Adding injuries to insult

Yuvraj and Harbhajan ruled out for remainder of Test series; Kohli,Ojha as replacements.

Virender Sehwag travelled from London airport to Northampton. Yuvraj Singh who along with Harbhajan Singh was ruled out of the Test series moved from Nottingham to London to see a doctor. The Indian team,while waiting for just-named replacements Virat Kohli and Pragyan Ojha,took the road trip from Nottingham to Northampton. Wednesday was a topsy-turvy day here.

A couple of days before the tour game,sandwiched between the second and third Tests,one needed the skills of a receptionist at a busy hotel to keep a tab on the arrivals and departures in the Indian team. So far in the series,there has always been a lot of suspense over the playing eleven but now even guessing the squad strength of the tourists is a challenge. An even more demanding task is the head count of players who are match fit. Harbhajan is still travelling with the team.

The word from the Indian camp is that while the two regulars Gautam Gambhir and Zaheer Khan are likely to be fit for the third Test,they will sit out the two-day practice game against Northamptonshire,starting on Friday,to extend their rest and rehabilitation.

After two humiliating losses,if India were looking to regroup before the Edgbaston Test that starts on August 10,the circumstances were not favourable. As two rank juniors take the slots left vacant by Yuvraj and Harbhajan,not just the team strength but even the dressing room equations are set to change. The switch in manpower means duty charts have to be remade and a fresh work distribution tabulated. The problem aggravates since the team is in a flux,helmed by a new coach,who is still trying to understand the Indian setup and mentality,and an out-of-form skipper,who is on the verge of his first series loss.

Those in the know say that the team,who arent in the habit of losing certainly not the kind of humiliation they suffered here are finding it hard to deal with the criticism. From the time Dhoni took over as captain,India are on an upswing and havent suffered any major setback apart from two World T20s. For the first time,his teammates are seeing Dhoni when the chips are down. The team,like fans,are trying to find out how the man of few words,who doesnt believe in lengthy team meetings,will be able to motivate the disillusioned squad.

Shot in the arm

The biggest reassurance that the team got once they checked in here this afternoon was the presence of Sehwag in the team hotel. The opener on the mend has it in him to lift the spirit of the side. And that isnt just with his batting. His trademark song-on-the-lips approach to pressure can be the antidote that Dhoni amp; Co. desperately want. Thats his off-the-field value addition. While the shot of adrenaline he gives the batsmen with his usual authoritative knock is all too famous to mention.

Sehwag spent most of the day in his room dealing with jet-lag. The Indians will hope that with the old opener back in the squad,they will see a new beginning in this sleepy town.