The Indian selectors are on the horns of a dilemma. To select Bajji or not ? Now that Ashwin and Ojha have established themselves as front line spinners, they automatically select themselves.
Bajji's plus points are playing in 96 Tests and the favour of the Indian skipper. But Sreekant & Co are now harping on performance, with their dictum "Perform or Perish".
The other spinner's choice falls on Piyush Chawla or Rahul Sharma. Rahul Sharma with his height can extract bounce from the pitches Down Under. Chawla has the support of the skipper Dhoni.
In the last two Ranji Trophy matches, Bajji's performance was below par. In the match against UP he went wicketless and managed 1-44 against Orissa. Time is also running out for him, as he has only one chance to make his case stronger.
Rahul Sharma is in the good books of the selectors for his ability to extract bounce from any surface. "Sharma's bounce may come handy on Australian
pitches" said one of the selectors. Sreekant, M Amarnath, Bhave and Venkat are in the team of the selectors.
Meanwhile, Australia are 142/3 in the match against formidable SA, needing 168 for victory with seven wickets in hand. Can they do it ? No wonder cricket has been defined as a glorious game of dire vicissitudes !
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