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Dravid excited by Sachin’s form

INDIA captain Rahul Dravid is confident Sachin Tendulkar has great days ahead of him on the United Kingdom tour after seeing the ‘Little Master’ make 99 against South Africa at Stormont.

Tendulkar’s innings – his first 99 in a limited-overs international career of 386 matches, featuring 41 hundreds – couldn’t prevent India slumping to a four-wicket defeat in the opening fixture of a three-game series against the Proteas at the Belfast venue.

But Dravid, who made 74 as he helped Tendulkar to add 158 for the third wicket, was buoyed by his teammate’s form.

“He’s very keen to have a good tour of England,” Dravid said of his fellow 34 year old.

“He does realise, along with a lot of us, that this probably will be the last time he will be touring in the UK.”

Tendulkar’s innings left him just 50 runs short of becoming the first batsman to score 15,000 runs in limted-overs international.

He can reasonably be expected to pass the milestone either in the two remaining matches in Belfast or in the seven limited-overs internationals against England in August and September that follow a three-Test series due to start at Lord’s on July 19.

Tendulkar’s latest innings was not exactly a vintage effort.

For a start, it lasted 143 balls; only four times in his limited-overs international career has he batted for longer.

Tendulkar went onto a large century on each of those occasions, his lowest score being 141 not out, against West Indies in Kuala Lumpur last September.

But there were signs with some of his 12 fours that Tendulkar had retained his touch despite the passing of the years.

He struck Charl Langeveldt square through the offside off the backfoot and then drove the medium-pace bowler straight down the ground with the minimum amount of visible effort.

However, age appared to be catching up with Tendulkar when, going for a risky second that would have given him his hundred, he was run out by a throw from Morne van Wyk to wicketkeeper Mark Boucher.

“It’s a good start,” Dravid said.

“It’s the early part of the tour. We are coming from 45 degrees (heat) and totally different wickets and I thought for the batsmen to hit some early form is a good sign.”

At the other end of the age spectrum, 18-year-old leg spinner Piyush Chawla, playing just his third limited-overs international, took 3-47 in 10 overs in conditions stacked against slow bowlers.

His wickets included that of van Wyk, who made 44 before lobbing a catch to cover after getting a leading edge to a genuine leg break while playing across the line, and star batsman Herschelle Gibbs, out for five when bowled by a ball of full length.

Dravid praised Chawla, the successor to Anil Kumble following the leg spinner’s post-Cricket World Cup retirement from limited-overs internationals.

“I think he acquitted himself very well, considering the conditions,” Dravid said.

“It’s not a track that really helps the spinners too much. It was really cold and for a leg spinner, it wasn’t easy to grip the ball.

“But the more he can bowl in these conditions the more he is going to learn and it’s going to be good for his growth and development as a cricketer.”

That India took the match into the last over said much for its resilience after more than half their 14-man squad were struck down with flu.

Wicketkeeper batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the first player to fall ill, fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth and medium-pace bowler Ajit Agarkar, all of whom were among the worst affected, missed the series opener.

Gavaskar-led committee faces snub from ICC

The Sunil Gavaskar-led cricket committee of International Cricket Council (ICC) is likely to meet a snub from its executive committee this Sunday in London.

Most of the recommendations of the cricket committee are likely to be turned down at this annual meeting in Lord’s and surprisingly, the initiative would be at the behest of Indian cricket board.

Board secretary Niranjan Shah left for England on Thursday stating in clear terms his board wouldn’t back the startling measure proposed by Gavaskar-headed committee.

The cricket committee, including luminaries such as Gavaskar, former Australia captain Mark Taylor, Sri Lanka captain Mahela Jayawardene, ex-West Indian fast bowler Michael Holder, umpire Simon Taufel and chief ICC match referee Ranjan Madugalle, have made some startling recommendation to ICC after a meeting in Dubai last month.

A few prominent suggestions from the committee include:

(a) changes in the Power Play regulation which would allow three men outside the circle; (b) The captain of the batting side should be allowed to choose when to opt for one of them; (c) Mandatory change of balls in ODIs after 35 overs; (d) Introduction of a free hit for the delivery after a front-foot no-ball.

Said Shah: “Too many changes actually end up confusing cricket supporters and spectators and we are not in favour of them.

