Selector’s choice: Patel wants Srinath back

Srinath, who is currently playing county cricket in England, announced his retirement from Test cricket after the tour of West Indies earlier this year. Though he wished to continue in one-day format, he was ignored for the series of England that followed.

Patel said, “Players like Srinath can walk into any team” and felt his presence would add sting to the Indian new-ball attack.

Patel said he would also review the performance of other “fringe players” who could be useful to the team for the World Cup campaign.

Patel, who himself had recieved a raw deal by the then cricket establishment during his prime days, stressed that he would like to see that no player should feel deprived at any stage.

Four wickets in seven balls

Meanwhile, Srinath took four wickets in seven balls, including a hat-trick, on the second day of Leicestershire’s first division match against already crowned county champions Surrey at The Oval yesterday.

Surrey seemed set for a score in excess of 500, when Srinath reduced the hosts from 493 for six to 494 all out. First England leg-spinner Ian Salisbury was bowled for a fourth ball duck.

Then England medium-fast bowler Jimmy Ormond (0) faced the same number of balls before being caught by second slip Darren Stevens off the last ball of the over.

Srinath bowled Surrey captain Adam Hollioake (20) with the first ball of his next over before completing his hat-trick when last-man Philip Sampson’s stumps were knocked over with the batsman playing no stroke.

Srinath finished with fine figures of five for 114 off 26.2 overs, an analysis all the more impressive after his first day’s work had seen him take just one for 70 off 18 overs.

At stumps, Leicestershire were 303 for five with England-discard Darren Maddy 109 not out.