Yuvraj set to get Ganguly’s slot

But a day before the selectors were to sit at Chennai to pick the squad for the two Tests against England, there was a U-turn. The day started with the Hyderabad Cricket Association issuing a press release saying that Laxman was missing the game because of personal reasons (it must be recalled that Laxman’s second child was born a day before the Hyderabad team landed in Mumbai), and it ended with coach Kanwaljit saying that he was misquoted.

With doubts over Laxman’s fitness now cleared, the selection committee meeting in Chennai on Thursday is expected to go on predictable lines. Keeping in mind India’s triumph over world champions Australia in the last series, no surprises look to be on the cards. The one change that is inevitable is in the middle-order, which will be without Sourav Ganguly who retired during the final Test against Australia at Nagpur.

But that too seems to be a no-brainer, considering Yuvraj Singh’s form in the one-dayers against England. While it remains to be seen if it will be a straight Yuvraj for Ganguly swap in the playing XI, the squad for the England series will see minimum changes.

M Vijay, who had an impressive debut against Australia, might not find a place in the team since Gautam Gambhir’s one-match ban is over but he is likely to be retained in the squad. Subramanium Badrinath might be retained since he has been on drinks duty from the time he has been picked, but it wouldn’t come as a surprise if Saurashtra batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, on the back of his amazing run-making streak in Ranji Trophy, gets a chance to get an international feel.

Considering their phenomenal show against the Aussies, the bowling department might not see major chopping and changing either. If at all there is a change in the bowling department, it might be pacer RP Singh losing out to a third spinner after Harbhajan Singh and Amit Mishra in the squad.