India search for right answer

How to counter left-arm spinner Harris the main focus as Laxmans return creates selection dilemma in the Indian camp.

VVS Laxmans return to the Test side will be a boost to the struggling Indian middle-order,but it is almost certain to cause a strange selection headache to the team management. Before suffering an innings defeat in the first Test against South Africa in Nagpur,the India think-tank had found it hard to plug the yawning gaps in the middle-order due to the absence of Rahul Dravid,Laxman and Yuvraj Singh. Now,as the Indian batting line-up regains some strength with Laxmans presence,the teams plan of countering left-arm spinner Paul Harris with the inclusion of Suresh Raina is bound to throw up the problem of who to leave out.

With no other left-handed batsman in the side after opener Gautam Gambhir,Raina had been called into the squad to provide cushion to the right-handers as they attempted to counter Harriss negative leg-stump line. The spinner had choked the Indian batsmen in Nagpur with this tactic,dismissing Murali Vijay,Sachin Tendulkar and skipper MS Dhoni in the second innings,to return figures of 38-17-76-3.

While Raina was earlier considered a direct replacement for Wriddhiman Saha dropped after a woeful debut the situation has changed with Laxmans return. Only two out of three players Raina,Vijay and S Badrinath can now make it to the final XI and,according to highly placed sources,Raina looks set as of now to make his debut,leaving a difficult choice between between Vijay 227 runs in four Tests and Badrinath who impressed the selectors with a fifty on debut.

The team management thinks the left-handed Raina,who is a good player of spin bowling,can upset Harriss plan and rhythm. Of course,the final decision will be taken after reaching Kolkata and seeing the conditions there, the team source said.

A national selector,who did not wish to be named,added that it was likely Vijay would be retained in the playing XI. He hasnt done badly. He was out to a brilliant Dale Steyn delivery in the first innings,and played well in the second. He is the right choice at No 3 in Dravids absence, the selector said. While one would have expected Badrinaths half-century to insulate him for the Eden Gardens Test,the India batting order is bound to see some readjustments.

There could be some changes in the bowling attack as well,with the most notable difference going into the Kolkata Test being that,after a string of average performances,Harbhajans place in the side does not remain a certainty. After Anil Kumbles retirement,Harbhajan was the clear spearhead of the spin attack,but so far he has failed live up to the expectations, the selector said.

With the No.1 Test ranking on the line,the think-tank have a lot to take care of before Sundays fixture.