The selectors had one opener and had to conjure three and whichever way you look at it, Sehwag’s selection is about desperation, not inspiration. The only contender was Aakash Chopra and the fact that he wasn’t picked confirms my old view that shortlists can rarely be read into. So that list of 24 was either a decoy for journalists or a boring academic exercise; the kind school boys would indulge in during a physics class when they don’t understand much of what is going on. A third opener should have been picked, but clearly there isn’t one in India. I hope Robin Uthappa is looking at this squad and hurting. Given the choices available he should have walked in, never has it been easier for an opener to make the Indian team, but he blew it with a string of ordinary performances for Karnataka. But the good news for him is that this is a shrinking market and selectors will have to pick from the tiny number that is available. If you are 18 and you are reading this, strap those pads on, walk out behind the fielders and take guard against the new ball.

And if you are 18, tall and strong, back yourself and bowl quick. And once you realize you can force people onto the back foot and have them hopping and fending, don’t cut your pace and stroll in. Realistically, India had two new ball bowlers to pick from, one of whom hasn’t played a game for a month and indeed, has played no more than a handful of Test matches. And it staggers me that there is a debate over whether or not to pick Munaf Patel. That in itself is symbolic of the absolute poverty that surrounds us. Munaf bowled very well in the West Indies, that was in 2006. Since then he has done little, he has bowled little and he has fielded little. And when the opportunity came to show commitment in Delhi at number eleven, with VVS Laxman fighting hard on 72 at the other end, he played the ugliest hoick I have seen. Off the first ball. He wasn’t bowled or caught at slip or out lbw while defending. He was trying to heave the ball out of the ground. A few more minutes and twenty more runs might have been scored and surely his ears should have been red after that for at least a week. And if we want to pick Munaf without giving him a year of domestic cricket to prove himself, this must be the closest equivalent to the gold rush. Forget the lifeless pitches guys, just run in and bowl fast and straight and pick the India cap that is waiting for you. What then, does that tell you about VRV Singh?

... contd.