Laxman, Nehra fit for S. African tour

By Our Special Correspondent

MUMBAI, SEPT. 5. Venkatsai Laxman and Ashish Nehra have declared themselves fit for the 65-day tour of South Africa. The 15-member team the selectors are to choose on Thursday will leave for Johannesburg on Monday, September 24. Both, middle order batsman Laxman and left-arm seamer Nehra, faxed on Tuesday, certificates authenticating their fitness to the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) Hon. Secretary, Mr. Jaywant Lele.

Laxman returned home after the Coca Cola Tri-series in Sri Lanka and underwent surgery in his right knee on August 17 in Sydney. The architect of India's 2-1 win over Australia last March, Laxman is convalescing in Sydney. He told Mr. Lele that he would return home in September end.

He has been under the care of Dr. Patrick Farhart and Mr. Michael Johnson. Dr. Farhart has stated in his certificate that ``Laxman is undergoing physiotherapy treatment and has made excellent progress after the knee surgery on August 17. If the current rate of progress and improvement is any indication, Laxman will be fit to resume play three weeks from now.''

Nehra who returned from London recently telephoned Mr. Lele that he was fit and could be considered for selection. According to Mr. Lele, the left-arm seamer from Delhi sent a favourable certificate from orthopaedic surgeon, Dr. Srikant Kaushik. ``The certificate says he (Nehra) is fit to play,'' said Mr. Lele.

There were speculations that Nehra may not be considered for the first half of the tour (for the tri-series) to South Africa, but would be a certainty for the three-Test series. But with left-arm seamer Zaheer Khan, unlikely to be picked for the tri-series (it is learnt physio Andrew Leipus has not said anything favourable about his fitness) Nehra might have already clinched a berth in the squad.

At this point of time it can said that only Venkatesh Prasad and Harvinder Singh are fit. Javagal Srinath is recovering from a hand (left hand) injury and Nehra from a groin trouble.

Ajit Agarkar is reported to have recovered, but he is injury prone. Zaheer Khan, according to sources, has no shin-related problems, but has developed groin and abdomen ailments.

The selectors will have to pick a seam attack the captain can make optimum use in South Africa. Five seasons ago, Srinath and Prasad carried a heavy work load in South Africa, the former was preserved and played only in the three Tests and tri- series.

The back up seamers in David Johnson and Doda Ganesh, in their first major tour abroad, were not up to the mark. Then, left-arm spinner, Venkatapathy Raju was not used at all.

In the circumstances, the selectors have their task cut out. There is a temptation to declare someone fit, for South Africa is a country, like Australia, where cricketers like to perform and gain recognition.

But the harm to the team, should the injured players breakdown again, will be incalculable. It will also make a couple of bowlers' career, uncertain.

On Wednesday, the five selectors will meet at 11 a.m. at the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) office to pick the captain. Sourav Ganguly has been India's captain in 11 Tests and has won of six of it; two against Australia, two against Zimbabwe, one each against Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. He has been in poor form with the bat; it has caused concern to him, the selectors and his fans alike. But his poor form is not likely to be held against when the selectors sit down to choose the captain.

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