Indian captain Rahul Dravid [ Images ] won the toss and elected to bat against Sussex in their four-day opening match of the England [ Images ] tour in Hove on Saturday.

The Indians included both V V S Laxman [ Images ] and Yuvraj Singh [ Images ], who are fighting for the last specialist batsman's slot in the Test squad, while Sachin Tendulkar [ Images ] and Sourav Ganguly [ Images ] were rested.

Wasim Jaffer [ Images ] and Dinesh Karthik [ Images ] opened the batting and was to be followed by Gautam Gambhir [ Images ], Rahul Dravid and Mahendra Singh Dhoni [ Images ] besides Laxman and Yuvraj.

The bowling attack comprised Anil Kumble [ Images ] as the lone spinner with S Sreesanth [ Images ], Rudra Pratap Singh and Ranadeb Bose, who was playing his maiden international match.

Teams:

India [ Images ]: Rahul Dravid (captain), Wasim Jaffer, Dinesh Karthik, Gautam Gambhir, V V S Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, S Sreesanth, Rudra Pratap Singh, Anil Kumble and Ranadeb Bose.

Sussex: Michael Yardy (captain), Richard Montgomerie, Chris Nash, Carl Hopkinson, Michael Thornely, Andy Hodd, Robin Martin-Jenkins, Ollie Rayner, Saqlain Mushtaq, Richards Kirtley, Jason Lewry.