The inscrutable selectors

Baffling are the ways of Indian selectors. In selecting the India 8216;A8217; team for England, they could have chosen the time-tested for...

Baffling are the ways of Indian selectors. In selecting the India 8216;A8217; team for England, they could have chosen the time-tested format of three opening batsmen, four middle-order batsmen, a wicketkeeper, one all-rounder, three seamers and two spinners in the 14. A simple method of preparing for all conditions and for combatting all opposition.

Here, where the selectors had the added advantage of being able to choose 16 instead of 14, they goofed up as usual, losing, most significantly, the basic balance of the side. In my book, the side should have had one extra wicketkeeper-batsman, and an all-rounder, preferably a leggie, seeing that countries like England find it difficult to negotiate them.

Add to that the fact that the team has more than a tinge of regionalism in it, probably with an eye on retaining the seats in next season8217;s election for the selection committee. How else can a team have four opening batsmen, no off-spinner, no extra wicketkeeper and most importantly, without those who have already proved their potential and the talent and temperament to play for the nation in the near future?

What about Sadagopan Ramesh, who has been scoring consistently in domestic cricket as an opener and has got runs often enough when he opened for India? He has 50s against England, Kenya, Pakistan, Australia, Zimbabwe and West Indies in one-day internationals, and three fifties against Pakistan and two centuries against Sri Lanka and New Zealand in Test matches. His last 50 was away against Sri Lanka. Compare that record with the captain of the India 8216;A8217; squad 8211; Shiv Sundar Das 8211; whose highest international Test score in the last 10 innings is 35.

Experts argue that his technique is flawed. Surely they should look at his scores and his temperament, which is most vital if one is to play international cricket. Sarandeep Singh 8211; the off-spinner who is India8217;s automatic choice if Harbhajan Singh is unavailable 8211; has been totally neglected. Same is the case with Ajay Ratra who should have gone on the tour as the No.1 wicketkeeper. He is not only the best 8217;keeper in the country at the moment, eh also wields a mean willow. And we don8217;t need to look further than his fighting century against West Indies in West Indies for vindication of the point.

One also feels sorry for Sairaj Bahutule and Ramesh Powar, both from Mumbai. Both are good allrounders, and played important roles in Mumbai8217;s Ranji-winning effort this season. Both of them displayed fabulous form this season and if one is not included when in good nick, Amol Mazumdar is a good example to check. The tour might turn out to be a happy hunting ground for those selected, of course, because they reach in the end-season and will play on worn out slow pitches. And England8217;s no Australia, the country we8217;ll visit immediately after. That will be the real test then, especially if any of the India 8216;A8217; boys get picked in the senior side.