Nehra ready for Test comeback

[Laaloo]

Ashish Nehra, one of India's first-choice seamers in the shorter versions of the game, has made himself available for Test cricket, six and a half years since he last turned out in the whites at the highest level. "I had never said that I will not play Test cricket again," Nehra told PTI. "It was just that initially after my comeback, I wanted to concentrate on the ODIs and Twenty20s. Now that I am back in the national side for one and a half years, I feel confident to make a comeback in the Test fold. I will like to make myself available for selection during the South Africa Test series." A spate of injuries in the mid-2000s pushed Nehra out of the Indian team, but he clawed back into the reckoning with a windfall performance in the 2009 IPL in South Africa, where he stood third in the wickets chart with 18 wickets. He has since become a regular in India's ODI plans and sporadically featured in Twenty20 internationals. His susceptibility to injuries, however, have kept him out of the Test team. Since his comeback in June 2009, Nehra has played 36 one-dayers, picking 54 wickets at an average just under 30. More importantly, he has not missed a single game due to fitness issues or injuries, and Nehra hopes that he can carry that durability into the longest version. He is headed to the National Cricket Academy in Bangalore to follow a fitness program that will prepare him for the upcoming tour of South Africa. "I am planning to play one Ranji Trophy for Delhi before the New Zealand ODI series to check how my body is holding. I am enjoying my cricket at the moment and I don't see any reason why I can't make a comeback. "For me the top-most priority is the World Cup next year. That is why I have been so choosy about playing in the longer version. But after World Cup, there is lot of Test cricket to be played as India would be playing against England, West Indies. I will like to again play Test cricket with the same intensity that I used to at the start of my career." While Nehra is keen to return to Tests, it remains to be seen whether the selectors, who have treated India's fast-bowling talents on a case-by-case-basis, will include him in their plans. Zaheer Khan is currently the only seamer who walks into the side in all three formats, but, of late, he has been used selectively in a bid to prolong his career. Nehra, on the other hand, has slotted well into the one-day side, with his ability to move the new ball and deliver yorkers in the closing stages. Ishant Sharma and Sreesanth, who have been lacklustre in the shorter versions, have been persisted with for Test cricket, since the selectors have identified them as long-term prospects. Both bowlers have reposed that faith with strong performances in recent times, and Nehra will have to stave off competition from them to enter the Test side. http://www.cricinfo.com/india/content/current/story/483622.html I'd rather play him over mithun in SAF to be honest.

[IKnowU]

Please no, we already have a popcorn machine setup for tests between 3-6 bowlers. We dont want to add another bowler to the popcorn machine.

[Sid]

Nehra should stick to ODI cricket

[Andy]

In before KT comes and tell us how Rubbish Nehra is :D

[King Tendulkar]

:facepalm::facepalm::facepalm:

[pensionplan]

Everyone should be entitled to appear in any format of the game they choose to. And it should be no exception with Nehra. Talk is always cheap. Time to walk the talk. In about 8 days the Ranji Trophy starts. Nehra needs to show up for these games one after the other as much as he can and bowl 20-22 overs a day in each of the FC games that Delhi fields. If his body can take the rigors of 20 overs a day workload and he has success on a consistent basis with 3 and 4 wicket hauls in each of the innings he bowls ofcourse he would and should be made eligible for selection and given a fair consideration. Afterall performances and only performances should count in the matters of selection and not the pedigree or past reputations. The ball is in Nehra's court now to back his claims. Good luck to him.

[Sooda]

yeah he needs to show he can cut it on Ranji cricket. Plus Mithun deserves a good chance to show what he can do. Having said that this is good news bearing in mind our pace resources are not exactly overflowing right now. And in SA but more so in Eng next year he could be useful

[b555]

:facepalm::facepalm::facepalm:

[vaibhav_delhi]

nehra could be a good test prospect

[vamos_rafa]

Did he ever declare in public that he does not want to play test cricket for a certain length of time and want to concentrate on ODIs?? I thought he was being ignored by the selectors as they did not see a role for him there.

[Sir john]

nehra can be a handy bowler in test.

[Roshanrocks]

I am also ready for test cricket

[rkt.india]

I mainly like test cricket:two_thumbs_up:the best cricket

[The Dark Horse]

yeah he needs to show he can cut it on Ranji cricket. Plus Mithun deserves a good chance to show what he can do. Having said that this is good news bearing in mind our pace resources are not exactly overflowing right now. And in SA but more so in Eng next year he could be useful

++

[Sir john]

I am also ready for test cricket

main bhee tyaar huan jab geend pakdun tooh dande/wicktan tood ke rakh duan or jab balla pakdu too geend ko cheer ke rakh duan:--D

[ShahidAfridi]

Wonderful News. He reminds me a bit of collingwood's bowling. Off-cutters and bowls wicket to wicket

[King Tendulkar]

Wonderful News. He reminds me a bit of collingwood's bowling. Off-cutters and bowls wicket to wicket

Sums up Nehra when we have paks wanting him in the team. Agent nehra is Indias Sami, just a lot slower!