Queuing up for the fringe berths

When the Indian selectors sit down tomorrow to draw up a list of 16 people who will make a trip that could as easily end their careers as make them, people will be holding their breath across the country. Cricketers will wait by the telephone and fans by the television. After much deliberation, Syed Kirmani, Kiran More, Pranab Roy, Sanjay Jagdale and Kirti Azad have to decide whether they want an extra medium pacer or a third spinner, a reserve opener or a reserve wicketkeeper.

The composition of this selection committee, with two former keepers, will most likely cause them to bend in favour of an extra wicketkeeper. And they will not be wrong in doing so, for there is no way Parthiv Patel can keep wicket in three tour matches and four Tests virtually on the trot. One can only hope that the selectors resist the temptation to make an uneasy compromise.

It is believed that Deep Dasgupta is the first name they are considering. If only he was in better batting form, this might not have been a bad idea. But to pick him as the reserve wicketkeeper cum opening batsman will be playing into Australia's hands. If India are serious about their long-term search for a keeper they must take Ajay Ratra on this tour. While he does not possess the natural glovework of Patel, he has shown a keenness to work hard and is by no means unreliable behind the stumps.

The last time India toured Australia the fast bowlers interrogated Devang Gandhi like high-handed policemen would an unfortunate victim. His every deficiency was exposed and his confidence shattered almost irreparably. That's perhaps the reason why the opening slot is the biggest cause for worry.

Virender Sehwag and Akash Chopra have done enough and more to pick themselves. When the team looks for a reserve opener, and one may very well be needed after a couple of Tests, they should plump for someone who is not intimidated and looks to score at every opportunity. Sadagoppan Ramesh answers to that name, but serious doubts still exist over his footwork and his tendency to throw it away after making a start. While these concerns are real, they do not quite cut ice in the face of over 1300 Test runs from 16 Tests.

The selectors, though, did not think enough of Ramesh's century against New Zealand at Rajkot to pick him for the home Tests. With that being as it is, they could well choose Sanjay Bangar. As a batsman who has done little wrong, and averages over two hours at the crease as an opener in Tests, only a cruel man would grudge his selection. His usefulness as a medium pacer will come to the fore in Australia, where seam, rather than spin, will rule the day. And, as if things were not confused enough already, Wasim Jaffer has thrown his hat in the ring with a string of good scores in domestic cricket.

India need five seamers on the tour and the retirement of Javagal Srinath could well pave the way for one extra youngster on tour. Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra and Ajit Agarkar are automatic selections, and Aavishkar Salvi puts his hand up as the next in queue. L Balaji would dearly swap the two home Tests he played against New Zealand for an opportunity on a wicket that has a bit more for his style of bowling. But that will, in all likelihood, have to wait.

The one settled thing in this Indian team is the middle order. Despite the talk about matchwinning potential, flaws against short-pitched bowling and the like, you simply cannot think about any changes in the middle order. Yuvraj Singh, who had an unspectacular debut at Mohali against New Zealand, will be persisted with. And that is only fair.

Beyond this, there may still be surprises. Who knows, Vijay Dahiya's career could be revived or Sairaj Bahutule given a chance to sample the outdoor lifestyle of Australia. To be fair to the selectors, if they can resist the temptation to pull such a rabbit out of the hat, they would have made a good fist of a difficult selection.

Probable squad
Sourav Ganguly (capt), Virender Sehwag, Akash Chopra, Sanjay Bangar, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Parthiv Patel (wk), Deep Dasgupta (wk), Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Ajit Agarkar, Aavishkar Salvi.