliating 10-wicket defeat in the first Test in Wellington has left not just mental scars among the Indians but visible physical ones too with two key players suffering from injuries.Opener Sanjay Bangar and all-rounder Ajit Agarkar were hit by rising deliveries on a fast and bouncy pitch in Wellington and with just two days to go for the start of the second Test here, both are yet to recover from their injuries.Bangar was hit on his right index finger by a lifting delivery from Shane Bond while the nail on Agarkar’s middle finger on right hand is bruised and numb because of a similar hit at Basin Reserve.“The blood clot in Ajit Agarkar’s finger has been drained out but he is under observation. The same is true of Sanjay (Bangar),” said physio Andrew Leipus.Team manager N R Choudhary said there would be a test conducted on Bangar and Agarkar tomorrow to ascertain if the two would be fit for the second Test.“We would have a test on Sanjay and Ajit tomorrow. It is important to know the state of their fitness because we can’t take any chances,” said Choudhary.India’s preparation has been hampered because neither Bangar nor Agarkar have been able to avail practice since the Test ended last Saturday.Bangar, somewhat a lucky mascot as India has won seven of the 11 Tests he has played in, looked in good touch in both the innings at Basin Reserve but his stays were cut short by umpiring decisions which appeared a bit too harsh.Agarkar, on the other hand, was a disappointment with both bat and ball in the Test though he could have had the scalp of man-of-the-match Mark Richardson had VVS Laxman been alert in the second slip.Bangar was one of the three Indian cricketers - along with Ajay Ratra and Murali Kartik - to be at the Westpac Trust Park straightaway after the team arrived here from Wellington this afternoon.The Railways all-rounder needs as much practice as possible to get used to the conditions while Agarkar too needs to get his line and length right if India is to appear a good bowling force in the second Test.The Indian are certain to include medium-pacer Tinu Yohannan in the line-up as the Kerala medium-pacer impressed everyone with his pace and bounce in the last two practice sessions at Basin Reserve.Yohannan played his second and last Test against England at Ahmedabad exactly a year ago. He has four wickets from two Tests at an average of 53.25. (PTI)