“We’re open to the ide of having three men outside the circle as it’ll only encourage spinners to bowl early. But we’re against the idea of the batting captain choosing one power play as it’ll further push the game in batsman’s favour.”

“Free hits are not part of cricket and once again it’ll be too harsh on the bowlers.

“The mandatory change of ball after 35 overs will be a redundant exercise as the umpires are allowed to change the ball at any stage of the game.”

India, even with its’ shrinking power lobby, has an enormous presence in the ICC and is expected to carry the day against these recommendations.

It’s also a reflection of how Gavaskar’s base in his own country is eroding after power changed hands in the board and Jagmohan Dalmiya was displaced by present board chief Sharad Pawar.

One of the first setbacks to Gavaskar in the changed situation was his removal as chief of the National Cricket Academy (NCA).

The Chief Executive Committee’s (CEC) agenda also includes the signing off of the playing conditions for the ICC World Twenty20 2007 and discussion on the umpiring task force proposed by the cricket committee.

The CEC comprises the chief executives of the 10 Test-play nations and three representatives from the ICC associate members. It’s chaired by the ICC’s chief executive officer, in this case Malcolm Speed.
On a different scale, the ICC board will also discuss the matter surrounding Zimbabwe and it’s possible return to Test cricket in November.

India summon bowling cover

India have called up medium-pace bowlers Rakesh Patel, Ishant Sharma and Ranadeb Bose for the one-day series against South Africa which starts today in Belfast as several members of the squad have a viral infection.

“Ajit Agarkar, (Shanthakumaran) Sreesanth and (Mahendra) Dhoni are still to recover fully,” board secretary Niranjan Shah said in a statement yesterday.

“As a precautionary measure the team management…has requested Rakesh Patel of Baroda, who is currently playing league cricket in England, reach Northern Ireland tomorrow.”

Uncapped Patel, 28, is a consistent performer in domestic cricket.

“The board is also making arrangements for Ishant Sharma and Ranadeb Bose to join the team within the next two days,” added Shah. Sharma and Bose are part of the test squad for next month’s tour of England.

India captain Rahul Dravid told reporters at Stormont that wicket-keeper batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the first to fall ill, fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, medium-pacer Agit Agarkar, off-spinner Ramesh Powar and left-arm quick Rudra Pratap Singh were all suffering from viral fever and flu.

Dravid added he too was feeling unwell as were batsman Yuvraj Singh and left-arm pace bowler Zaheer Khan.

“Quite a few boys in our team are suffering from viral fever and flu,” and symptoms of that kind,” Dravid explained. “Sreesanth, Agit Agarkar, Dhoni, RP Singh and Ramesh Powar have not come to practice today (Monday).

“There are other guys like Yuvraj Singh, myself, Zaheer Khan and Robin (Singh, the fielding coach) who are feeling a bit down.”

“It’s not an ideal situation for us to be in,” said Dravid. ”There’s not much we can do about it. Hopefully we can get 11 guys fit on the park and play a good game of cricket.”

Experienced batsman Dravid added some thought had been given to moving today’s match to Wednesday but said such an idea was ultimately impractical.

“We did look at that option but obviously there are a lot of things that go into organising a one-day game.

And Dravid added the current situation opened up possibilities for inexperienced players such as teenage leg-spinner Piyush Chawla to take a leading role. “It’s a good opportunity for some of these young guys, to test themselves against good opposition in conditions they are not really used to.”

London-based Nitin Patel will provide cover for injured India physiotherapist John Gloster who tripped over a boundary rope at Stormont last Friday and broke his hand.

India and South Africa are set to complete their series on Sunday.

After that series, India play arch-rivals Pakistan in a one-day international in Glasgow on July 3.

They then face England in three Tests and seven one-dayers from July 19-September 8.
India opened their tour with a nine wicket win in a one-day international against Ireland at Stormont on Saturday where specialist keeper Dinesh Karthik, in the original one-day squad, played instead of Dhoni.

Indian batsmen to reduce weight of bats

Indian batsmen hope to add punch to their willows by reducing its’ weight on the gruelling trip to Ireland and England which began on Saturday.

