Laxman axed for final England ODIs

India dropped struggling batsman Vangipurappu Laxman on Friday for the last three games of the current one-day series against England.

Laxman was left out after managing scores of 25, three and 26 in the first three matches of the series, which India lead 2-1.

The wristy player hit an Indian Test record of 281 to inspire India's 2-1 upset home test series win over Australia last year and seal a permanent place in the team, but he has looked out of sorts since undergoing knee surgery last August.

The national selectors, who met during India's four-wicket win in the third game on Friday, drafted in young middle-order batsman Mohammad Kaif in the only change to the 14-man squad originally chosen for the series.

"He has not been among the runs and we thought a break will do him a lot of good," Niranjan Shah, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, told reporters, adding that Laxman's fielding had also been disappointing.

The fourth one-dayer will be played in Kanpur on Monday, followed by matches in New Delhi and Bombay.

India squad: Saurav Ganguly (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Dinesh Mongia, Mohammad Kaif, Hemang Badani, Ajay Ratra, Ajit Agarkar, Sanjay Bangar, Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, Sharandeep Singh, Zaheer Khan.

England's tour of India : Complete coverage

Mail Cricket Editor