Shastri talks up Raina's Test prospects

Ravi Shastri, the Indian team director, has talked up Suresh Raina's Test prospects after the batsman scored a glut of limited-over runs in recent months. Raina hasn't played Test cricket in more than two years, and hasn't played a first-class game in 2014, but Shastri is impressed by what he has seen of Raina bat.

"The more I see him play, he is brilliant to watch," Shastri said. "It will be my endeavour really to do something that will get him back into the Indian Test match team. He is a class act.

"When he is going he is a treat to watch. Even at times when I see him bat at the nets, when the ball hits the bat, just that sound or sense of timing you know it is something different. Let's hope, fingers crossed."

Raina made his Test debut in 2010, and though his career began with a series of bright knocks, he had a torrid time during the 2011 tour of England and lost his place. He was handed a comeback in 2012-13, in the home series against New Zealand, but he couldn't capitalise on the chances.

He had briefly lost his one-day place earlier this year, but he firmed up his place with a strong showing in the ODIs against England.