India face Laxman injury concern for South Africa Test

First Test: India v South Africa
Venue: Vidarbha Cricket Association Ground, Nagpur Date: 6-10 February Start time: 0400 GMT
India could be without batsman VVS Laxman for the first Test match against South Africa in Nagpur on Saturday.
The hosts are without the experience of Rahul Dravid and Yuvraj Singh because of injuries, while Laxman has yet to recover from a finger problem.

Subramaniam Badrinath looks poised to start alongside Murali Vijay for the world's number one ranked side.

South Africa, with interim coach Corrie van Zyl at the helm, look set to name Paul Harris as their frontline spinner.

Harris was wicketless after 12 overs for 71 runs against the Indian Board President's XI in midweek, but captain Graeme Smith said the left-armer remains his team's number one spinner.

"Where we have turned in the world, they have written off our spin bowlers," Smith told reporters.


"Paul is the man, it will take a lot for us to change that."

India's main concern will be coping without Dravid, who fractured a cheekbone after being hit by a short delivery during the 10-wicket win in the second Test over Bangladesh last month.

The absence of the 37-year-old, who surpassed Allan Border to move into fourth in the all-time leading Test run scorers' list in November last year, will give Tamil Nadu duo Vijay and Bradrinath an opportunity to impress.

"We will miss Rahul but somebody has to step up and do the work for the team," said India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who stated the team were waiting on a prognosis of Laxman's injury before making a selection decision.

"I'm expecting some of the youngsters will get an opportunity to prove themselves and make runs for the side."

South Africa were ousted from their place at the top of International Cricket Council's world Test rankings in December following their innings and 98 run defeat by England in Durban.

That loss allowed Dhoni's side, fresh from a 2-0 series victory over Sri Lanka in December, to overtake South Africa and claim top spot for the first time since the rankings were devised.

However, the hosts will drop to second should the tourists win the series 1-0 or better, while a draw would consolidate India's position at the top of the standings.

"We came very close to beating them in 2008 (the series was drawn 1-1), when we won in England and Australia. We really wanted to win here," added Smith.

"It's a goal for us, it's an awesome challenge to win here, not many teams have done that."

South Africa arrived in India with Van Zyl as temporary coach for the two-Test, three one-day international tour following Mickey Arthur's resignation at the end of last month.