Zaheer Khan braces for Test return

Zaheer Khan has recovered well from his shoulder injury and, having featured in Twenty20 matches during the Syed Mushtaq Ali tournament and a Ranji Trophy fixture, is expected to be back for India when the selectors meet on Tuesday to pick the Test squad to play Sri Lanka. VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid will duly take their places in the middle order, while Harbhajan Singh and Amit Mishra are likely to retain their spinning roles. Yuvraj Singh is also expected to feature at No. 6 in the batting line-up, but it's the fast bowlers that will throw up a debate.

Including Ashish Nehra in the Test side is going to be tempting. It is also a risk. Nehra has done well after making his ODI return, but do the selectors want to risk his fitness in the longest format of the game? If Nehra does make the transition, he will replace one of the two back-up fast bowlers that went to New Zealand: Dhawal Kulkarni and L Balaji. India will not need a 16-member squad, so just one reserve fast bowler should do. But even if Nehra is not picked, somebody like Sudeep Tyagi might stand a better chance than Balaji and Kulkarni. Going by how Ishant Sharma was persisted with in the ODIs, he is likely to keep his Test place, along with Munaf Patel.

Dinesh Karthik was the substitute middle-order batsman in New Zealand, where he doubled up as a reserve wicketkeeper. Here in India, Dhoni might not need back-up behind the stumps. There is another decision for the selectors to make: whether to retain Karthik in a role similar to the one in New Zealand, or draft in a specialist middle-order batsman like S Badrinath.

Probable squad: MS Dhoni (capt/wk), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Dinesh Karthik/S Badrinath, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Munaf Patel, Amit Mishra, Ashish Nehra/one back-up fast bowler.

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Hussey: India will miss Zaheer

Australian vice-captain Michael Hussey said India will miss the services of pacer Zaheer Khan in the upcoming ODI series.
However, Hussey said the hosts still have a potent bowling attack that cannot be underestimated.

Zaheer has not been included in the Indian squad for the first two ODIs as he is recuperating from a surgery after injuring his shoulder during the second Indian Premier League in South Africa earlier this year.

"The last time we were here (for the Test series) Zaheer Khan was a crucial bowler for the Indians and his absence will be a big loss to their attack," Hussey said on the eve of opening encounter of the series.

"Ishant Sharma still looks a wonderful bowler to me, he is always a difficult customer. I have not faced the other quickies much while we were here but they have a very good bowling attack and it will be wrong to underestimate them," he said.

"They have some fine bowlers who bowl well in Indian conditions," he pointed out.

Even though Hussey praised the Indian spin attack, he hoped the Aussies would be able to put pressure on the hosts to come out triumphant in the series.

"It's wrong to underestimate the Indian spinners. Harbhajan Singh has an amazing record and has played some brilliant games for long. (Amit) Mishra is a very good spinner as well. Hopefully, we can put all their bowlers and batsmen under pressure and we can come out on top," he said.

The left-handed Australian batsman whose career got off to a sensational start before hitting a plateau, agreed with India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni's view that the length of the series would provide the teams an opportunity to bounce back.

"I agree (with Dhoni's view). The more matches, the more chances you have to get back into the series if we get off to a bad start," Hussey said.

He also stressed on the importance of gaining a momentum in the series, which, he felt, both teams would strive for.

"Both teams play well with momentum. Once the Indians get confidence and momentum, they can be very difficult to stop.

"It is similar with Australia. Once we get momentum and confidence we are a difficult team to stop as well. The first few games are going to be crucial. But if things don't go right there's still time to try and catch up in the series," he elaborated.

Hussey also agreed with Dhoni that the visitors too were not motivated by the ICC rankings.

"We are not really motivated by rankings. It is nice to be the No. 1 team in the world, but we don't study the rankings so much. Our focus is to try and win the series against India.

"India in India is one of the toughest challenges for an Australian. We are looking forward to just playing here and trying to win the series without concentrating on the rankings," he added.

The 34-year-old left-hander also said that he was not all concerned about reports back home that he is in danger of losing his place in the Australian Test side.

"I saw the headline and to be honest I can't be concerned about that right now. We have seven ODIs here to worry about now. I am sure the selectors would be looking at every player's form, not just mine, before they take a decision on the first Test (team composition)," Hussey said.

"I would like to make as many runs as I can. A good show with the bat will definitely help when it comes to team selection," he added.

On their return home from India, Australia will host the West Indies for three Tests, five ODIs and two Twenty20 Internationals starting November 26.

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Zaheer hits back at Australia

ANGALORE: Indian pacer Zaheer Khan, who is out of action for the last four months due to a shoulder injury, says Australia should look at what their own team is doing and stop worrying about others.

On the upcoming India-Australian ODI series, Zaheer exuded confidence that Mahendra Singh Dhoni's team would do well.

On Australia team, Zaheer said, "They talk more about the team they are playing against than their own. It is time they look at what their own team is doing and stop worrying about others."

Zaheer was hopeful of returning to the national side and going though regular fitness drills to keep himself fit.

Zaheer, who had undergone an 'arthroscopic labral repair' on his left shoulder in South Africa mid-July and subsequently a rehabilitation programme, said he was currently working on his fitness.

"I have been bowling for a while and have been regularly practising for the last two weeks. I am trying to gain my bowling fitness. That is why I am playing domestic games, to judge where I stand in a match," the bowler said on the sideline of a promotional event.

The left-arm pacer picked up the injury during the second edition of Indian Premier League, where he was playing for the Mumbai Indians.

"I miss playing cricket, and that is for sure that I want to get back to playing cricket," said the 30-year-old, who missed both the Twenty20 World Cup in England and Champions Trophy in South Africa.

The cricketer was also of the opinion that injury is the part and parcel of a pace bowler.

"Injury is part and parcel of the game. You can delay the process, but cannot escape it. I have a positive mindset and focus on controlling levels. That is what I look at," Zaheer said.

"As far as playing matches goes, I endorse playing a lot of games especially for a bowler to ensure match fitness irrespective of whether it was of club or international standard," he added.

"I am playing domestic game at this time, which is important for me to get back to international cricket."

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