No top spinner for Aussie warm-up games

The national selection committee’s tactic of not including a single spinner in the warm-up game against England had fallen flat but they have again picked the Board President’s XI and India A squads on similar lines for warm-up games against Australia. 

While Harbhajan Singh and Pragyan Ojha will be representing Rest of India in the Irani Cup, little-known Punjab leggie Sarabjit Ladda, who has played only three Ranji Trophy matches this year, has been picked along with veteran Saurashtra offie Kamlesh Makvana.

The India ‘A’ squad has Rakesh Dhruv who, at 31, is well past his prime and the left-arm spinner is certainly not even among the top-10 in the country.

However, even if Dhruv with three five-wicket hauls this season merits a call, drafting in Ladda ahead of a Rahul Sharma, Piyush Chawla or Amit Mishra seems another move at denying Aussies some quality spin practice.

Ladda has taken 12 wickets in three matches this season and his best show was four for 112. He has warmed the benches for Kolkata Knight Riders in the Indian Premier League last season.
Sharma, Chawla and Mishra in the meantime will be playing Vijay Hazare Trophy for their respective sides.