Cowan to make debut

In-form newcomer Ed Cowan said on Wednesday he will be fully prepared if Shaun Marsh fails to make Australia's first Test against India at the Melbourne Cricket Ground next week.

Cowan was one of three additions to a 13-man Australian squad announced on Wednesday for the Boxing Day blockbuster with India after batsmen Phillip Hughes and Usman Khawaja were dumped.

Marsh has only played three Tests but has back trouble from the recent South Africa tour and is fighting to take his place in the first of four Tests.

Selectors named Marsh, Cowan and Ben Hilfenhaus along with all-rounder Dan Christian in their extended squad, but there was no place for injured allrounder Shane Watson and fast bowler Ryan Harris. Chief selector John Inverarity said the size of the squad was due to the continuing uncertainty about the fitness of Marsh.

But Cowan, who has presented undeniable selection claims after his fourth century in his past four games, wants to be as well prepared as possible should the call come to make his Test debut at the age of 29.

"You would be silly to prepare expecting not to play," Cowan said in Canberra after the Chairman's XI's drawn match with India.

"I've got no idea how Shaun's back is. I'll assume Shaun will be fit and then it's down to the balance of the side. I'm excited to be a part of the team and hopefully I'll get my chance on Boxing Day to continue a decent run of form."

Cowan hit 109 for the Chairman's XI against India along with two centuries in this season's domestic Sheffield Shield and one for Australia A against the touring New Zealanders. But Cowan stressed that his selection in the Test squad was not purely on the strength of this season's prolific form.

"It's two-and-a-half years of solid domestic cricket form. I've got nine first-class hundreds in the last two-and-a-half years so it's not four hundreds in four weeks and suddenly you're in the Test team," he said.

"It's two-and-a-half years of trying to dominate state cricket and I've hit some form at the right time. It doesn't feel like my game has changed technically in the last four weeks, but the stars have aligned a bit and I've got pretty greedy when I got in in the last four weeks."

Inverarity, who called Cowan with the news late Tuesday, said the right-hander promised to add some steel to Australia's fragile top order. "His inclusion is in recognition of his consistently good performances and we anticipate that he can provide steadiness at the top of the order," he said.

Hughes paid for his suspect technique outside offstump, habitually caught in the slips for low scores in the four innings against New Zealand recently.

Khawaja failed to build on starts to his innings and failed to get beyond 38 in his three knocks against the Kiwis. Inverarity said Hughes and Khawaja both needed to produce "compelling performances" to be considered for future Test selection.

"We see both Phillip Hughes and Usman Khawaja as developing players with bright futures and remaining as players of significance," he said.

"They are determined young men and I know that they will work hard to produce compelling performances and push strongly for further consideration."

Inverarity said Watson and Harris were not considered ready to face India. "Shane Watson was not considered for selection as he has not recovered sufficiently and Ryan Harris has not yet achieved the volume of bowling required to be available for consideration for Test selection," he said.

Ishant played last day of the practise match to prove his fitness

The final day of the drawn three-day warm-up game here at the Manuka Oval between Indians and the Cricket Australia (CA) Chairman's XI turned farcical as Ishant Sharma, who was not even in the 13-man squad, bowled to prove that he is on track to lead the attack on Boxing Day Test at the Melbourne Cricket Ground (MCG).
The Indian team management requested Chairman's XI to allow Ishant bowl on the final day here Wednesday. Ishant wasn't included in the original 13-man squad to play at Manuka Oval because of his ankle injury.
Ishant's inclusion became a farce and to add to it three nonsensical declarations on the final day ensured it will be a hard to explain in the record books.
David Warner's Chairman's XI declared their first innings at 215 for seven overnight, meaning they trailed India's first innings score of 269 by 54 runs.
India declared at 90 for two after Virender Sehwag (8) and Ajinkya Rahane departed in quick successions. Gautam Gambhir remained unbeaten on 42 and Rohit Sharma on 38.
Set a target of 145 to win, Usman Khawaja and Phil Hughes, motivated by their axings from the Test side, gave the Chairman's XI a good start. But surprisingly both the teams decided to end the match when Chairman's XI were 100 for no loss and with nearly two hours of play left. Khawaja made 56 not out and Hughes an unbeaten 42.

Sachin, Laxman and Rohit shines in first tour match

Sachin Tendulkar sounded a warning to Australia's depleted bowling attack by hitting a stylish 92 before retiring in India's drawn tour match against a Cricket Australia Chairman's XI on Friday.

Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Rohit Sharma scored half-centuries for India.

The two-day match ended prematurely due to rain at Manuka Oval with India on 6-320 in reply to the Chairman's XI's 6-398 declared.

Tendulkar is just one century short becoming the first cricketer to reach the historic milestone of a combined 100 hundreds in tests or limited-overs internationals.

He will get the opportunity to push for the landmark when India faces Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Dec. 26 in the first of four test matches.

After going to lunch at 13 not out on Friday, Tendulkar opened up with some free flowing strokes, including 15 boundaries, to show he is still in ominous touch at the age of 38 and on what will likely be his last tour of Australia.

Tendulkar put on a 133-run stand with VVS Laxman, who also retired at tea while on 57 off 76 balls.


Rahul Dravid, who was India captain for the first of the two tour matches against CA Chairman's selections, looked in good touch before he was caught by Peter George at mid-off on 45 after skying a ball by legspinner Cameron Boyce (2-74).

Opening pair Ajinkya Rahane and Gautam Gambhir shared just 38 runs before Rahane was caught off Jake Haberfield for 3 and Gambhir provided a simple catch to Ryan Broad at short cover off Glenn Maxwell (1-84).

Virat Kohli (1) was caught and bowled by Boyce.

Rohit Sharma was 56 not out when stumps was called. Laxman, who has performed exceptionally well in Australia throughout his career, also looked in impressive touch. He took just 76 balls for his unbeaten stint at the crease and found the fence nine times.

Tom Cooper and Wes Robinson scored centuries and shared a 226-run partnership for the Chairman's XI on Thursday after Dravid won the toss and elected to field.

Indian paceman Ishant Sharma bowled only 5.3 overs and appeared to struggle with an ankle problem as the Indian attack struggled to contain the aggressive batting in their tour opening match against the Australian Chairman's XI on Thursday.

The second tour match against a Chairmans XI starts on Monday.

India hammered in practise match

India's bowlers took a hammering and paceman Ishant Sharma failed to complete six overs as a

Ishant Sharma managed to bowl only 5.3 overs before he left the field

Chairman's XI rattled up 398 for six declared on the first day of the tourists' opening match in Australia on Thursday.
India won the toss and chose to bowl first in the two-day tour match at Manuka Oval, one of two warm-up matches they will play in the Australian capital before the first of four tests starts on December 26 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground.
The tourists had said they wanted to use the match to give their relatively inexperienced bowlers plenty of practise in Australian conditions.
Opener Wes Robinson smashed 143 but South Australia's Tom Cooper, who has played for the Netherlands in one day internationals, bettered that with a brutal unbeaten 182 off 194 balls with 24 fours and three sixes. The pair shared a partnership of 226.
Right-arm paceman Umesh Yadav, who impressed in his first test series against West Indies last month, was the pick of the Indian bowlers, taking three wickets at a cost of 39 runs.


Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha was the most costly, taking two wickets for 149 to do his personal tussle with off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin for a test spot no good.
The Chairman's XI declared when Dean Solway was caught behind off the medium pace of Ranganath Vinay Kumar for five after 86 overs to bring up stumps.
The India side, which boasts a strong batting line-up featuring Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman, will have the same number of overs, requiring 399 for victory on Friday.
Sharma bowled the first over but made a couple of trips off the pitch before departing for good midway through his sixth. A team spokesman said he had not suffered an injury.
India, who have never won a test series in Australia, play a three day match against a more experienced Chairman's XI on the same pitch starting next Monday.

Watson, Marsh add to Aussie batting woes

Australia's beleaguered batting line-up faces fresh problems ahead of

Will Marsh and Watson be fit in time?

their series against India with Shaun Marsh unlikely to be fit for the first Test and question marks over Shane Watson's role.

Left-hander Marsh and opener-cum-all-rounder Watson had been expected to return from injury to shore up the top order after Monday's humiliating loss to New Zealand, when the hosts threw away their last eight wickets for 74 runs.

The first home defeat to New Zealand in 26 years was a heavy blow for a team which will face India on December 26 with veterans Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey in the firing line, and the young batsmen also mostly in poor touch.

As ex-Test great Shane Warne called for "brave decisions", new coach Mickey Arthur urged the selectors to decide where injury-prone Watson would bat and how much he would be asked to bowl. "It has been speculated about a huge amount," the South African said.

