India retains No.1 Test team tag

Despite losing the series opener, India managed to retain the numero uno status in the ICC Test Championship table by virtue of a hard-earned draw against Sri Lanka in the second Test in Colombo. With 130 rating points in their kitty, India is now 11 points clear of second-placed South Africa (119) and will continue to enjoy the top spot in the chart irrespective of the result of the last match of the series.

However, India's 11-point lead at the top will be short-lived following its failure to win the current series against Sri Lanka. If India wins the third Test, starting at P Sara Oval in Colombo on August 3, and draw the series, they will drop to 127 points, while the hosts will move to the third place with 115 points, ahead of both Australia and England.

If the match ends in a draw, India will slip to 124 points, just five ahead of both South Africa and Sri Lanka. However, Kumar Sangakkara's side will be placed just below Graeme Smith's men when the ratings are calculated beyond the decimal point.

But another defeat for India will not only see they plummeting to 122 points but it will also lift Sri Lanka to 121 points and to the second position on the Test Championship table for only the second time since the current ranking system was introduced in 2003. Sri Lanka had previously claimed the second spot in late August last year following a series win over New Zealand and stayed there until it lost 0-2 to India in December.

Australia, which fell from the top spot after losing The Ashes last year, stayed in third position but has dropped from 116 points to 113, just two ahead of England. England (111), which is presently hosting Pakistan in a four-Test series, occupies the fourth spot followed by Sri Lanka (111), Pakistan (84), West Indies (79), New Zealand (78) and Bangladesh (7).

Meanwhile, Australia continues to top the ICC ODI Championship table with 132 points, 14 clear of closest rival India. South Africa (115) occupies the third position.

Tendulkar, Harbhajan rested, Yuvraj makes a comeback

Seasoned players Sachin Tendulkar and Harbhajan Singh were rested while Yuvraj Singh was today recalled in the 15-member Indian squad for the upcoming cricket tri-series in Sri Lanka, beginning from August 10. The national selectors also decided to rest injured Gautam Gambhir, who missed out on the second Test against Sri Lanka because of a knee injury.

Tamil Nadu off-spinner R Ashwin and Jharkhand batsman Saurabh Tiwary, two promising youngsters who have done well in the domestic circuit, have been retained in the squad to be led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The tri-series, which has host Sri Lanka and New Zealand as the two other teams, will be held in Dambulla from August 10 to 25.

India''s pace spearhead Zaheer Khan, who missed the entire Test series against Sri Lanka, has been left out of the team as he has not recovered sufficiently from his shoulder injury. Kerala paceman S Sreesanth, who is recuperating from a knee injury, has not been picked in the squad, announced by BCCI Secretary N Srinivasan after a meeting of the selection committee here.

In the absence of Zaheer, veteran speedster Ashish Nehra will lead the pace attack which also has Ishant Sharma, Abhimanyu Mithun and Praveen Kumar. Ishant and Mithun, who were not in the Asia Cup squad, have been included this time around probably because they have already acclimatised to the Sri Lankan conditions as they are in the Test squad.

The batting will largely depend on the fireworks of Virender Sehwag while there are a number of young talents like Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina and Virat Kohli who have already established themselves in the national team. Yuvraj, who was dropped from the Asia Cup squad because of poor fitness and form, has been given another opportunity to reclaim his position in the team.

In the absence of Gambhir, Tamil Nadu wicket-keeper batsman Dinesh Karthik is likely to open the innings with Sehwag. Ravindra Jadeja is the lone all-rounder in the squad although there are a number of batsmen who are known to be part time bowlers.

Squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (C), Virender Sehwag (VC), Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Dinesh Karthik, R Ashwin, Praveen Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Abhimanyu Mithun, Ashish Nehra, Pragyan Ojha and Saurab Tiwary.

Ace Ventura-When Nature Calls

2012