Sreesanth confident of doing well against Aus

An elated Shantakumaran Sreesanth, who made a comeback to India's squad for the two-Test series against Australia, said playing for the country is a great opportunity.

Sreesanth was included in the 15-member team for the Test series, starting October 1 at Mohali.

The team has one new face in young Saurashtra batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, who was included in place of the out-of-form Yuvraj Singh.

Speaking over telephone from Bangalore, the temperamental pacer said, 'I am sure I will be able to perform well by giving my full effort.

'I have not played against Australia in Test matches. This is an opportunity to play for my country. Australia is a top Test side and I am hoping to put in a good performance.'

Thanking the selectors for reposing faith in him, Sreesanth said he is training hard and in good rhythm, having played for Kerala state in the recent Moin-ud-Dowla tournament in Hyderabad.

To a query whether he was expecting a recall, he replied: 'Not really, but I was training hard and had been bowling a lot.

'It is very good.'

As expected pacer Zaheer Khan, who was not in the squad for the tour of Sri Lanka in July due to a shoulder injury and off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who missed the third Test of that due to fitness issues, also returned to the squad.

While Zaheer replaced Munaf Patel, Sreesanth made his way into the squad at the expense of young Karnataka pacer Abhimanyu Mithun.

Opener Gautam Gambhir, who suffered a knee injury after the first Test in Sri Lanka, is also back in the squad, which will be led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni.

The squad:

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, Pragyan Ojha, S Sreesanth, Ishant Sharma, Amit Mishra.