Selection Woes

Punjab's 21-year-old paceman Vikram Raj Vir (VRV) Singh'sselection ahead of the seasoned Ajit Agarkar and Rudra Pratap Singh in thequartet of pace bowlers for Team India's four Test series has been the talkingpoint since the time chairman of selectors Kiran More announced the squad.

The idea of giving the younger fast bowlers a look in whenbowling at their quickest rather than make them wait to prove themselves indomestic cricket over a number of seasons is not new to Indian cricket. IrfanPathan, L Balaji and even RP Singh spring to mind.

I remember speaking sometime ago to Javagal Srinath, India'space bowling spearhead for a number of years. He was quite kicked by the factthat the fast bowlers now get their breaks sooner than in the past. He pointedto the enthusiasm and energy levels of the younger bowlers these days, even ashe was disappointed with the handling of Zaheer Khan and Ashish Nehra.

VRV did have his chances in one-day internationals - firstbeing picked to play against Sri Lanka when he was not fit and then makinglittle impression in the two games against England. And the thinking seems toback a theory that, quite like Munaf Patel, VRV may prove his class in thelonger version when given the opportunity.

Frankly, More should not have been justifying VRV's inclusionon the basis of his bowling against largely mediocre opposition in Abu Dhabi. Ifbowling in one-day cricket was the passport to a berth in the Test squad, thennone deserved it more than Agarkar. He has been the best of the quicker bowlersin the first three games against the West Indies.

With India trailing 1-2 in the five-match series, theselectors have added to the challenges Agarkar would face in the last two gamesbefore he embarks on his trip home. By all accounts, he was hopeful that hisperformance in the one-day internationals would inspire the selectors to pickhim in the Test squad. He will have to overcome the disappointment of being leftout of the squad for the four Test matches.

And if More was serious about grooming VRV, he wasforgetting that the selectors had spared no thought to the impact they wouldhave on RP Singh. The Uttar Pradesh youngster was man of the match on Test debutin Faisalabad earlier this year. Does he not need any grooming? It would havebeen terrific if the selectors simply said that they wanted to give VRV a breakin the Tests.

It also beats me why a bunch of selectors who picked areserve fast bowler, a reserve spinner and a reserve wicket-keeper opt for tworeserve middle-order batsmen? One of those could so easily have been a reserveopening batsman. The left-handed Gautam Gambhir must consider himselfunfortunate to miss out on the tour, not having any reasonable opportunity toshow that he has worked on his batting form.

It would appear that they have overlooked the fact thatJaffer is coming off a knee surgery. Gambhir's presence as a third specialistopener would have been reassuring but now in case of an eventuality, India willhave to rope in either Dravid or Pathan or Dhoni to handle the task. It would beoffering the West Indies quick bowlers additional hope at the start of aninnings.

In Sachin Tendulkar's absence - thanks mainly to his ownhonest and courageous decision to not take the fitness test - it can be expectedthat VVS Laxman would regain his spot in the middle-order. Mohammed Kaif andSuresh Raina would be the two middle-order reserves in the eventuality of Indiaemploying five bowlers in its attack.