In a contradictory statement to the one issued by the BCCI after the selection committee meeting last Saturday, India's premier opener, Virender Sehwag, said, "I am fit to play in the first Test against England."
The Indian board had said the Delhi batsman would join the team in England a fortnight late, which in essence would mean that he would miss the first tour game and the inaugural Test.
Talking at a promotional event here, Sehwag said, "I did bat at the NCA in Bangalore during my rehab period, though it will take a week for me to regain complete fitness. And yes, I am looking forward to the England tour."England's premier spin bowler, Graeme Swann, the number two ranked Test bowler in the world, is being projected as a major threat to the Indian batsmen on the upcoming tour. However, Sehwag dismissed it by saying, spin is India's strength. "The last time England toured here, they had him in the line-up. We still chased 380-odd in the last innings of a Test (at Chennai in December, 2008). Indians are good against spin," exclaimed Sehwag.
One who is known to speak his mind, Sehwag has always supported the use of technology in decision-making in cricket. The BCCI, who up till now was hell-bent against the use of the Decision Review System (DRS), have agreed to its use after coming under pressure from the world cricket fraternity. Still, Sehwag and the BCCI don't agree on all points of the DRS. The board is against the use of Hawk-eye and have succeeded in convincing other nations against the use of it in DRS, but Sehwag holds an absolutely opposite opinion. Sehwag said, "I am completely happy with the DRS. I am also happy with Hawk-eye."
{{/usCountry}}One who is known to speak his mind, Sehwag has always supported the use of technology in decision-making in cricket. The BCCI, who up till now was hell-bent against the use of the Decision Review System (DRS), have agreed to its use after coming under pressure from the world cricket fraternity. Still, Sehwag and the BCCI don't agree on all points of the DRS. The board is against the use of Hawk-eye and have succeeded in convincing other nations against the use of it in DRS, but Sehwag holds an absolutely opposite opinion. Sehwag said, "I am completely happy with the DRS. I am also happy with Hawk-eye."
{{/usCountry}}Yuvi wants to cement his place
IANS adds: India's flamboyant middle-order batsman Yuvraj Singh is looking at the England tour to cement his place in the Test side. Yuvraj has managed to play 34 Tests since making his debut in 2003 and has been in and out of the side. "In terms of one-day cricket everything has been good for me, but in Test cricket I suppose the graph reads a bit up and down. Cricket is my game though and I am going to give this Test series my level best, I will give my 100 per cent," said Yuvraj.