Kolkata, January 28: A hamstring strain has ruled Sreesanth, the Indian fast bowler, out of the first Test against South Africa next week. Sreesanth, who is currently undergoing a rehabilitation program at the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore, was hopeful of returning for the second Test in Kolkata.
“I am recovering well and thought I would be fit enough for the full series against South Africa,”he told the Hindu. “But it seems to be taking a little more time and I should be good enough for the second Test and one dayers.”
The injury had also forced him out of the just-concluded second Test against Bangladesh. Sreesanth’s injury brightens the chances of Sudeep Tyagi, who was the fourth seamer on the tour of Bangladesh, being retained in the squad for the South Africa series.
India have several other fitness concerns ahead of the series which will be a battle for the No. 1 Test ranking, with the availability of middle-order trio of Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Yuvraj Singh still uncertain.
——Agencies