"We have to come to a point where we make a decision where Shane is going to bat in the batting order and how many overs we expect of him so there is no more debate about the issue."

Arthur added that Watson needed a "clear role definition" before the Melbourne Test, indicating he may be moved down the order. "We have to balance out how many overs we can possibly get out of him -- that is going to determine the balance of the team," he said. "There are a lot of unanswered questions in terms of selection."

However Watson, 30, told local media that although he is now close to recovering from his hamstring injury, he would probably not be able to bowl in the first Test. "At the moment things are progressing well," he told the Sydney Morning Herald. "Hopefully if everything continues to go well I'll definitely be fully fit to play on Boxing Day."
Arthur has given his backing to struggling Ponting and Hussey, but Warne said it was time for selectors to bring in new blood. "Some brave decisions need to be made in the interests of Australian cricket to make sure that the best things happen and Australian cricket is strong," he said Tuesday.

"That's life. Cricket is a performance-based game. If you don't perform you shouldn't be playing." He added: "Have we hung on to someone too long? Is there someone else we need to get in there? All those types of questions will be asked so it's a tough one for the selectors."

Meanwhile Marsh has been ruled out of the second tour match against India starting Monday after failing to recover from a back injury, and is "unlikely" to play in Melbourne, according to team performance manager Pat Howard.

Arthur wants Ponting and Hussey in the team

ustralia coach Mickey Arthur on Tuesday backed struggling senior

Michael Hussey and Ricky Ponting are expected to make the Boxing Day squad

batsmen Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey to retain their team places for the Boxing Day Test with India in Melbourne.

Arthur said there were no plans to manage the Test exits of former skipper Ponting and Hussey after they both struggled for runs in Australia's humiliating seven-run loss to New Zealand in Hobart on Monday.

Ponting, whose 158 Tests have seen him become the third greatest Test runscorer, and Hussey are fighting for their spots, but Arthur said their experience was vital in the transitional Australian team.

"We are certainly not managing yet how they go out of the side and in my opinion they've still got big roles to play because we do need some experience within our middle order and they bring that experience that we need," he said. "We haven't even come to any thought on how we manage any exit of any of those players. The key for us is to get them up firing for Australia come Boxing Day because they are key."

Arthur backed Ponting, who turns 37 next week, to play in the showpiece Boxing Day Test against the second-ranked Indians. "I think he should (bat on to Boxing Day). I've already had a chat with (selector) Rod Marsh and (captain) Michael Clarke and we're trying to give ourselves a bit of direction to Boxing Day," he said.
"I think Ricky still fits firmly in that picture at the moment."

But the picture did not look bright for under-fire opening batsman Phillip Hughes, who was again caught in the slips off Kiwi seamer Chris Martin's bowling for the fourth time in a row in the series against New Zealand.

Clarke said that Hughes may have to return to state cricket to rediscover his touch after his latest Test batting failure and Arthur was unsure whether Hughes would remain in the Australian side for Boxing Day. "By his own admission there is a bit of technical work that he needs to do but again a very good young cricketer," Arthur said. "Whether that's enough for him to play on Boxing Day I'm not sure. That will be a discussion we will have in a couple of days' time."

Arthur said injured allrounder Shane Watson, who missed both Tests against New Zealand, would be assessed well before the MCG Test to "determine the balance of the team". "We've got to come to a point now where we make a decision on where Shane's going to bat in the order and how many overs we expect from him so there can be no more debate around the issue," he said.

Arthur, who is South African, said Australia's batsmen would be working hard to improve their techniques against the swinging ball after the New Zealand Test. "The swinging ball again was something that exposed us a little bit and that's going to be top of the agenda to work on before the Boxing Day Test," he said.

"I think if we can get a couple of extra days into our batters, just sharpen them up and their techniques, I think that will be invaluable ahead of what is a massive series for Australia."

Philip Hughes needs to score: Clarke

Phillip Hughes may have to return to state cricket to rediscover his touch after another batting failure in Australia's shock second Test loss to New Zealand, skipper Michael Clarke said on Monday.

The opener's Test future once again looks uncertain ahead of the India series after he fell early on the fourth day as Australia collapsed to 233 all out, handing the Kiwis a seven run victory at Bellerive Oval. Hughes was again found out outside off-stump and was caught in the slips for 20 off Chris Martin's bowling for the fourth straight innings.

