Selectors sending out mixed signals - More

Former chairman of selectors Kiran More has said the decision to recall 38-year-old Rahul Dravid to the limited-overs side for the England tour reflected poor planning by the current selection committee.

"I think they have made a lot of changes recently," More told Reuters. "And the changes they have done are not looking ahead. I don't know what their thinking is but I know things have not gone very correctly."

More said that while the decision to recall Dravid was because a batsman of his calibre was needed to hold the batting together in tough conditions, it wasn't a forward-thinking decision. Dravid scored two centuries in the first two Tests in England but last played an ODI for India in September 2009, during the Champions Trophy in South Africa. Dravid, who was surprised at his recall, said he would retire from ODIs after the England series.

"They needed an experienced batsman, looking at some of the players who have been exposed on this tour. In English conditions you need to have a batsman who can carry the innings and that's the reason he [Dravid] has been picked.

"After the World Cup they (selectors) should have taken a call and thought about building a team for the next World Cup also," More said. "To win another World Cup or dominate world cricket, there needs to be proper planning but that's not happening. It's been a little haywire."

India's pace attack for the limited-overs leg of the England tour comprised Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Praveen Kumar, Munaf Patel and Vinay Kumar. Zaheer was subsequently ruled out of the series and left-arm seamer RP Singh was named his replacement. The selectors - led by chairman Krishnamachari Srikkanth - left out fast bowler Sreesanth, who is part of the Test squad, from the 16-man limited-overs squad and More said such decisions would send out wrong signals to the players.

"The players are also confused. Now Sreesanth is not part of the one-day team though he is bowling well. I don't know what confidence you are giving to Sreesanth. He was part of the World Cup team but he is not part of the [current] one-day team. Yusuf Pathan could have played a few games ... he's not a bad player. They are not sending proper signals to the players." 

Blogger Admin

"Cricket Meri Jaan"