Team for first Test on February 19

The India cricket team for the first Test against Australia, to be held at the Wankhede stadium, Bombay, from February 27 to March 3, will be picked on February 19, the third and final day of the match between India 'A' and the Australians, at Nagpur.

This was announced by Board of Control for Cricket in India secretary J Y Lele and selection committee chairman Chandu Borde after the selection committee met in Bombay on Monday.

Lele said the Board President's team, which will play the Aussies in a three-day match at Delhi from March 6 to 8, will also be announced on February 19.

"With the cancellation of the tri-nation Sharjah tourney, which was to be held in aid of the Gujarat earthquake victims, the conditioning camp for the 25 India probables will be held at Madras, from February 7 to 11, followed by the Hero Honda-N K P Salve Challenger Trophy tournament at the same venue from February 12 to 15," Lele said.

"The conditioning camp will restart after the Challenger Trophy while the players selected to represent the India A squad, for the three-day match, would proceed to Nagpur.

"The players selected for first Test will then assemble in Bombay on February 20 and practice at the Wankhede stadium till February 25," he added.

Asked why no Mumbai player was selected in the India 'A' team, Borde said the Mumbai players will get a chance to prove their mettle during the Ranji champions (Mumbai) versus Australia three-day match at the Brabourne stadium from February 22 to 24.

"Players like Sairaj Bahutule (the leg spinner who got six wickets including a hat-trick in the West versus East Zone Duleep Trophy match at Pune on Saturday), veteran spinner Narendra Hirwani and S Balaji Rao of Tamil Nadu and others could be considered for the Delhi tie," he added.

"Our main idea is to try out as many players as possible before the three-Test home series."

Asked who will lead the India 'B' team in the Challenger Trophy, after Sachin Tendulkar (the original choice) expressed disinterest in leading the side, Borde said: "I have conveyed the message to the four selectors and a new captain will be selected during the camp."

Borde also denied instructing the associations hosting the three Tests to prepare flat pitches to neutralise the Aussies' superiority in both pace and spin while Lele said the board had asked the Vidarbha Cricket Association to prepare a sporting wicket for the tour opener at Nagpur.

Mail Cricket Editor