His poor form - the struggling left-hander scored 41 in four innings against the Kiwis - will intensify pressure on his spot ahead of the Test series with India, which starts at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Boxing Day.

While Hughes' technique flounders, opening batting partner David Warner built a strong case for his retention by carrying his bat through the second innings with an unbeaten 123. Clarke indicated that Hughes could try to cure his shattered confidence with a spell for his home state New South Wales.

"He's obviously really disappointed like all the batters are for the way we played today, but Hughesy is probably most disappointed he's been getting out the same way," Clarke said.

"He needs to find some runs, it's as simple as that. If he's not making them for Australia, he's going to have to go to back to New South Wales and find them there."

Should he be dropped for the India Test opener, Hughes will have to find form in the helter-skelter of the Twenty20 Big Bash League with no four-day Sheffield Shield matches listed until early February.

"There's no four-day cricket now for NSW either, unfortunately, we go back and play Twenty20 cricket so if that's the case for people to get dropped from this team they're going to have to play Twenty20 cricket to score some runs," Clarke said.

"I'm not sure how it's going to work, so you'll have to be picked in the Test team from the Big Bash. "He needs some runs, but he's not the only one. I want to make that very clear."

Clarke was asked at his post-match news conference if he would be confident taking the beaten Hobart Test team into the Boxing Day blockbuster against India.

"If the selectors decide this is the best 11 players to win the game on Boxing Day then I think it would be, but it's something that obviously needs to be discussed over the next few days," he said.

"To be honest the last thing I've been thinking about over the last few days is selection, I've been trying to get my head around winning this Test match, but now... no doubt I will be on the phone talking with the selectors about what the best squad is."

Clarke said inconsistency was frustrating the Australian team, with just three wins in eight Tests under his captaincy.

"You're seeing some really good patches of individual excellence and as a team we're playing really well in patches, but then you see the other side as well where we're letting ourselves down with very poor performances," he said. "We're inconsistent at the minute which is giving us all a pain in the backside."

Australia series is much different: Gautam Gambhir

While expressing happiness over India's 4-1 series win against the West Indies here on Sunday, stand-in captain Gautam Gambhir cautioned that the forthcoming tour of Australia would be a 'different ball game' that will put to test both the technique and mental toughness of the players.
'It always helps to get runs under your belt, but in Australia, those are different conditions. We all know this is not what we are going to get in Australia. The Australians are tough nuts to crack and will come hard at us,' he said at a post-match media interaction here after India beat the West Indies in the fifth and concluding game.
'In Australia, your mental toughness will be tested the maximum. You will be getting a quality attack and they will be coming hard at you. I think one good thing is the guys that have gone early (to Australia) will be able to acclimatise (to the conditions). And we're playing two practice games this time,' he said.
Gambhir also sought to play down his captaincy record of six wins out of six by saying that he was only as good as the teams he had.
'I'll stick to the saying that the captain is as good as his team. One captain can't win you the game; it is still 11 people on the park. I am lucky to have such teammates, during the series against New Zealand, I was lucky to have Yuvraj Singh. Today the team-mates stood up and delivered,' he asserted.

"India will miss Bhajji in Australia", says Gilchrist

Former Australian captain Adam Gilchrist feels that Harbhajan Singh will be missed by India during their tour Down Under as the feisty off-spinner can get under the skin of the champion team.
Harbhajan's slump in form has paved the way for two young spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha to be picked for the four-Test series against Australia.
'Bhajji is a great competitor, his fighting qualities are admirable, he is very much like an Australian that way. He will be missed. But a player has to be picked on performances,' Gilchrist told reporters when asked about the exclusion of the turbanator.
'Ashwin and Ojha have set very high standards,' he added.
India's tour to Australia starts Dec 26 and with both teams fielding new faces in their bowling attack.
Gilchrist feels that the bowlers will play the key role in deciding the series.
'It is a series that's quite difficult to predict. Both teams are equal, the batting of both the teams are the strong points, while injury has plagued both the bowling line-ups.'
'Whichever bowling line-up settles down first that team will have the upper hand,' Gilchrist said on the sidelines of a promotional campaign on behalf of University of Wollongong in New South Wales.
India will be taking an inexperienced bowling attack, with the likes of Varun Aaron, Umesh Yadav and Abhimanyu Mithun, all touring Australia for the first time.
Australia, on the other hand, are having an injury crisis with Ryan Harris, Mitchell Johnson, Pat Cummins and Shane Watson currently side-lined.
Gilchrist felt that India-Australia contests are of high intensity and among the best sporting rivalries in the world.
'The rivalry between India-Australia is terrific. I was a part of the 2001 series and it was one of the best series ever.'
'Any series India play is an interesting one, the Indian people are very passionate about he sport. I love coming to India it's a fascinating country.'
'I continue to come stay here 2-3 months every year with the IPL and other things,' he said.

