Ganguly back into Test fold; Laxman is vice-captain by CricketArchive staff reporter

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Player:	SC Ganguly, VVS Laxman
Event:	India in South Africa 2006/07

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DateLine: 1st December 2006

 

The national selectors Thursday recalled former captain Sourav Ganguly to beef up the tottering Indian line up for the three-Test series against South Africa while giving a stern message to non-performers like Virender Sehwag who was removed from vice-captaincy.

 

Facing the heat in the wake of India's disastrous show of late, the selectors had an unusual meeting with BCCI President Sharad Pawar in the morning before they picked the 16-member squad which included opener Gautam Gambhir and paceman Zaheer Khan.

 

VVS Laxman, suddenly back in favour after being kept out of the one-day team on grounds of fitness, was elevated as the vice-captain for the Test series beginning on December 15.

 

The axe fell on Mohammad Kaif and Suresh Raina for India's dismal display in the one-day series they have already squandered 3-0 to the South Africans and the duo would return home after the last ODI on December 3.

 

Ganguly's comeback after being in the wilderness for ten months was expected considering the frenzy that had been building over the past two days and his subsequent stepping down from Bengal captaincy.

 

Asked about the left-hander's inclusion, Selection Committee Chairman Dilip Vengsarkar said, "if you look at the performance in South Africa, our batting has failed. We need experienced players like Laxman and Ganguly."

 

Ganguly, on his part, promised to give his best on the tour given his experience of having played on tracks with bounce and carry.

 

"My job is to go and do well. I have lot of runs behind me and experience to play on the bouncy pitches in South Africa," Ganguly told reporters at the Eden Gardens. However, he would not be able to represent Bengal in their Ranji Trophy game against Mumbai starting Friday as he is scheduled to leave for South Africa from Mumbai on Dec 3 along with VRV Singh and Gautam Gambhir.

 

Ajit Agarkar and Dinesh Mongia would also return home with Raina and Kaif after the one-day series. Ganguly comes in the place of an injured Yuvraj Singh in the middle order while Zaheer was rewarded for his good show in the one-dayers with a Test berth. Both Ganguly and Zaheer last played a Test against Pakistan in January this year.

 

Ganguly, whose comeback is bound to ruffle a few feathers given his soured relations with coach Greg Chappell, is expected to turn out in the warm-up game against South Africa A at Potchefstroom from December 7-10. Gambhir was also finally rewarded for his consistency in domestic circuit with a place in the 16, announced by BCCI Secretary and Selection Committee Convenor Niranjan Shah at a press conference in New Delhi.