India squad ready for tour opener

Tour match, Hove: Sussex v India
Play starts 1200 BST
India will begin assessing their options for the Test series in England when they take on county champions Sussex in a four-day game at Hove.

It is the first of two warm-up games for the tourists, who are hoping to repeat their 1986 win over England.

They are likely to include Anil Kumble, VVS Laxman and Wasim Jaffer, who did not play in the recent one-day series against South Africa in Belfast.

And Shanthakumaran Sreesanth is also set to play after recovering from flu.

The 24-year-old has taken 37 wickets in eight Tests and is expected to be a key figure in the Test series, having bowled superbly on seamer-friendly wickets in South Africa last winter.

India may also take a look at uncapped Ranadeb Bose, who was a surprise inclusion in the tour squad ahead of the likes of Munaf Patel, VRV Singh and Irfan Pathan.

Bose only needs six wickets to reach 200 in first-class cricket, but now faces the task of proving he can make the step up to international level.

For batsman Laxman, meanwhile, his focus is on simply trying to force his way back into the Test line-up.
He was not involved in their most recent series against Bangladesh, despite having scored more than 4,800 runs in 80 appearances at an average of 42.

"It was frustrating because I thought I did reasonably well in South Africa, but then the situation was such that the team management had to take a call on five bowlers.

"In a team game, someone misses out. It was unfortunate that I did in Bangladesh," he said.

"It is quite disappointing honestly, but it is not in my control. What is in my control is to go out and get runs whenever I'm given a chance."

Laxman added: "Playing in England is special. I firmly believe we can win the series this time round."

India have agreed to a delayed start at mid-day because Sussex were involved in a Twenty20 Cup match against Hampshire on Friday evening, and it remains to be seen how strong a side the county puts out.