Heel bone injury to Cummins

Australia's teenage pace sensation Pat Cummins will likely miss the bulk of the home Test series against India with a bone stress heel injury, Cricket Australia said on Wednesday.
The 18-year-old fast bowler suffered the injury during his man-of-the-match debut in last month's second Johannesburg Test against South Africa.
It was initially thought to be bruising but new scans have revealed a bone stress problem and Cummins is unlikely to bowl again until early to mid-January, CA said.

India begin their four Test series against Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Boxing Day with further Tests in Sydney, Perth and Adelaide throughout January.
"By the end of last week it was apparent to all of us managing him that he was progressing slower than expected for a soft tissue injury of the heel," Australian team physiotherapist Alex Kountouris said on Wednesday.
"As such we arranged for him to see a foot specialist and had further scans that have identified a bone component to his injury that was not evident on the original scans. We now believe that Patrick has a bone stress injury as well as the fat pad injury (soft tissue injury)."
Kountouris said Cummins was not likely to resume bowling until after the opening two Tests against India.
The third Test against India is in Perth from January 13-17 and the fourth and final Test at Adelaide Oval from January 24-28. Cummins still has his sights on playing some role in the Test series.
He told reporters he did not have a date for his return to cricket but he aimed to play in the subsequent Twenty20 series against India and tri-nation one-day series also involving Sri Lanka, and possibly even some Test cricket.
"Hopefully the one-day series and the Twenty20," he said. "Maybe I'll even be back in the Test."
The teenager played down concern about the more serious diagnosis and was planning to rest until the Christmas period, when he will again test out his heel. "It will only make a few weeks' difference," he said.
"We thought there might have been something more to it because it took a bit longer to heal. Obviously, it's disappointing but hopefully it doesn't make too much of a difference."
Cummins was acclaimed as Australia's newest pace bowling star when he captured six for 79 in South Africa's second innings to set up an exciting two-wicket win in the Johannesburg Test last month.
But he has not played since and was rested from last week's first Test win against New Zealand at the Gabba.
The youngster's setback continues to drain Australia's fast bowling stocks following Mitchell Johnson's foot surgery last week which will sideline the left-armer for five months.

Irfan waiting to bowl

Irfan Pathan, making a comeback into the Indian team after two years, is eager to cash in on the opportunity given by the national selectors.
Pathan was Monday named in the India squad for the remaining two One-Day Internationals against the West Indies on the back of having had a successful season so far in the ongoing Ranji Trophy where he is the leading wicket-taker with a tally of 21 in four matches. The Baroda all-rounder last played for India during the World Twenty20 in England in 2009.

'I am really happy to get back into the team. It is a great feeling. It has been a long wait for two years and god has fulfilled my dreams. Nothing comes better than playing for your country. If given the opportunity to play, I will try to do my best,' Pathan told reporters.

Pathan was dropped from the Indian team after his bowling form dipped. The ability to swing the ball both ways that made him a regular in the side suddenly disappeared. He had a frustrating domestic season in 2010 when he also suffered a severe back injury.

Pathan remembered the tough times in his career and said it made his return all the more worthwhile.

'It makes every second of the struggle worthwhile. You feel blessed when your hard work is rewarded.'

'The dream to play for the country has always been there. When it is fulfilled, you feel nothing gets better than this. Having all the luxuries in life - having a big car, big house - nothing comes close to this,' said Pathan. He was also in the running for Praveen Kumar's replacement in the Test squad for Australia but lost out to Abhimanyu Mithun.

He would be looking forward to impress the selectors and get a berth in the ODI squad for the tri-nation series in Australia.

Pathan has taken 100 wickets in 29 Tests and and 152 scalps in 107 One-Day Internationals.

Not feeling sorry about captaincy: Ponting

Ricky Ponting said Wednesday he has no regrets about quitting the Australian captaincy and welcomes having fewer responsibilities ahead of this week's second Test against New Zealand.
Ponting led Australia in 77 Tests before he stood down as Test and one-day skipper after the World Cup earlier this year, making way for deputy Michael Clarke to take charge.

