Taylor to captain New Zealand in Sri Lanka tri-series

Ross Taylor has been appointed New Zealand captain for the tri-series in Sri Lanka in August. The national selectors have rested two key senior players in regular captain Daniel Vettori and Brendon McCullum for the tournament in Dambulla, also involving India. Vettori and McCullum have both been granted paternity leave and will also spend their time away reconditioning themselves for the busy season ahead. Fast bowler Kyle Mills will be Taylor's deputy.

The 15-man squad features the rookie batsman Kane Williamson, who led New Zealand in the 2008 Under-19 World Cup in Malaysia. He was called-up to the Test squad for the home series against Australia earlier this year, but is yet to make his international debut.

Mark Greatbatch, the chairman of selectors, said the tour would be an opportunity for Taylor to sharpen his leadership skills in Vettori's absence.

"With Daniel not touring Sri Lanka, it provides an opportunity for Ross to further develop his captaincy skills," Greatbatch said. "Ross was vice-captain for a portion of last season and did a great job leading the Blackcaps (New Zealand) to victory against Australia in Napier earlier in the year when Daniel was injured.

"Vettori will not be going to Sri Lanka as the tour coincides with the birth of his second child and New Zealand Cricket (NZC) supports his wishes to spend time with his family. He will also use this period to continue with his conditioning programme in preparation for the rigorous international schedule ahead."

McCullum had earlier skipped the short tour of USA after the World Twenty20 to rest ahead of future tours. His participation for the tri-series was anyway in doubt, as the birth of his child was expected in the middle of the year, and Greatbatch said the break should also benefit him in the long run.

"He (McCullum) has played over 200 consecutive games for New Zealand and with a significant schedule ahead that culminates with a World Cup early next year, NZC believes it appropriate that McCullum spends the time reconditioning in New Zealand," Greatbatch said. "He is also expecting the birth of his second child in July."

Returning to the squad after injury lay-offs are allrounder Grant Elliott and batsman Jesse Ryder. "Grant Elliott comes back after a lengthy period out of the game. He was a key member of our ODI team prior to his injury, and it is great to have him back," Greatbatch said. "Jesse Ryder is also returning to the team having sustained an elbow injury during the World T20 in the West Indies.

"Kane Williamson gets his first tour with the Blackcaps based on his excellent domestic first-class one-day form."

Taylor has established himself as one of the premier batsmen in the team in all formats and he said his latest elevation was an honour. "It was a pretty special feeling when the selectors approached me," Taylor said. "While I appreciate it will be a tough tour against quality opposition, it represents a good opportunity for players to experience subcontinent conditions, particularly with the World Cup on the horizon."

The tri-series is scheduled between August 10 to 28. The same three teams contested a tri-series in Sri Lanka last year but New Zealand failed to make the final.

Squad: Ross Taylor (capt), Kyle Mills (vice-capt), Grant Elliott, Martin Guptill, Gareth Hopkins (wk), Nathan McCullum, Andy McKay, Jacob Oram, Jeetan Patel, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Scott Styris, Daryl Tuffey, BJ Watling, Kane Williamson

Yuvraj recalled for Sri Lanka Tests

Yuvraj Singh, who was dropped for the recently concluded Asia Cup, has been recalled to India's squad for the three-Test series in Sri Lanka starting July 18. Suresh Raina, who has been part of Test squads before as injury cover, made it as a first-choice player for the first time. As expected, the selectors went back to Ishant Sharma and Sreesanth to partner Zaheer Khan in the pace department, and three spinners were selected, which meant both Amit Mishra and Pragyan Ojha were in. A 16-man member squad was chosen to include a reserve wicketkeeper, Wriddhiman Saha.

Earlier this month, Yuvraj was dropped from the limited-overs side for the first time since he cemented his place in the early 2000s. Fitness, more than form, was seen as the reason behind the move: he hadn't been in droppable form in international cricket. The drop was seen as a necessary wake-up call for him. Captain MS Dhoni, however, is a big fan of Yuvraj's talent, and could have insisted that he be recalled. The selectors perhaps thought that the necessary message had been delivered.

The other middle-order selection was due. Raina was part of the squad for India's last Test, against South Africa in February, but only because of a spate of injuries. Since then he has shown he can survive in international cricket despite an obvious weakness against the short ball. It cannot be denied that he has been scoring consistently despite that awkwardness.

A week after he played a winning hand against Pakistan in the Asia Cup, ticking the box of performing in pressure situations, Raina is confident, willing and fit. It is perhaps the best time to put him through the big test, to find out if he can emulate the likes of Steve Waugh and Sourav Ganguly, who were successful in Tests even though Waugh eliminated the hook shot and Ganguly always had to work hard to fight his weakness against the short ball. To think of Waugh and Ganguly is a step too far, but Raina deserved a chance to fail, and he has earned it.

Ishant and Sreesanth, part of India's last Test squad, have gone through pretty ordinary times in limited-overs cricket since then, both in the IPL and while playing for India. They were duly dropped, but are still the best bets for the Test side. More so because none of the alternatives tried in their absence have impressed enough. And Ashish Nehra is not willing to play Tests, while Praveen Kumar is strictly a limited-overs bowler.

More importantly, this selection could point to a practical outlook from the selectors, that of having identified Ishant and Sreesanth as Test specialists, and having realised the need to protect them from the excessive one-day cricket, which could have played a part in their downfall.

Lack of alternatives could have prompted India to go for three spinners, giving Ojha another chance in a Test squad. India, however, are likely to play two seamers and two spinners barring extraordinary circumstances, and the three-day game at Nondescripts Cricket Club should provide a good competition between Ishant and Sreesanth, and Mishra and Ojha.

Squad: MS Dhoni (wk & capt.), Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag (vice-capt.), Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, M Vijay, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Ishant Sharma, Sreesanth, Amit Mishra, Pragyan Ojha, Wriddhiman Saha (wk)