Ganguly may sit out first Test

Sourav Ganguly may sit out of the first Test against Sri Lanka beginning on December 2 if the team management decides to pick in-form Yuvraj Singh.

Coach Greg Chappell has been effusive about Yuvraj's recent man-of-the-series winning performance in one-dayers against the South Africans, and it is likely he will pitch for the youngster.

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If that happens, there wouldn't be a place for all-rounder Ganguly, Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) sources said.

They said Chappell has held a round of talks with chief selector Kiran More, and though it wasn't known what transpired, it was likely that the coach had put in a word for Yuvraj. 

"From the way he has been speaking about Yuvraj and given his relations with Ganguly, it is very likely that the coach would want the former in the team," a senior BCCI official said.

Ganguly has been one of the consistent backers of Yuvraj, who is now singing paeans of Chappell, crediting him for his batting improvements.

In a head-to-head count, Yuvraj stands a better chance now not only because of his superb batting effort under pressure against the South Africans but also for his fielding abilities.

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While Ganguly has scored heavily in the last couple of domestic matches he played, even his staunchest supporter would not vouch for his fielding abilities. His bowling, however, could be useful.

But the argument that Chappell and More have been forwarding in support of the youngsters is that they have to be given more chances to prove themselves in Test matches and also to build a younger team.

Also, the change in the power equation in the cricket board will cast its shadow on the selection process.

Tentatively, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir could open the batting followed by Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and V V S Laxman. For the sixth batsman it could either be Ganguly or Yuvraj, then Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble. This leaves the eleventh spot for a fourth pacer.

There is Ajit Agarkar and R P Singh who could claim that place, but there is a possibility that the team management could also decide to give the all-rounder's role to Yuvraj and bring in Ganguly as a bowler. Left-arm spinner Murali Kartik is a dark horse for that slot if the wicket is a turner.