India took on a depleted Ireland in a one-day international on Saturday to launch a trip which would square them up against South Africa in two one-day internationals, a solitary tie against Pakistan followed by three Tests and seven one-day games in England stretching from June to September.

The conditions in this part of the world necessitates that batsmen don’t commit themselves too much on the front foot and rather let the ball come on to bat in order to negate its’ last-minute movement.

Such a late movement is peculiar to English conditions because of overcast sky and lush, green grounds.

Hence from Sachin Tendulkar to Yuvraj Singh to VVS Laxman and a host of young batsmen in the squad have dramatically reduced the weight of their bats for the present twin tours.

Tendulkar, once known to wield one of the heaviest bat in world cricket, has reduced its’ weight by 35-45 grammes.

It’s a significant drop in weight for the master batsman who, in his prime used to wield a bat of 3 pounds (1.3 kg) but lately had been using a bat weighing 2.12 pounds.

Yuvraj Singh, a left-hander who similarly believes in going into the middle with a heavy bat, has cut down its’ weight by 77-85 grammes.

Same is true with Mahinder Singh Dhoni, a batsman cast in similar marauding mood, who has taken up his recent elevation as vice-captain in one-day squad by reducing the weight of his bat to almost 120 grams.

VVS Laxman doesn’t come into the picture till the Test series gets underway in England on July 19 but he has scaled down his bat by 90 grammes.

Gautam Gambhir and Dinesh Kaarthick, the two young tyros, has reduced the weight of their bats by 70-90 grams.

Dilip Vengsarkar, chairman selectors, who was hugely successful in England during his playing days, says that adjusting the technique is of primary importance for Indian batsmen.

It has also not gone unnoticed that Shivnarine Chanderpaul, the West Indian batsman, was hugely successful in England recently despite an annoying habit of moving around in his crease.

Chanderpaul scored 446 runs at 148.66 average in the recent series and his success is largely attributed to his tendency to play the ball as late as possible.

Younger Indian batsmen would also benefit enormously from experienced men such as Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly who have enjoyed huge success in England.

India’s first Test XI

Two hundred and fifty-eight players have represented India in Test cricket, since it first Test against England [Images] on June 25, 1932. Here’s a look at the famous first eleven, in batting order:

.Janardhan Gyanoba Navle (born: 7/12/02; died: 7/9/79)

India’s first wicket-keeper, he faced the first delivery in the 1932 Test and scored the first run for India in Test cricket. Sadly, he struggled after his playing career was over and in the 1950s was reduced to begging for survival.

Tests: 2; Innings: 4; Not Outs: 0; Runs: 42; Highest Score: 13; Average: 10.50; Catches: 1.

Naoomal Jeeomal Makhija (b: 17/4/04; d: 28/7/80)

Born in Karachi, he stayed back after Partition and in the 1950s was a national selector and coach in Pakistan, before moving to India in 1971. He scored 33 and 25 in the 1932 Test.

T: 3; I: 5; NO: 1; R: 108; HS: 43; Av: 27.

Also read: India’s greatest Test victories

Syed Wazir Ali (b: 15/9/03; d: 17/6/50)

Elder brother of Nazir Ali and father of Khalid Wazir (who played for Pakistan), he toured England in 1932 and 1936.

T: 7; I: 14; NO: 0; R: 237; HS: 42; Av: 16.92

Cottari Kanakaiya Nayudu (b: 31/10/1895; d: 14/11/67)

The first superstar of Indian cricket, he was the first Indian cricketer to make money by endorsing products, such was his fame. Though he was captain by default in the 1932 Test, he also led India in its first home series a year later. Despite a badly injured hand, he top scored with 40 in India’s first innings in 1932. Tall and powerfully built, he played first-class cricket till the age of 68! His knock of 153 not out for Hindus against MCC in 1926�inclusive of 11 fours and 13 sixes�played a major role in India gaining Test status six years later.

T: 7; I: 14: NO: 0; R: 350; HS: 81; Av: 25; 50s: 2.

Bowling: Balls: 858; Runs: 386; Wicket: 9; Best Bowling (Innings): 3/40; Best Bowling (Match): 3/40; Average: 42.88

Sorabji Hormasji Munchersha Colah (b: 22/9/02; d: 11/9/50)

The middle-order batsman scored over 1,000 runs on the 1932 tour of England. He was discarded after only two Tests.

