Second opener’s slot: Sourav leaves it wide open

Sourav Ganguly today sought to put the lid on the controversy over the second opener’s slot in Tests, saying the partner for Virender Sehwag would be decided only after judging the performance of the players in the upcoming one-day tournaments.

Ganguly said India were scheduled to play Tests only after a few months and any decision on composition of the side would be taken keeping in mind the interest of the team at large. “There is still five-six months to go for the team to play a Test match. Presently the team will play in one-dayers. After seeing the form of the players in the one-dayers, we will decide on the second opener’s slot,” Ganguly told reporters here.

“Whatever is best for the team, would be done,” he said while responding to a question on whether Yuvraj Singh would be asked to don the opener’s mantle. Seeking to downplay the recent remarks made by Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar over the choice of Yuvraj, the captain said, “Sehwag and Tendulkar have made no adverse remark on choice of Yuvraj as second opener. It is merely an opinion of both the players. We will do whatever is best for the team.”