da spicy bet： Kris Srikkanth, the chairman of India’s national selectors, has backed Yuvraj Singh to take the Test middle-order spot vacated by Sourav Ganguly, the former captain who has retired
Cricinfo staff18-Nov-2008
Kris Srikkanth: ‘I’ve never felt Yuvi has a problem focusing on what he’s required to do’ © AFP
Kris Srikkanth, the chairman of India’s national selectors, has backed Yuvraj Singh to take the Test middle-order spot vacated by Sourav Ganguly, the former captain who has retired.Yuvraj made two consecutive match-winning hundreds (138* and 118) against England in the first two ODIs of the seven-match series over the last five days, and also picked up a four-wicket haul in Indore yesterday. Srikkanth told the Kolkata-based that he now sees Yuvraj as the front-runner to take Ganguly’s slot.”I see Yuvi as a potential match-winner in Tests too. Over the years, he has already shown he’s a match-winner in ODIs,” Srikkanth said. “There are others in the running as well (for Ganguly’s slot), but Yuvi is definitely a front-runner.”Yuvraj has had an inconsistent run in Test cricket, having played just 23 matches for 1050 runs since his debut five years ago. However, the 26-year-old has been a mainstay for India in one-day cricket having piled up 6397 runs in 219 matches.While Dilip Vengsarkar, the former India captain and previous chief selector, had recently blamed Yuvraj’s inconsistency at the highest level on a lack of focus, Srikkanth said it had more to do with confidence.”I’ve never felt Yuvi has a problem focusing on what he’s required to do. I’ve always seen him as a confidence-player and such players need a couple of good knocks under their belt,” Srikkanth said.Asked about Yuvraj’s latest run of form, Srikkanth said, “He has been brilliant. Rajkot had a batting track, but the Indore wicket was on the slower side and Yuvi had to first hold the innings together. He proved that he can be a match-winner from any situation.”The Indian selectors will meet on Thursday in Kanpur, after the third ODI between India and England, to select the team for the rest of the series.