Injuries continue to plague India

Fears that Saturday's practice match, the only one between two back-to-back Tests between India and South Africa, could be washed off were allayed after rain stopped playing truant and fine weather was forecast for the coming four days.

The ground in East London is in good condition despite the rain and the Indian team practiced freely on Friday afternoon. Though there are 60 per cent chances of rains on Saturday, the remaining three days have been forecast as fine.

But the Indians, still cooling their heels after a nine- wicket defeat in the first Test at Bloemfontein, were in for another setback when left-arm seamer Ashish Nehra joined the list of doubtful starters. The Delhi speedster was found to be suffering from blisters on his right sole and may not play the four-day game against South Africa 'A'.

With question marks over skipper Sourav Ganguly's availability not fully put to rest, the team management will have to do some rethinking as far as selection goes.

Team physio Andrew Leipus said Ganguly has a bruise on top of his right knee. "The swelling is still there but the pain has subsided and there is a bit of fluid in it. But if he is able to bend it easily tomorrow, he should be alright to play this game," Leipus said.

Indeed a few problems have cropped up for the Indians because Sachin Tendulkar, Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble were given to understand they would not play. But with Dighe also due to return on Friday evening, it appears Tendulkar might be asked to play.

Baroda opener Connor Williams has reasons to feel cheated on this tour. Not only he couldn't get a practice game prior to the first Test but may also be deprived a chance to stake a claim for a place in the Test if the four-dayer is washed off.

But the bad luck for Williams has spelt good luck for Delhi's Virender Sehwag, who grabbed his chance with both hands and cemented his Test place with a 105-run knock on debut in the first Test.

Williams's misfortune, in a strange way, has begun to dog Rahul Dravid's preparations on this tour. The stacked middle order has ensured the Karnataka batsman would be opening the innings for the rest of the tour.

Ashish Nehra and Zaheer Khan, the two left-arm medium-pacers, might still get a chance to come back into reckoning after their disastrous showing in the first Test.

Ajit Agarkar, who is almost certain to play the four-day match, would be asked to get himself back in rhythm as it would be the case with off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who has recovered from his groin infection and is looking forward to strike against the South Africans.

The Indians will announce their final eleven on the morning of the match.

The South African 'A' side is also not without its problems ahead of the tour game. As many as four players have pulled out of the squad for different reasons, the latest being Western Province wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile, who has not recovered from a fractured finger.

The other three replacements have been for batsman captain H D Ackerman, allrounder Justin Ontong and fast bowler Charl Willoughby, with Dale Benkenstein, Darryll Cullinan and Garnet Kruger coming in in their places.

For Cullinan, a regular South Africa batsman who has been plagued by a knee injury, the call-up is a life-line and he described it as a "nice little gap and one I am going to take the best possible advantage of".

Cullinan's inclusion presents him with a golden opportunity to make the tour to Australia next month. If he shows form in the game, he could also make the national team for one of the remaining Tests against India.

Cullinan said his confidence is returning after his two innings of 39 and 31 against Easterns over the weekend.

South African national coach Graham Ford said he is not surprised by the developments. "It's part of a logical process to make sure all possible options are available to the selectors," he said.

Skipper Benkenstein is an extremely experienced player who has played in 20 one-day internationals for South Africa in the past. At one time he was even touted as a candidate for South African captaincy.

But he hit a bad patch and the most frustrating of it was the 1999 World Cup, when he was part of the South African squad but didn't play a single game.

Paul Adams, the left-arm spinner with an unusual action, is also in the side and it would be an opportunity for him to present the selectors with more spin-bowling options.

Teams:
Indians (from): Shiv Sunder Das, Connor Williams, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Sourav Ganguly, Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Deep Dasgupta, Ajit Agarkar, Ashish Nehra, Venkatesh Prasad, Zaheer Khan and Harbhajan Singh.

South Africa 'A': Dale Benkenstein (capt), Jacques Rudolph, Graeme Smith, Martinvan Jaarsveld, Daryll Cullinan, Justin Kemp, Kruger van Wyk, Paul Adams, Charl Langeveldt, Andre Nel and Charl Willoughby. 12th man: Gulam Bodi.

India's tour of South Africa : Complete coverage

Mail Cricket Editor