T: 2; I: 4; NO: 0; R: 69; HS: 31; Av: 17.25

Syed Nazir Ali (b: 8/6/08; d: 18/2/75)

Another batsman who topped 1,000 runs on the first tour, but failed in the Test match and was dropped after just one more Test. He was also a medium pace bowler with all four of his Test wickets coming in the second innings of the 1934 Madras Test against England.

T: 2: I: 4; NO: 0; R: 30; HS: 13; Av: 7.50

Bowling: B: 138; R: 83; W: 4; BBI: 4/83; BBM: 4/83; Av: 20.75.

Phiroze Edulji Palia (b: 5/9/10; 9/9/81)

He played the inaugural Test and another in 1936 (both at Lord’s) without much success, a leg injury hampering him in the first Test.

T: 2; I: 4; NO: 1; R: 29; HS: 16; Av: 9.66

Lall Singh (b: 16/12/09; d: 19/12/85)

The only Test cricketer to be born in Kuala Lumpur, he was the best fielder in the 1932 team. His lightning pick up and throw that ran out Frank Woolley in the first innings was one of the highlights of the Test. The first of India’s ‘One- Test Wonders’. He was a coach and groundsman in Kuala Lumpur where he died in 1985.

T: 1; I: 2; NO: 0; R: 44; HS: 29; Av: 22.00

Mohammad Jahangir Khan (b: 1/2/10; d: 23/7/88)

The youngest member of the 1932 team and the oldest and last survivor. A medium pace bowler, he took four wickets in the second innings of the inaugural Test. He son Majid Khan and grandson, Bazid Khan played for Pakistan as did his nephews, Javed Burki and Imran Khan.

Bowling: Tests: 4; Balls: 606; R: 255; Wickets: 4; BBI: 4/60; BBM: 4/86; Av: 63.75

Ladhabhai Nakum Amar Singh (b: 4/12/10; d: 21/5/40)

“He came off the pitch like the crack of doom,” was how England’s master batsman Wally Hammond described the bowling of Amar Singh who formed a formidable opening partnership with Nissar. His finest performance came in the first innings of the 1934 Madras Test against England when he returned the brilliant figures of 7 for 86. Also a hard-hitting lower order batsman, he scored India’s first Test fifty in the second innings of the 1932 Test. He died tragically young of pneumonia when he had still had plenty of cricket left in him.

T: 7; I: 14; NO: 1; R: 292; HS: 51; Av: 22.46; 50s: 1.

Bowling: B: 2,182; R: 858; W: 28; BBI: 7/86; BBM: 8/141; Av: 30.64; 5WI: 2.

Mohammad Nissar (b: 1/8/10; d: 11/3/63)

Arguably still the fastest Indian bowler of all time. Took five wickets in the first innings of the 1932 Test, including two in his second over. Massively built, he claimed a remarkable haul of 32 wickets in four unofficial ‘tests’ against Jack Ryder’s Australian team that visited India in 1935. He died in Lahore [Images] at the age of 52.

Bowling: T: 6; B: 1,211; R: 707; W: 25; BBI: 5/90; BBM: 6/135; Av: 28.28; 5WI: 3.

India’s greatest Test victories

India have played 405 Tests since June 25, 1932, winning 90. On India’s 75th anniversary in Test cricket, we look back on ten of its best matches.

- v England [Images], 5th Test at Madras: 6,8,9,10 Feb 1952 (Captain: Vijay Hazare). Series result: 1-1.

A sentimental pick being India’s maiden victory in Test cricket after 20 years of trying. The English side however was a second-rate team with the best players staying home. Left-arm spinner Vinoo Mankad with batsmen Pankaj Roy and Polly Umirgar were the heroes for India.

Brief scores: England 266 (Robertson 77, Mankad 8 – 55) and 183 (Robertson 56, Mankad 4-53) lost to India 457 for 9 wickets declared (Roy 111, Umrigar 130 n.o.) by an innings and 8 runs.

- v West Indies [Images], 2nd Test Port-of- Spain: 6,7,9,10 March 1971 (Captain: Ajit Wadekar). Series: 1-0.

