The Indian selectors sprung a surprise, naming only a 20-man probables list for the four-match Test series in Australia. Announcing the line-up, SK Nair, secretary of the Indian board, said that the final squad of 16 would be named after India's TVS Cup match against New Zealand at Hyderabad on Saturday.
The list of probables includes Sadagoppan Ramesh as the third opener, while Deep Dasgupta has been named as the second wicketkeeper. There is no place in the squad for Sanjay Bangar, though. Among the other fringe players who made the list were Murali Kartik, Irfan Pathan, Aavishkar Salvi and L Balaji.
The selectors also announced that Salvi would replace Ashish Nehra in the ODI squad for the Hyderabad match, and for the final, if India qualify. Nehra has been asked to play in Delhi's Ranji Trophy match against Mumbai, which starts on November 15.
The probables
Sourav Ganguly (capt), Akash Chopra, Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Sadagoppan Ramesh, Hemang Badani, Yuvraj Singh, Deep Dasgupta (wk), Parthiv Patel (wk), Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Ajit Agarkar, Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Murali Kartik, Aavishkar Salvi, Irfan Pathan, L Balaji.
ODI squad for rest of the TVS Cup
Sourav Ganguly (capt), Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid (wk), Yuvraj Singh, Mohammad Kaif, Ajit Agarkar, Parthiv Patel (wk), Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Zaheer Khan, Aavishkar Salvi, Murali Kartik.
L Balaji: in contention for a berth to Australia
