Laxman uncertain, Bollinger out of second Test
India keep batting hero VVS Laxman under wraps ahead of the final Test against Australia which starts today.
BANGALORE:
India kept batting hero VVS Laxman under wraps ahead of the final Test against Australia which starts today, as the tourists lost fast-bowler Doug Bollinger to injury.
Laxman, who defied back spasms to score a match-winning 73 not out in the first Test in Mohali, sat out of training for the second successive day as captain MS Dhoni said the middle-order batsman was recovering well but refused to confirm if Laxman will play the decisive Test.
“He is feeling much better and we would love it if he plays, but the team will take a final call on his fitness before the toss,” said Dhoni. “It’s a five-day game and that’s a long time to be on the field. Everyone is available for selection as of now, except perhaps Laxman.”
India will consider the fact that Australia are unlikely to allow Laxman to bat with a runner, as he did in Mohali. The hosts have already lost opening batsman Gautam Gambhir and seamer Ishant Sharma for the match due to knee injuries sustained during the first Test.
Opener Murali Vijay and fast-bowler Sreesanth are almost certain to replace the injured duo, while batsman Cheteshwar Pujara was standing by for Laxman. Dhoni warned of an Australian backlash after the heart-breaking one-wicket defeat for the tourists and warned his top-ranked team against being complacent.
“Australia will come up hard, it is not in their culture to give up easily. They’re a strong side and will respond to the task.”
Ricky Ponting’s team faces a stern test to draw the series after India pulled off a great escape in Mohali. Left-arm fast-bowler Bollinger, who missed the crucial final stages of the match with an abdominal strain, was ruled out of the second Test and was likely to be replaced by Peter George.
After a discussion in a team meeting, Ponting said, “We tried to stay away from the result in our meeting, because the result was hard for us to accept.”
“But there were so many good things we did throughout the game. Probably a little more consistency in our middle-order batting is needed.”
Both sides delayed naming their playing elevens as they waited for the damp wicket to dry. Rain has been forecast on all five days of the match.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 9th, 2010.
India kept batting hero VVS Laxman under wraps ahead of the final Test against Australia which starts today, as the tourists lost fast-bowler Doug Bollinger to injury.
Laxman, who defied back spasms to score a match-winning 73 not out in the first Test in Mohali, sat out of training for the second successive day as captain MS Dhoni said the middle-order batsman was recovering well but refused to confirm if Laxman will play the decisive Test.
“He is feeling much better and we would love it if he plays, but the team will take a final call on his fitness before the toss,” said Dhoni. “It’s a five-day game and that’s a long time to be on the field. Everyone is available for selection as of now, except perhaps Laxman.”
India will consider the fact that Australia are unlikely to allow Laxman to bat with a runner, as he did in Mohali. The hosts have already lost opening batsman Gautam Gambhir and seamer Ishant Sharma for the match due to knee injuries sustained during the first Test.
Opener Murali Vijay and fast-bowler Sreesanth are almost certain to replace the injured duo, while batsman Cheteshwar Pujara was standing by for Laxman. Dhoni warned of an Australian backlash after the heart-breaking one-wicket defeat for the tourists and warned his top-ranked team against being complacent.
“Australia will come up hard, it is not in their culture to give up easily. They’re a strong side and will respond to the task.”
Ricky Ponting’s team faces a stern test to draw the series after India pulled off a great escape in Mohali. Left-arm fast-bowler Bollinger, who missed the crucial final stages of the match with an abdominal strain, was ruled out of the second Test and was likely to be replaced by Peter George.
After a discussion in a team meeting, Ponting said, “We tried to stay away from the result in our meeting, because the result was hard for us to accept.”
“But there were so many good things we did throughout the game. Probably a little more consistency in our middle-order batting is needed.”
Both sides delayed naming their playing elevens as they waited for the damp wicket to dry. Rain has been forecast on all five days of the match.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 9th, 2010.