In his maiden series as captain Wadekar led India to their first ever-win against the mighty West Indies. Debutant opener Sunil Gavaskar [Images] scored half-centuries in both innings and went on to have a memorable series.

Brief scores: West Indies 214 (Davis 71 n.o., Prasanna 4-54) and 261 (Fredericks 80, Venkataraghavan 5-95) lost to India 352 (Sardesai 112, Noreiga 9-95) and 125 for 3 (Gavaskar 65 n.o.) by 7 wickets.

- v England, 3rd Test at the Oval: 19,20,21,23,24 August 1971 (Captain: Ajit Wadekar). Series: 1-0.

After 39 years, India recorded their first win on English soil to cap a famous year for Indian cricket. Leg spinner Chandrasekhar destroyed England’s batting in the second innings to set up the victory and seal the series against the unofficial ‘world champions’ of Test cricket.

Brief scores: England 355 (Knott 90) and 101 (Chandrasekhar 6-38) lost to India 284 (Engineer 59, Illingworth 5-70) and 174 for 6 (Wadekar 45) by 4 wickets.

- v West Indies, 3rd Test at Port of Spain: 7,8,10, 11,12 April 1976 (Captain: Bishan Singh Bedi). Series: 1-2.

Clive Lloyd’s [Images] declaration in the second innings resulted in a shock defeat as India chased down a then-world record winning total. It led to the West Indies shunning spin bowling and going in for an all-pace attack for the next 20 years. India lost the series after being controversially beaten in the fourth and final Test.

Brief scores: West Indies 359 (Richard 177, Chandrasekhar 6-120) and 271 for 6 wickets declared (Kallicharan 103 n.o.) lost to India 228 (Madan Lal 42, Holding 6-65) and 406 for 4 (Gavaskar 102, Viswawath 112) by 6 wickets.

- v Australia, 3rd Test at Melbourne: 7-11 Feb. 1981 (Captain: Sunil Gavaskar). Series: 1-1.

After barely hanging on for a draw in the second Test at Adelaide, an injured Kapil Dev [Images] bowled India to victory on the final day to help them draw a series for the first time in Australia. The Test was almost conceded by skipper Gavaskar after his dismissal in the second innings.

Brief scores: India 237 (Viswanath 114) and 324 (Chauhan 85) beat Australia 419 (Border 124) and 83 (Kapil Dev 5-28) by 59 runs.

- v Australia, 2nd Test at Kolkata: 11-15 March 2001 (Captain: Sourav Ganguly [Images]). Series: 2-1.

For only the third time in Test cricket history, a team came back to win after being forced to follow on. Laxman’s epic innings was the highest Test score by an Indian at the time and he and Dravid batted out the whole of the fourth day. Harbhajan Singh [Images] made it even more memorable by becoming the first Indian bowler to capture a Test hat-cricket.

Brief scores: Australia 445 (SR Waugh 110, Harbhajan Singh 7-123) and 212 (Hayden 67, Harbhajan 6-73) lost to India 171 (Laxman 59) and (following-on) 657 for 7 wickets declared (Laxman 281, Dravid 180) by 171 runs.

- v England, 3rd Test at Leeds: 22-26 August 2002 (Captain: Sourav Ganguly). Series: 1-1.

A bold decision to bat first after winning the toss paid off as India piled up a huge first innings total and then recorded an innings victory for the first time in England. It remains the only occasion in which the three batting stalwarts of the Indian team — Dravid, Tendulkar and Ganguly — all scored centuries in the same innings.

Brief scores: India 628 for 8 wickets declared (Dravid 148, Tendulkar 193, Ganguly 128) beat England 273 (Stewart 78 n.o.) and 309 (Hussain 110) by an innings and 46 runs.

- v Australia, 2nd Test at Adelaide: 12-16 December 2003 (Captain: Sourav Ganguly). Series: 1-1.

Dravid’s batting was the highlight for India as they came back after conceding a mammoth first innings total to Australia. Laxman too once again proved to be the scourge of the Aussies. India lost the next Test at Melbourne and had the better of a draw in the fourth and final Test at Sydney to narrowly miss winning a series for the first time Down Under.

Brief scores: Australia 556 (Ponting 242, Kumble 5-154) and 196 (Agarkar 6-41) lost to India 523 (Dravid 223, Laxman 148) and 233 for 6 (Dravid 72 n.o.) by 4 wickets.

