India's Laxman doubtful for first S Africa Test
Saturday, 6 February 2010
NAGPUR, India, Feb 5 (AFP): Injury-ravaged India were sweating over the fitness of key middle-order batsman Venkatsai Laxman ahead of the first Test against South Africa starting Saturday.
Laxman, a Test veteran with 6,993 runs, has yet to recover fully from a finger injury, which forced him to sit out of India's second Test against Bangladesh at Dhaka. "There is uncertainty over Laxman at the moment," Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni told a press conference in Nagpur.
"He batted in the nets but we are still waiting on the final word on him. He will share his thoughts with the physio and based on that we will take a decision on his availability."
The hosts have already lost Rahul Dravid, a vital cog in the middle order, and the flamboyant Yuvraj Singh to injuries picked during their 2-0 away win against Bangladesh.
Their absence has opened the doors to the likes of Subramaniam Badrinath, Murali Vijay and Rohit Sharma, who was drafted in the squad as a cover for Laxman Thursday.
Badrinath and Rohit Sharma have yet to play in the longest version of the game while Vijay has appeared in three Test matches.
"Injuries are beyond our control," said Dhoni. "We are going to miss our experienced players but at the same time their absence provides an opportunity for the youngsters to step in and score runs.
The second and final Test will begin in Kolkata on February 14.
Laxman, a Test veteran with 6,993 runs, has yet to recover fully from a finger injury, which forced him to sit out of India's second Test against Bangladesh at Dhaka. "There is uncertainty over Laxman at the moment," Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni told a press conference in Nagpur.
"He batted in the nets but we are still waiting on the final word on him. He will share his thoughts with the physio and based on that we will take a decision on his availability."
The hosts have already lost Rahul Dravid, a vital cog in the middle order, and the flamboyant Yuvraj Singh to injuries picked during their 2-0 away win against Bangladesh.
Their absence has opened the doors to the likes of Subramaniam Badrinath, Murali Vijay and Rohit Sharma, who was drafted in the squad as a cover for Laxman Thursday.
Badrinath and Rohit Sharma have yet to play in the longest version of the game while Vijay has appeared in three Test matches.
"Injuries are beyond our control," said Dhoni. "We are going to miss our experienced players but at the same time their absence provides an opportunity for the youngsters to step in and score runs.
The second and final Test will begin in Kolkata on February 14.