All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja returns to Indian Test squad after more than a year’s absence. (Below) South Africa's JP Duminy has been ruled out of the remaining two ODIs against India after suffering lacerations to his right hand.

 

AFP/Mumbai


All-rounder Ravindra Jadeja yesterday returned to India’s Test fold after more than a year’s absence even as injured spin spearhead Ravichandran Ashwin was rested from the one-day squad.
Jadeja, 26, was included in the 16-man squad for the first two Tests of the four-match series against world number one South Africa, in Mohali from November 5-9 and Bangalore from Nov 14-18.  
The left-arm spinner and useful lower order batsman, who played the last of his 12 Tests in England in August 2014, was back in favour after claiming 24 wickets and scoring 91 and 58 in two first-class matches earlier this month.
Jadeja joins leg-spinner Amit Mishra as the third slow bowler in the side alongside off-spinner Ashwin, who is recovering from a side strain suffered during the first one-day international against the Proteas in Kanpur on October 11.
The selectors, keen to have Ashwin fit for the Tests, have rested him for the last two one-dayers in Chennai and Mumbai even though South Africa lead the series 2-1.
The Test squad also includes fast bowler Ishant Sharma, who will miss the first match due to a one-Test suspension for bad behaviour during the preceding tour of Sri Lanka.
Openers Murali Vijay and Shikhar Dhawan, who were injured in Sri Lanka, return to the Test side along with wicket-keeper Wriddhiman Saha.
Fast bowler Umesh Yadav has been replaced by left-arm seamer Sreenath Aravind for the last two one-dayers. Yadav will, however, be back for the Tests. Test batsman Cheteshwar Pujara will lead a Board President’s team side for a two-day match against the tourists in Mumbai on October 30 and 31.
Injured Duminy out of ODIs
JP Duminy has been ruled out of the remaining two one-dayers against
India after he suffered lacerations to his right hand during the third match in Rajkot.
Dean Elgar has been called up to replace Duminy, Cricket South Africa (CSA) announced yesterday. Duminy will, however, stay with the team and receive treatment in an effort to regain fitness ahead of the Test series which begins on November 5 in Mohali.
Duminy suffered the injury on the last ball of the 40th over when Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni hammered a flighted delivery straight back at him and struck his hand.
The South African allrounder has been in good form with the bat throughout the tour so far. He led South Africa to a thrilling win with an unbeaten 68 in the first Twenty20 International, and since then has scored 30 not out, 15, 36 and 14 in the next games.
“Duminy will stay with the team and will need 2-3 weeks to recover from the injury,” announced CSA.
“The team management aims to have him fit for the first Test in Mohali starting on November 5.”
Elgar, a left-hand batsman, last appeared in an ODI for South Africa in September 2012 and has scored 93 runs in the five games he has played. He has been in good touch recently and has scored two consecutive half-centuries for the Titans in South Africa’s One-Day Cup.