- v Pakistan, 1st Test at Multan: 28-31 March, 1 April 2004 (Captain: Rahul Dravid [Images]). Series: 2-1.

It was the first time India had won a Test on Pakistan soil after nearly 50 years. Dravid was the stand-in captain as Ganguly was injured. Sehwag became the first Indian batsman to score a Test triple-century. After losing the second Test, India came back to win the third and seal their first series win in Pakistan.

Brief scores: India 675 for 5 wickets declared (Sehwag 309, Tendulkar 194 n.o.) beat Pakistan 407 (Yasir Hameed [Images] 91) and 216 (Youhana 112, Kumble 6-72) by an innings and 52 runs.

- v South Africa, 1st Test at Johannesburg: 15-18 December 2006 (Captain: Rahul Dravid). Series: 1-2.

With Ganguly making a successful comeback and opening bowler Sreesanth [Images] picking up eight wickets, India recorded their first victory in South Africa. It meant they had now won a Test match in each of the Test-playing nations. But a series win continued to elude them.

Brief scores: India 249 (Ganguly 51 n.o.) and 236 (Laxman 73) beat South Africa 84 (Sreesanth 5-40) and 278 (Prince 97) by 123 runs.

Yuvraj must fulfil his potential and inspire India’s next generation to reach theirs

Three one-dayers against South Africa at Belfast, a one-off against Pakistan at Glasgow, seven against England at the end of the summer, seven against Australia, seven against Pakistan (both at home) and a tri-series, in Australia, involving the hosts and World Cup finalists, Sri Lanka. India’s one-day roster is a most challenging one and unless their batsmen step up to the plate, which they couldn’t do for most of last season, there would be plenty of heartbreak.

India’s batting line-up currently sports distinct shades. There’s Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid at one end of the spectrum, batsmen already assured of greatness and trying to finish their careers on a high; there are others, like Dinesh Karthik and Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who’ve shown tremendous potential and trying to kick on; there are youngsters, like Robin Uthappa and Rohit Sharma, finding their way; and there’s Gautam Gambhir trying to prove that he can cut the mustard at the international level after all.

And then there’s Yuvraj Singh. He can’t be termed a youngster anymore, seven years of experience takes away that luxury, neither can he be termed ‘great’, not as yet, not by a long way. He’s not struggling for a place but he’s not carrying the batting either. He’s shown what he’s capable of, finishing off matches with ferocity, but he’s often infuriated by not doing it consistently enough.

Yuvraj on a roll usually translates to India on a roll. In the 34 games where he’s made at least 50, India have won 26. Between November 9, 2005 and May 26, 2006, when India reeled off a record number of wins, Yuvraj was king. He averaged 70.5 in 22 innings during that period, rattling three centuries and seven fifties. Seventeen of those innings were from No.4 and 5 and he was one of the few batsmen who wasn’t shuffled up and down the order in the period of “experimentation”. The flip side, though, was that 17 of those innings were in the sub-continent and one continued to wait for that definitive season when he would dazzle abroad as well.

And then there’s Yuvraj Singh. He can’t be termed a youngster anymore, seven years of experience takes away that luxury, neither can he be termed ‘great’, not as yet, not by a long way. He’s not struggling for a place but he’s not carrying the batting either. He’s shown what he’s capable of, finishing off matches with ferocity, but he’s often infuriated by not doing it consistently enough

He cracked two consecutive fifties in India’s tour to the Caribbean last year, reeling off 93 and 52, but there was little of note on the long tour. It was the start of a start-stop phase that proved, in the words of Sukhwinder Bawa, Yuvraj’s long-time coach, “one of the most frustrating periods”. Injury dogged him in the Caribbean, a poor series followed at Kuala Lumpur, before a knee injury sustained during a session of kho-kho, on the eve of Australia clash, put him out of action for three months. “He watched a lot of India’s cricket on television and itched to get back. He didn’t want to miss the World Cup at any cost. It’s that desire which made him recover quickly. It was a serious injury but he’s come through well.”

