"Selectors decide the final eleven"

NAGPUR, Nov 30: In Indian cricket, it is not the captain or coach who decides on the playing eleven during a series at home but a selector....

NAGPUR, Nov 30: In Indian cricket, it is not the captain or coach who decides on the playing eleven during a series at home but a selector. The startling fact came to the fore when captain Sachin Tendulkar was grilled by newsmen today over the omission of Venkatesh Prasad from the ongoing Test series on conditions suitable for seam bowling.

“The final eleven is picked by the selectors,” he said. “Even one selector present at the venue can decide on the final eleven. The selectors are the final authority,” he explained, adding, “but we do have a talk before choosing a particular player.”

The Indian team management has came under heavy criticism for overlooking Prasad. Former England skipper, TV commentator and columnist Geoff Boycott had raised the issue through his column published in this paper yesterday, highlighting Prasad’s abilities.

Tendulkar also set aside the criticism that captaincy was affecting his batting. “I’m averaging around 65 in Tests this year as captain which is very good. I am not doing well only in one-dayers,” he said.

“I don’t think there is any flaw in my technique. I was bowled for the first time by a ball which brushed the inside of my thigh pad. It has never happened before,” he explained. “We would have gone all out for a win and put them under tremendous pressure as the ball was already turning,” he added.

We want to batter India’

Sri Lankan manager Duleep Mendis is very eager to add another gem to the world champs’ crown. He wants to beat the Indians in their own domain.“It will be a fantastic feat to go home with a win in this series. We will certainly not play for a draw in the Mumbai Test. We don’t want to lose or share the honours with them we want to batter them this time,” said the confident Sri Lankan manager while speaking to The Indian Express here today.