da dobrowin： Munaf Patel is doubtful for the tour game at Potchefstroom which starts on December 7 while Rahul Dravid is recovering well from his finger injury
Dileep Premachandran at Centurion02-Dec-2006
India may take a gamble with Munaf Patel for the Johannesburg Test © AFP
Munaf Patel could well be pitchforked into the opening Test match at theWanderers without having had any match practice for nearly a month.Despite the fact that his ankle is healing slowly, he’s rated doubtful forthe tour game at Potchefstroom which starts on December 7.If the team management feel that he’s not yet ready for the rigours of afour-day game, they will restrict him to net sessions in the hope thathe’s ready to go for the Johannesburg Test. John Gloster, the physio, anda consultant physician are constantly monitoring his progress, but he’sdefinitely a few days away from being able to put enough weight on thefoot to have a bowl.The news on the Rahul Dravid front is much more encouraging. Theprotective cast – more of a net-like contraption than a huge chunk ofplaster – will come off on Monday, and he’ll then embark on strengtheningexercises. “I’ve been told that I shouldn’t field in the slips,” Dravid toldCricinfo. “There’s a fair bit of time between the first Test and thesecond, so till then, we can certainly manage with [VVS] Laxman and Sachin [Tendulkar] in the slip cordon.”Taping up the finger and using gloves that provide extra protection shouldallow him to bat, but on surfaces where the bottom hand comes into play somuch – the cut and pull are big scoring options here – it remains to beseen how well he will adjust to that. “We’ll play it by the ear,” he said. “Itshould be fine.”Ajit Agarkar, who tore a groin muscle yesterday, isn’t quite as fortunate.He’ll have to sit on the sidelines for atleast a month, leaving him withprecious little time to get match-fit before India start a punishingschedule of eight one-day games at home.