Ashwin and Ishant fit for the Test series against South Africa: Sandeep Patil

Ashwin and Ishant fit for the Test series against South Africa: Sandeep Patil: The All-India Senior Selection Committee met in the Indian capital to select the Indian team for the remaining 2 ODIs and the first two Tests of the upcoming series against South Africa.

Selectors have picked both injured off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin and pacer Ishant Sharma, in the Test squad despite there being no clarity over their fitness. Ashwin who sustained back strain during the 2^nd ODI and did not play most part of that match and the 3rd ODI at Rajkot, while Ishant pulled his hamstring during a Ranji Trophy match.

Sandeep Patil the Chairman of the selectors committee said, “Ishant has been declared fit for the second Test match,”

“He will not take the field during the first Test because he has been suspended by the ICC but because he is available for the second Test, we all felt it would be better for him to join the team from the first Test itself.”

“For Ashwin, we have got a report from the Indian team physio. Ashwin’s fitness test will be conducted just before the fourth ODI (in Chennai) but he will certainly be fit for the Test matches.”

Since Ravindra Jadeja made a comeback into the squad after being dropped from both the Test and the ODI squad for the recent series, Patil was asked whether they had discussed names of other players who have been doing well in domestic cricket. “We don’t discuss just 15 players. We look at every player that represents BCCI. We do consider domestic performances and at the same time we see if that particular player fits into a slot and is useful to the team. We also see the wickets we are likely to play on. Based on all these factors we picked Jadeja,” he said.

Nathu Singh, the 20-year-old pace bowler from Rajasthan who has just played 3 First Class matches, has been selected in the 13-men Board President’s XI squad that will play South Africa ahead of the Test series. What prompted the selectors on giving him a chance? “We are always looking for something special. The selectors’ job is not only to go by the score-sheets. If that was the case, the statisticians would do a better job than the selectors,” he said.

“We do watch all domestic matches where we try to see that spark. We have seen some glimpses of that in Nathu Singh and we want to give him an opportunity.” Sandeep Patil said.