Ponting, who turns 37 this month, has continued as a batsman in the Test team and is lining up for his seventh and possibly final Test at Hobart's Bellerive Oval where he began his first-class career with Tasmania in 1992.
It is rare for former Australian captains to continue playing on under a new leader and Ponting was asked at a press conference whether he had adjusted to his new role.
"It's a lot of fun actually not being the captain," Ponting laughed.
"Am I adjusting? Just the same way I was before when I was captain. I just want to be the best member of the team that I can possibly be. And that's by trying to do the best I can by scoring runs and trying to offer advice and help young guys along the way and be there as an extra pair of eyes or ears for the captain if he needs me as well."
Ponting, lining up for his 158th Test match, said he felt more relaxed without the added responsibilities associated with being team captain.
"Actually, it's a lot more relaxing for me just to be an everyday player," he said.
"Just to turn up and get my batting and fielding work done and go and sit in the changerooms and not have to think about the wicket conditions or picking teams and anything like that.
"It's a bit of a load off my plate to be an everyday player again."
He said he had no regrets about giving up the captaincy. "When I made the decision to stand down there was obviously going to be a lot of thought into making that decision because I was standing down from one of the best jobs in the world," he said.
"I don't have any regrets about standing down. I did it because I felt it was the right time and I did it to try and make myself the player that I wanted to be."
He said also part of his thinking was to give his successor Clarke time to gain experience ahead of the India series which starts this month and the next Ashes series in England in 2013.
Ponting, the third highest Test runscorer with 12,635 runs, averages 80 in six Tests at Bellerive and scored 209 against Pakistan in his last Hobart in January last year.
"It's very rare that I get the chance to come back and play international games down here in front of my home crowd and family," he said. "It always has a little bit of extra meaning to play this game. I never had much success early on but the last couple of visits down here have been pretty good. I am looking forward to this week."

Abhimanyu Mithun is the replacement of Praveen Kumar for Australia tour; Irfan Pathan get selected for last 2 ODIs vs West Indies

Abhimanyu Mithun, the Karnataka fast bowler, has been named as Praveen Kumar's replacement in India's Test squad for their tour of Australia. After Praveen was ruled out of the Tests with a fractured rib, the selectors had to add another seamer to the 17-man squad and the place was expected to go to either one of Mithun, Vinay Kumar or Irfan Pathan. Vinay Kumar and Irfan have been left out and Mithun, who has played four Tests for India, the last in Barbados in May, has been called up.

Mithun took six wickets in three Tests in his debut series - the tour of Sri Lanka in July 2010 - and impressed the team management with his strength and spirited bowling on flat tracks. He, however, had to make way for the returning Zaheer Khan and Sreesanth after that series, and waited till May 2011 for his next opportunity in a Test. He took three wickets in the Test against West Indies in Barbados and was subsequently left out of India's tour of England. He has also been out of India's one-day squads, only being called up as a replacement for other players.

He replaced Praveen for the home ODIs against West Indies. He and Vinay both played the third ODI, at Motera; Vinay took 2 for 39 in eight overs while Mithun took just one wicket and conceded 47 runs in his seven overs. Vinay has been a more regular part of India one-day team - he has 13 wickets from his last eight ODIs - but has never been part of an Indian Test squad.

Irfan, meanwhile, has not played for India since 2009, but drew attention because of his performance in this season's Ranji Trophy, in which he is the leading wicket-taker in the Elite division with 21 scalps.

Mithun joins Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron and Ishant Sharma in India's pace department for the Australia tour, with Zaheer Khan selected provisionally, subject to him proving his fitness before the squad's departure.

Philip Hughes to miss India tour

With the Cricket CA selection panel under pressure to strike the right balance in the batting order, it is being said that opening batsman Phillip Hughes needs a big score in the second Test against New Zealand or must be discarded for the four-match series against India.
Hughes had a wondrous start to his Test career, scoring 415 runs at an average of 69.17 in his maiden series against South Africa, but his numbers since leave him vulnerable to the axe, Fox Sports reports.

