Selectors have a tough job on hand

The Hindu Sachin Tendulkar will probably be given the option of joining the test squad in the upcoming series with West Indies. File photo

Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, V.V.S. Laxman, Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan may be given the option to join the team for the Tests so that they get ample rest.

The national selectors have a tough job on hand when they sit on Friday to pick the Indian squad for the West Indies tour. Since there is no official word from the BCCI on the withdrawal of players, we presume all are available.

After the gruelling and relentless games for past six months including IPL, some players may need rest and they deserve it.

India goes to the West Indies for five ODIs, one T20 followed by three Tests and then proceeds to England. Immediately after that India plays England — there are five ODIs against England in India.

Then in November West Indies will tour India for Tests and ODIs.

Tough programme

In the New Year India tours Australia. A very hectic and tough programme.

The Indians have been playing IPL T20 matches for a month with two weeks to go and the players are expected to adapt to ODI first and later a five-day Test match immediately after IPL. There is a lot of difference between these formats and not many internationals have succeeded in adopting the mindset required for different formats.

The selectors will have to opt for two sets of squads, one for the ODIs and T20 and second, for the Tests. Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, V.V.S. Laxman, Virender Sehwag and Zaheer Khan may be given the option to join the team for the Tests so that they get ample rest.

Though the performances in IPL can't be the parameter for the ODIs selection, there is enough talent on view in IPL and it's the job of the selectors to follow their gut feeling and push the deserving talent.

Most batsmen like Rohit Sharma, Paul Valthaty, S. Badrinath have maintained a healthy strike rate which means they are striking the ball consistently. This proves they are easily getting rid of dot balls which is so very essential in ODIs.

During one IPL match a team managed 52 dot balls, wasting 8 crucial overs and that was a champion team.

Good strike rate

The selectors are not naïve to overlook the importance of having a good strike rate. And maintaining a strike rate is not as easy as one thinks. The bowlers have learnt to mix variety of slower balls on sluggish surfaces and it requires timing to find gaps in the field or hit it in the stands.

That's possibly the reason Valthaty's unbeaten knock of 120 off 63 balls against Chennai Super Kings is still being talked about by former internationals.

Badrinath is another player who knows what he is doing because obviously he has practised those shots. It's only when you are mentally prepared to play those smart shots, that the ball finds the middle of the bat frequently.

The slots which will be very difficult to plug will be those of bowlers though lanky leggie Rahul Sharma getting the top spinner to bounce may be the find of the IPL. He has stuck to the basics of line and length, mixed varieties subtly especially against strong Mumbai Indians.

Ishant Sharma and Munaf Patel seem to be safe bets but choosing rest of the bowlers will be a trial for the selectors.

This is the last quarter of the selection committee which by and large did excellent job. With the methodical Duncan Fletcher attending the selection committee meeting, one can expect some policy changes because he would be keen that India does well against his old team England and for that to happen a tour of the West Indies is very crucial.