Amit Mishra’s fingers uncoil from his fist as he counts his India A stints. “There have been four in the last two years. Before that, I had been to West Indies once and Sri Lanka once,” the leg-spinner’s voice trails as he loses count of the number of times he has been on the threshold of the national team.

These days, hope is once again visible in his eyes as he gets ready to face Australia A in a three-day match starting on Wednesday. That’s why he can afford to joke about his perennial presence outside the door of the Indian dressing room. “I’m a veteran in the India A side now,” says the 25-year-old with a grin. Mishra’s mood symbolizes the atmosphere at the India A practice session. This is the time of wishful thinking for the anxious fringe players of Indian cricket. “I have a gut feeling that if I perform against Australia A, I’ll have a chance to be in the Test team,” Mishra says.

With just the Irani Trophy to bank on after the India A series, the second-stringers know its now or never if they want their names discussed when the selection committee meets to pick the Test squad for next month’s series against Australia. Mishra’s name has figured in several meetings in the past and once again the Haryana bowler is in contention for the third-spinner’s spot behind Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh. He finished the last domestic season with 46 wickets — the second highest behind Sudeep Tyagi — but such domestic highs have not always translated in a call for national duty.

... contd.