Virender Sehwag today earned a surprise recall while Rajasthan paceman Pankaj Singh was the lone new face in India's 16-member Test cricket squad for the upcoming series against Australia.Sehwag, who was not in the list of 24 probables announced by the national selectors earlier, got the nod after Gautam Gambhir was ruled out of the tour beginning later this month because of a sore shoulder. For Sehwag, it turned out to be an unexpected recall to the longer version of the game after a gap of nearly one year. He had last played a Test for India against South Africa in Cape Town in January this year.After being in the wilderness for sometime, Sehwag first came to the national team for the Twenty20 World Cup in South Africa with moderate success.Many former cricketers including former Australian captain Ian Chappell were surprised at the selectors' decision to leave out Sehwag from the list of probables, saying conditions in Australia would suit his game.The dashing Delhi batsman has generally been successful on bouncier tracks and the tour of Australia will provide him an opportunity to revive his sagging career.The 22-year-old Pankaj Singh, who has been impressive in domestic cricket with 73 wickets in 23 first class matches, was also named in the squad announced by BCCI Niranjan Shah after the selection committee meetin Bangalore.Wicketkeeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik also managed to retain his place in the squad which has five specialist pacers and two spinners in its ranks.
Apart from Sehwag and Pankaj Singh's inclusion there were no other major surprises in the squad that will be led by Anil Kumble. Pacers Munaf Patel and Ajit Agarkar, opener Aakash Chopra, spinner Murali Kartik and wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel, who figured in the list of probables, could not make the cut.Some of India's key players like Sachin Tendulkar, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Zaheer Khan and RP Singh, who missed the third Test against Pakistan because of injuries, were included in the squad, having recovered from their fitness problems."Gambhir has a sore shoulder and according to the report of physio John Gloster, he will need three weeks of rest. That is why he was not considered for selection," Shah said.Munaf was omitted from the squad with the selectors wanting him to play more domestic matches before returning to international cricket."Munaf Patel is advised more match practice before his selection for international matches, so he will be seen in Ranji Trophy," Shah said.Shah said the Indian team will leave for Australia from Mumbai on December 17. The team is scheduled to play the first Test at Melbourne on December 26.Squad: Anil Kumble (captain), Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Sourav Ganguly, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Rudra Pratap Singh, Ishant Sharma, Irfan Pathan, Wasim Jaffer, Virender Sehwag, Dinesh Karthik, Pankaj Singh.
Apart from Sehwag and Pankaj Singh's inclusion there were no other major surprises in the squad that will be led by Anil Kumble. Pacers Munaf Patel and Ajit Agarkar, opener Aakash Chopra, spinner Murali Kartik and wicketkeeper-batsman Parthiv Patel, who figured in the list of probables, could not make the cut.Some of India's key players like Sachin Tendulkar, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Zaheer Khan and RP Singh, who missed the third Test against Pakistan because of injuries, were included in the squad, having recovered from their fitness problems."Gambhir has a sore shoulder and according to the report of physio John Gloster, he will need three weeks of rest. That is why he was not considered for selection," Shah said.Munaf was omitted from the squad with the selectors wanting him to play more domestic matches before returning to international cricket."Munaf Patel is advised more match practice before his selection for international matches, so he will be seen in Ranji Trophy," Shah said.Shah said the Indian team will leave for Australia from Mumbai on December 17. The team is scheduled to play the first Test at Melbourne on December 26.Squad: Anil Kumble (captain), Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Sourav Ganguly, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Rudra Pratap Singh, Ishant Sharma, Irfan Pathan, Wasim Jaffer, Virender Sehwag, Dinesh Karthik, Pankaj Singh.
