Tendulkar, Dravid to be
rested for four-dayer

Ashish Shukla

Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid will be missing from the Indian eleven, which will take on Essex in a four-day game at Chelmsford starting Wednesday.

Tendulkar and Dravid were involved in a marathon 163-run third wicket stand on the final day of the second Test against England, which helped India draw the game on Monday.

Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly, who made 68 in the first innings and a very spirited 99 in the second, said he was uncertain if he would play and would see how he feels on the morning of the match.

Ganguly's presence will also determine whether his counterpart, England and Essex skipper, Nasser Hussain, will play in the game.

All rounder Ronnie Irani who bowled excellently in the NatWest triangular series before the Test series will lead Essex, in Hussain's absence.

The only cheer in the Indian camp was the inclusion of ace leg spinner Anil Kumble, missing from the second test due to a recurring calf injury, for the game in Chemlsford.

The Indians would be keen to try out Tinu Yohannan and Sanjay Bangar in the game as Ganguly hinted at trying different options after the Indian pace attack of Ashish Nehra, Zaheer Khan and Ajit Agarkar failed to make much headway with England's batsmen in the second Test.

Opener Shiv Sunder Das will also be under close scrutiny after being sidelined following his failure in the only Natwest ODI he played.

A good performance in Chelmsford could see him back in the third Test in place of Wasim Jaffer, who has had poor scores in both the Tests.

The third Test begins in Headingley on August 22. India are trailing in the four-test series after losing the first and drawing the second.

PTI

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