Dravid out, Laxman in

 

MUMBAI: It just keeps getting worse for the Indian team on tour in South Africa.

 

First, Yuvraj Singh’s absence due to a knee injury created a huge void in the middle order. Then, the failure of the replacements saw India’s struggles on the quick pitches further magnified. Munaf Patel’s ankle injury means the seam attack is weakened. On Monday, tests revealed that skipper Rahul Dravid, who injured the middle finger of his right hand while attempting a catch in the third ODI on Sunday, had sustained a fracture and would not be able to take part in the last two matches of the series which South Africa leads 2-0.

 

“X-rays and consultations have revealed an avulsion fracture that will heal without surgery. The injury would be treated conservatively with constant monitoring and the team management is hopeful that Dravid will be fit before the first Test begins,” said team manager Rajan Nair.  The selectors pressed the panic button and called upon the one man who they felt could make an immediate impact — VVS Laxman.

 

Incidentally, neither Dravid nor coach Greg Chappell had requested for a replacement. Accordingly, BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah released an official statement that no replacement would be sent.

 

“The team management did not ask for a replacement. It was a call taken by the selectors headed by Dilip Vengsarkar. They decided to send Laxman to strengthen the middle-order,” said Shah.

 

Laxman is likely to leave for South Africa late on Tuesday night. Virender Sehwag, who himself has just come out of a finger injury and is struggling for runs, will lead the side at Port Elizabeth on November 29 and Centurion on December 3.

 

Dravid, however, would remain with the team as physio John Gloster’s report suggests that he would be fit in time for the first Test beginning on December 15 in Johannesburg.

 

One of the selectors, on condition of anonymity, said that Laxman was the only player in the country who could handle the difficult conditions. “There is no one else. S Badrinath (Tamil Nadu) has impressed while playing for his state and zone team but South Africa is no place for someone to make his debut. Rohit Sharma is talented but he is too young. Laxman’s class was never suspect but his fielding is,” said the selector. “His fielding was the reason that he didn’t get a nod in the first place.” Another selector pointed out that Dinesh Kaarthick, who played in the Cape Town ODI purely as a batsman, was picked mainly as a back-up to Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

 

“India is struggling to bat out fifty overs and everyone talks about how good Jaffer is on the back foot. Then why did the team management decide to drop him from the squad? It is a complete mystery. Certainly, he would have handled conditions better than Kaarthick,” he added. Laxman, who last played for India in August 2005, averages 31.17 in 85 ODIs.

 

Inputs from Vijay Tagore & Nihal Koshie