Since that series, the 23-year-old has scored 626 runs from his past 13 Tests at an average of 28.45.
Hughes also has only two scores above 36 in his past 16 Test digs.
With scores of 10 and 7, he has also failed in the opening Test against New Zealand in Brisbane. (ANI)

Zaheer should play more in Domestic: Ganguly

Former India captain Sourav Ganguly feels pace bowler Zaheer Khan needs to play more matches before the first Test against Australia, beginning in Melbourne on Boxing Day.
"Zaheer is a great bowler...we have seen some memorable performances from him over the years," said Sourav on Friday. "But playing just one Ranji Trophy tie would not be enough to judge his fitness."

"I feel Zaheer is still not hundred per cent fit and we can't afford to have a 50 per cent fit Zaheer Khan in Australia. He still needs to play a lot more matches to regain full fitness. One Ranji Trophy game is not enough," Sourav said on the sidelines of the launch of Wisden India in association with Fidelis World.
"There are 24 days still left before the first Test and I believe Zaheer will play another Ranji game as well as two practice matches in Australia. The BCCI has planned the schedule well unlike 10 years back when I had to appear for a fitness test only 10 days prior to an important tour," he said.
Sourav, who was leading Bengal in the Ranji Trophy game against Haryana at Rohtak till Friday evening, drove down to Delhi for the function. Sourav said the tour of Australia would also be a "great challenge" for off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin.
"Things in Australia would be totally different," he said. "Ashwin is a gifted cricketer. But bowling in India with SG balls against an inconsistent West Indies batting line-up is completely different from bowling with the Kookaburra balls. Also, the quality of batsmen will certainly be better in Australia."
Sourav, however, was not ready to comment on who should come in as a replacement for the injured Praveen Kumar. Asked if Irfan Pathan or Ashish Nehra could be considered, Sourav said: "We should have a good young pacer...whoever it is."
"About Irfan, I have heard that he is bowling well but my question would be whether he is good enough to get into the team on the merit of his bowling alone."
"As far as Nehra is concerned, it is nice to see him playing the four-day game. Also, he is getting wickets, which is a good sign. I don't think that not being in the central contracts is an issue. He is only 32 and still can play for India for some time."
Asked what he thought about former New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns' comment that former Australia captain Ricky Ponting has become "an elephant in the dressing room", Sourav said it was a "ridiculous and reckless" jibe.
"He (Cairns) said that yesterday and today I guess Ponting is batting close to 70 (67 batting). I have always said this and I maintain, please don't judge batsmen like Ponting, (Sachin) Tendulkar or (Rahul) Dravid by their age. To do so would be a huge mistake."
As the chairman of the technical committee of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), the former captain feels some changes could be brought into the present format of the Ranji Trophy.
"At times, the second innings becomes immaterial. It happened only today in our match against Haryana. We need to look at possibilities whether Ranji matches can be made five-day affairs," he said.

Praveen Kumar to miss Australia tests

Indian seamer Praveen Kumar has been ruled out of next month's Test series in Australia after fracturing a rib, the Indian cricket board announced on Tuesday.
"Praveen Kumar underwent a scan last evening and was found to have a fractured rib as per the report that came through today," the board said in a statement.

"He is expected to recover in five-six weeks and has therefore been ruled out of the (ongoing) one-day series against the West Indies as well as the Test series in Australia that follows."
Kumar's replacement for the Australia tour will be named on December 5, the statement added.
The 25-year-old has bagged 27 wickets in six Tests and 69 wickets in 61 one-day internationals.
India open the three-month tour on December 15 with two practice matches in Canberra ahead of the first Test starting at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on December 26.
The remaining Tests will be played in Sydney, Perth and Adelaide.
This will be followed by two Twenty20 internationals, before Sri Lanka join in for a one-day tri-series from February 5.

Yuvraj recovering from serious lung ailment, says mother

Yuvraj Singh's mysterious lung problem, that has kept the Player of the World Cup out of international cricket the last couple of months, is more serious than thought to be.
Yuvraj's mother Shabnam Singh Saturday revealed that he has a serious lung problem and the flamboyant left-hander has shown immense courage in fighting it out.

Yuvraj has been in and out of the team after the World Cup. The only hint about his ailment came from the cricket board.

Shabnam said 'his problem is more serious than the family initially thought.'

'The initial reports suggested that Yuvraj had what in medical terms is called an abnormal tumor called lymphoma over his left lung. The danger was, we were told, that it could be malignant,' she said.

'After detailed scanning and biopsy, reports have indicated that the tumour is non-malignant and non-threatening and can be treated through proper medication and therapy.'

