India seek same again

India will seek to continue their good form in Zimbabwe

India have rewarded the players who earned a sensational victory over Australia by selecting them en masse for next month's tour to Zimbabwe.

Debashish Mohanty, Ashish Nehra and Hemang Badani are the only ones in the 15 strong party not to have featured in the Australian series, in which India fought off a three-day defeat in the first Test and a follow-on margin of 274 in the second to win the series.

Captain Sourav Ganguly leads a strong batting line-up that includes Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and Venkatsai Laxman.

"Zimbabwe can't be taken lightly, especially as they will be playing on home turf," said Ganguly.

The party includes five seamers and only two spinners.

Mohanty and left-armer Nehra, who join Javagal Srinath, Ajit Agarkar and Zaheer Khan in the pace attack, return to the touring party after consistent showings in domestic cricket.

Off-spinner Harbhajan Singh, who fashioned India's win over Australia with 32 wickets, will be the team's leading slow bowler along with leg spinner Sairaj Bahutule.

"We have selected just two spinners as the tracks in Zimbabwe won't be oriented for spin bowling. They will be more seamer friendly ," said Chandu Borde, the chief selector.

Despite an enviable home record, India have not won a Test series abroad since a 2-0 win over England in 1986.

The last time they played a Test in Zimbabwe, in 1998, India lost by 61 runs.

"I think it is a great challeneg and a big opportunity," said India coach John Wright.

The Indians, who leave for Zimbabwe on May 24, play two three-day matches before the first Test starts in Bulawayo on June 7.

The second Test will be played in Harare from June 15.

Squad

Sourav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Sadagopan Ramesh, Shiv Das, Sachin Tendulkar, Venkatsai Laxman, Hemang Badani, Sameer Dighe, Javagal Srinath, Zaheer Khan, Ajit Agarkar, Debashish Mohanty, Ashish Nehra, Harbhajan Singh, Sairaj Bahutule.