New coach Greg Chappell says V V S Laxman and Anil Kumble could do many things in the next 10 days to remain in reckoning for India's future one-day plans.
"We need to have the best 11 or 12 players in the park. V V S Laxman and Anil Kumble have a lot of talent. You can't ignore good talent," said Chappell in support of two cricketers who last season were considered finished for one-day cricket.
Laxman and Kumble played only 11 and 10 matches since the Asia Cup in July-August last year. They were not even picked for matches against minnows Bangladesh last December.
However, Chappell clarified that it did not mean they could stay in the team even if they did not perform.
"Players themselves would decide in time who are good enough to stay in the team. They will select themselves in or select themselves out. Selectors or coaches cannot do much in this matter. Performance will decide everything," he said.
Chappell had similar advice for Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif who do not get much opportunity to bat in one-dayers. But with Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar missing from the line-up, they are now batting up the order.
"There is no doubt that with Ganguly and Tendulkar missing, they have a chance. Again, it is up to Yuvraj and Kaif to grasp the moment," he said.
Chappell stressed that the boys needed to do the basics very well and be extremely good fielders if they are to survive in international cricket.
"The guys need to focus very well on the basics, like bat, bowl and field well. They also need to run well between wickets.
"We have made the fitness schedule mandatory. You cannot survive an arduous season if you are not fit. You need to be as fit as possible and we would continue to do work in this direction in the next few months. This fitness programme will continue right through."
"Also, good fielding is mandatory. You need to catch everything which come your way, chase a ball hard, intercept a ball in time and be able to throw well. These are the areas on which players would be judged upon," he said.
Chappell said he firmly believes that a good bunch of fast bowlers are the key for a successful team.
"History tells us that best teams are those whose fast bowlers have done well. We have got six or seven bowlers who can do reasonably well at the Test level. We need to ensure everyone is bowling well and are as fit as required. We have the stock to do reasonably well," he said.
"We also know that bowlers with ability to bounce are the most successful ones. However, wickets in the sub-continent do not offer enough bounce. Thus control for a bowler becomes all important."
"Glenn McGrath has shown that with control and efficient action, you do not need extreme pace. Of course he gets bounce which is an additional strength. He has shown bowlers who can bowl with control are very successful. We need three or four bowlers with control," Chappell said.
The former Australian captain said that best cricketers have been those who have been able to evolve and grow in more than one area as a person.
"If you want different results, you have to think differently. You can't think the same way all the time and hope to be successful. Individually best cricketers have been those who have also grown as people," he said.
"What I am trying to do is to make them think as differently as possible. Some who are ready for change will become the cricketers we are looking to serve Indian cricket."
Chappell stressed that in time to come, India could become leaders on the field in world cricket.
"India is presently the epicentre of world cricket, the financial capital of cricket. In time to come they would be leaders on the field as well. This country is exciting in all ways, economically, changing and growing all the time. If I can play a part in this growth, I will be very delighted," he said.