She said Yuvraj is now in a much better state and on his way to full recovery.

'He has sought some more time from the BCCI (Board of Control for Cricket in India) and asked not to be considered for selection in the One-dayers against the West Indies.'

'Now his entire focus is to regain full fitness. He is already preparing himself to play in the One-day series in Australia.'

The problem surfaced during the World Cup when Yuvraj found himself constantly troubled by bouts of coughing and vomiting.

Yuvraj had ignored the problem, assuming it was due to stress and did not want anything to 'distract him during the course of such an important tournament.'

'When the problem persisted after the World Cup, we decided to seek medical advice,' Shabnam said.

'Reports and scans showed us that Yuvraj was dealing with something really serious. A golf-ball size lump found over his left lung and doctors advised us to go in more detailed scans.'

Shabnam said the last few months have been extremely tough for Yuvraj and the family.

'Yuvraj has found himself dealing with the toughest time of his life in these last six-seven months. Everyone in the family was very disturbed.'

She said that Yuvraj got better with medication and therapy and was eager to resmue his India duties.

'All through this period, the BCCI has given its full support and guidance, BCCI president N.Srinivasan offered Yuvraj all the support and help. I want to express our gratitude to him.'

'Yuvraj is also very touched by the love and encouragement he has received from his teammates, who also knew about his problem and were very caring.'

'We must mention here that all of us, particularly my son, sought the solace and blessings of the family's spiritual gurus.'

Bhajji struggled to make place in team against Australia; Zaheer khan also in subject to fitness; Praveen will do comeback.

India have left out Harbhajan Singh from the squad for the Test series in Australia, picking Pragyan Ojha and R Ashwin as the spinners in the 17-man group. Medium-pacer Praveen Kumar, who was part of the team in England, returns to the squad in place of legspinner Rahul Sharma, who was part of the sqaud for the ongoing Test series against West Indies but did not play a match.

The squad comprised eight specialist batsmen, two wicketkeeper batsmen, five fast bowlers and two spinners. Wriddhiman Saha was named as reserve wicketkeeper, while Zaheer Khan, who is recovering from hamstring and ankle injuries, will join the team subject to match fitness.

"Zaheer will play in a couple of Ranji Trophy matches. And once he is fully match-fit and everything is fine, he will join the side," Kris Srikkanth, the chairman of India's selectors, said. "He may also go with the team as by the time [the team leaves] he would have played a couple of matches."

Left-arm spinner Ojha and offspinner Ashwin produced compelling performances in the ongoing series against West Indies to keep Harbhajan Singh out of the Test side. Ashwin was the series' highest wicket-taker with 22 scalps at 22.90 apiece, while Ojha took 20 at 22.50. Ashwin also scored his maiden international century in the third Test at the Wankhede.

"Unfortunately, we cannot help it [not picking Harbhajan] as the team selects itself," Srikkanth said. "In Australia, you cannot have more than two spinners. Pragyan Ojha and Ashwin are doing an excellent job. Sometimes it becomes bad luck and sometimes people miss out. I'm sure everyone has their own time and space to come back."

Harbhajan had been dropped from the squad for the West Indies series after a poor performance in England, where he took only two wickets in two Tests before an abdominal-muscle injury forced him to return home. He failed to perform in the Ranji Trophy as well, managing only two wickets at an average of 102 in three matches as captain of Punjab. On India's previous tour to Australia, in 2007-08, Harbhajan had a tally of eight wickets in three Tests at 61.25. He conceded over 100 runs in an innings three times in that series. 

Yuvraj Singh, who will miss the upcoming ODI series against West Indies because of a lung infection, and Suresh Raina, were also not in not in the team.

"We have chosen a very balanced side. We have taken everything into account, including fitness and Australian conditions," Srikkanth said. "If you ask me today whether this team can beat Australia in Australia, I would say I'm very confident. We should beat Australia in Australia in a Test series.

"Our batsman are in form, our bowlers are in form. And now we have all kinds of bowlers. We have fast bowlers, medium-fast bowlers, we have swing bowlers, spinners - left-arm and offspin," Srikkanth said. "So depending on the conditions there the team management will select the team on a match-to-match basis."

Squad: MS Dhoni (capt &wk), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Virat Kohli, R Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Varun Aaron, Rohit Sharma, Pragyan Ojha, Praveen Kumar, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha, Zaheer Khan (subject to fitness).