He’s been in the news for his off-field remarks too. He veered to an extreme on the Greg Chappell issue, even being warned by the board for making comments to the media. Chappell himself hadn’t endeared himself to him by telling a journalist : “The problem with Yuvraj is that he believes he is a star when he is only a rising one”.

Soon he was upstaged by Dhoni, a relative newbie, for the vice-captain’s slot. “The vice-captaincy choice is strange,” says Bawa, “but that won’t deter Yuvraj. I’ve always said he has the potential to be India’s future captain and I still think that’s very likely. I once said he would captain India in the 2011 World Cup and maintain that even now.”

Yuvraj is yet to seal his Test spot – some feel he isn’t Test material, others think he just hasn’t got too many chances at that level – but it’s the one-day arena where he must fly. India have struggled with a finisher, someone who can up the rate or steer a chase and it’s him, along with Dhoni, who need to stay in there and finish the job. If he needs a sounding board, there’s always Robin Singh, the current fielding coach, who could nudge or biff, as the situation demanded, and wonderfully maximised his limited ability.

Extended success in Ireland, England, Australia and home will confirm that Yuvraj is indeed the flag-bearer for the next generation, a batch that needs to blossom fast if India wish to be ready for the impending departure of a golden generation.

Kallis wants South Africa to win with spin

South Africa stand-in captain Jacques Kallis hopes his side’s one-day international series against India at Stormont this week can help them unearth a world-class spinner.

Since their re-admission to the world game in 1991-92, the Proteas have struggled to find a consistent match-winning spin bowler, although the likes of Pat Symcox and Paul Adams had their moments.

At the recent World Cup in the Caribbean, South Africa often fielded an all-seam attack, with opening batsman and captain Graeme Smith, currently recovering from a knee injury, providing a spin option following the international retirement of left-armer Nicky Bojé.

That led to criticism that their bowling was too predictable, although it was their batting that let them down in a seven-wicket defeat by eventual champions Australia in their semi-final in St Lucia in April.

“The most important thing is to find out what we’ve got going forward,” Kallis yesterday said at Stormont, where the three-match series starts today.

“We’ve brought a lot of young guys on tour and there are a lot of spots that are available. It’s a chance for the youngsters to put up their hand and put in some big performances to try to get a permanent spot in the side.”

Off spinner Thandi Tshabalala, who has starred for the Free State Eagles in domestic cricket, took 1/22 in three overs on his one-day international debut on Sunday as the South Africans beat hosts Ireland by 42 runs.

Fellow off spinner Johan Botha has also been given a chance at international level, although concerns about the legitimacy of his action led to him being banned for throwing following his Test debut against Australia at Sydney in January 2006. However, he has since resumed his career.

“We are trying to find a bit of variety in our attack. Johan Botha went with the Afro-Asia side (to India earlier this month) to see what he’s got, and we’ve got Thandi here to see what he’s got,” Kallis said.

“Obviously, Muttiah Muralitharans and Shane Warnes don’t come round every day. We need to find someone where we know what we are going to get, someone who wins the odd game for the country.”

He added: “I do think we have a few guys in the pipeline who can produce the goods.”

One novice who has already seized his chance on this tour is the Cape Cobras’ Vernon Philander.

On Sunday the pace-bowling all-rounder marked his 22nd birthday by taking 4/12, the second-best return by a South African on his one-day international debut and the seventh-best overall.

Kallis, who believes Philander can fill the gap that will be left by the eventual retirement of Shaun Pollock, said: “To see a guy perform like that in his first game was admirable. Hopefully, one day when Polly has finished, he can take over from him, even though they are huge boots to fill.”

The 15-member Indian cricket team, led by skipper Rahul Dravid fly into Belfast

The 15-member Indian cricket team, led by skipper Rahul Dravid, today flew in here to play a three-match one-day international series against South Africa in Ireland.

The team, accompanied by cricket manager Chandu Borde, will begin its 80-day tour of the United Kingdom by playing the first match of the off-shore series against South Africa at Stormont on June 26.

The Indians are scheduled to play a warm-up match against Ireland here on Saturday.

After the series, India will travel to Scotland to take on Pakistan in a one-off ODI clash at Glasgow on July 3, the proceeds of which would go to the Prince Charles Charitable Trust.

The players would then move to England to take on the hosts in a three-Test series, which would be followed by seven one-dayers.