Cards close to chest, another shuffle expected

Greg Chappell prefers to call it flexibility. Which is a new way of suggesting that the musical chairs at the top of Team India’s batti...

Greg Chappell prefers to call it flexibility. Which is a new way of suggesting that the musical chairs at the top of Team India’s batting order is far from over.

Well, that’s one way of looking at it as the side wrapped up their two-match pre-India Oil Triangular practice with another facile victory. This one was over a local invitation side by 93 runs. As a way of putting their flexibility act together, Mahendra Dhoni opened the innings and again showed up the other top-order batsmen with an innings of rare quality on a slow pitch.

The 24-year-old Dhoni shored up the innings with another top-score — this one was of 88 to follow his 61 in Colombo two days ago. Yet, if we read the script right, it is still VVS Laxman who is the favourite to open the batting on Saturday in the opening game against Sri Lanka. Laxman was rested from today’s game as he has what Chappell called a light injury niggle. But he did have a light afternoon net.

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Chappell, though, in true team management tradition, was playing it tight. He wasn’t about to open up and tell us what the thinking was. ‘‘That would give away far too much, and we are not into indulging others about our secrets,’’ he grinned.

‘‘But we have come here with a few ideas and a combination in mind, but haven’t finalised any team at this stage,’’ he added.

‘‘What we will be doing though is holding a few discussions over the next few days. There are a few players with injury niggles. Nothing serious though and we’ll be checking on their fitness and the conditions on the day of the first game.’’

Dhoni has a groin problem, Laxman a back strain, Mohammed Kaif has a light hamstring twinge that he’s had for about a week.

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Chappell brushed aside the niggles, referring to them as being minor, but did agree that resting Laxman was a precautionary measure. They would be monitored the next few days so that he would have a good idea who was ready when it came to selection time.

When asked if he was concerned about the top-order failing to get runs on the board, Chappell indicated that he wasn’t too bothered at this stage. Certainly there was no need to press any panic buttons.

While he admitted they had seen some of Sri Lanka’s victory over the West Indies — the other two sides in the tournament — in Colombo and Kandy, the Sri Lanka players were better known to himself and Rahul Dravid than the West Indians, especially the bowlers.

‘‘What concerns us more though is getting our own house in order,’’ he said. ‘‘It doesn’t matter who we are playing, as long as we bat, bowl and field well, we will be competitive.’’

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He felt that beating Sri Lanka in the opening game would be a great way to celebrate his birthday on Saturday. But he was more focussed on Team India’s preparations than his birthday.

He was also looking forward to meeting older brother Ian, and grinned and shook his head when asked if they had talked about coaching styles. That will no doubt crop up over the next day or two.