Zaheer out, Gambhir in for England Tests

Thursday, 29 May 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

Zaheer Khan has failed to find a place in an unusually large squad for the five Tests against England starting July. Other major talking points in

the 18-man squad were the return of Gautam Gambhir, who last played Tests for India in December 2012, and the inclusion of Rajasthan’s pace bowler Pankaj Singh. The touring party included the top seven that went to New Zealand, retained the two spinners, featured six quicks and one seaming allrounder, to go with Gambhir and reserve wicketkeeper Wriddhiman Saha. The biggest talking point was the exclusion of Zaheer. A series of injury problems had raised questions over the 35-year-old Zaheer’s ability to last a Test series and though he dispelled those worries by bowling 107 overs in the two Tests against New Zealand earlier this year, a back injury forced him to miss almost the entire India leg of the IPL. It is still unclear whether Zaheer has missed out due to the injury, or whether he has been dropped. The last time India went to England, in 2011, Zaheer broke down in the second session of the first session, never to recover. That was the beginning of India’s dramatic slide in overseas Tests.