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Moises Henriques has become the latest Australian bowler to be hit by injury and take an early flight home. News of Henriques’ injury – a tweaked right hamstring picked up in the field during Monday’s victory in Mohali – came only a day after Peter Siddle was sent home due to stiffness in his left side, also picked up in Monday’s match.They will be replaced by Victoria all-rounder Andrew McDonald and New South Wales fast bowler Burt Cockley, who will join the squad in time for the sixth ODI in Guwahati on Sunday.The squad has already lost Brett Lee (elbow), James Hopes (hamstring) and Tim Paine (finger), and was without first-choice players Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Nathan Bracken and Callum Ferguson when the series began.Henriques himself was a replacement player who joined the group mid-tour when Hopes was ruled out. His departure could mean an ODI debut for either the spinner Jon Holland or the fast bowler Clint McKay, both from Victoria, with Ben Hilfenhaus set to return to the starting line-up for the fifth ODI on Thursday in Hyderabad.”Moises complained of some discomfort after the fourth ODI in Mohali,” team physiotherapist Kevin Sims said. “He had an MRI scan when we arrived in Hyderabad which showed signs of injury to the right hamstring. The medical staff believe the injury will not recover sufficiently for him to participate in the last week of the tour and therefore we have decided he will return to Australia where he will continue his treatment.”McDonald is one of the newcomers in the Australian squad in the last 12 months, having played four Tests. He was very impressive for Victoria in the Champions Twenty20 League in India, taking nine wickets, including a match-winning four-wicket haul against Royal Challengers Bangalore. Cockley is just a season old for New South Wales and in 2008-09, stormed to the top of the state’s Sheffield Shield wicket list.”Andrew played very well for Victoria in the recent Champions League in India, was in very good form in the first Sheffield Shield game, scoring a hundred and bowling impressively on a batsman friendly Adelaide wicket and backing that up with a dominant display in Wednesday night’s Ford Ranger Cup match ,” Andrew Hilditch, the chairman of selectors, said. “We are sure that Andrew will grab his opportunity and perform well in the Australian one-day set up.”Burt is someone who the National Selection Panel has identified in the last 12 months as someone who could have an impact at international level. He performed well in the recent Ford Ranger Cup game against Western Australia (taking four wickets) and we think he will be well suited to Indian conditions.”The captain Ricky Ponting said he felt for the injured players. “It’s disappointing to see these guys go down, because you know how much they want to play and be a part of the series and do the best they can to win games and win series,” Ponting told AAP. “So it’s more disappointing for them moreso than anything. I’m sure everyone who’s returned back home would much rather be here with the series as it is at the moment, but we’ve got what we’ve got.”Coach Tim Nielsen applauded the depleted team for performing above expectations. “In the ideal team, we [first] had James Hopes and [then] Moises batting at No. 7 along the line,” Nielsen said. “We don’t have those players now. The bowling also needs to adjust to the conditions and then we would decide the batting line-up. It is not simple or easy. We have to ensure that we have five bowlers, plus a spare bowler, to ensure one guy doesn’t have an off day.”The most difficult (thing), I suppose, is players getting hurt (so frequently) which means there is a change in the team in every game we have played. Having said that I’m pleased with the way the players have fought hard. The young players have come up to take up different roles.”At least the long-term news for some of the key members of Australia’s side is good. The Cricket Australia physio Alex Kountouris said Lee and Clarke were not far away from playing cricket again, while Paine should be able to start training by the end of the month.”Brett has seen a specialist and CA medical staff in Melbourne,” Kountouris said. “He had a scan that confirmed the cause of the pain as being a long-standing bone spur near the elbow joint. It is felt there is no major problem with the joint and we are optimistic that he may be able to resume bowling fairly soon, possibly some time next week.”Tim Paine saw a hand specialist in Melbourne today and Tim doesn’t require surgery to the fractured ring finger of his left hand. He will recommence cricket training in approximately three weeks time. Michael [Clarke] is making good progress and it’s hoped he’ll play for New South Wales before the first Test against the West Indies.”

Chris Gayle’s future as West Indies captain will be determined in the next week, with selectors set to recommend to the board their choice of leader for the forthcoming tour of Australia. Daren Ganga, who skippered Trinidad & Tobago to the final of the Champions League Twenty20, is being touted as a potential leadership challenger to Gayle, but Ernest Hilaire, the WICB chief executive, insisted no decision on the West Indian captaincy had yet been made.Gayle was due to captain against Ganga in a limited-overs President’s Cup match in Guyana on Wednesday, but withdrew from the match due to illness. T&T posted a thumping 90-run victory over the Carlton Baugh-captained Jamaicans in a rain-affected match, continuing a triumphant month that began with their charge to the final of the Champions League in India.Despite previous suggestions he was unwilling to continue as West Indies captain, Gayle confirmed last week he would be happy to lead the touring party to Australia. Hilaire, though, would not confirm whether Gayle would be reinstated to the captaincy following his strike-related absence, leaving the door open for a leadership change.”The selectors will meet over the next few days and will make a recommendation to the board,” said Hilaire, who added that all players who took strike action against the board would be considered for the tour of Australia. “I am also aware that the players have announced that they are available and, more importantly, want to play if selected. WICB has always expressed the view that players must be both available for selection and available to play. In this regard, I think we have made considerable progress.”The President’s Cup represents a important step in the normalisation of relations between the WICB and the player’s union (WIPA) after the bitter and protracted industrial dispute. The six-day tournament is doubling as a selection trial for the tour of Australia and, with all players available for their respective teams, the prospect of an understrength team representing the Caribbean in Australia appears to have been averted.”Our discussions with WIPA have been excellent and we are looking forward to building on our progress in resolving all outstanding issues by designing a new partnership,” Hilaire said. “There have been attempts in the past but we are sincere in developing that partnership based on mutual trust and co-operation. We accept that there will be differences but we must never allow our differences to destroy our relationship.”

Chris Gayle, the West Indies captain, arrived in Brisbane on Wednesday morning and declared himself “mentally prepared” to play the first Test against Australia, beginning at the Gabba on Thursday. In a tremendous boost for the tourists, Gayle headed directly for the Allan Border Field for the Windies’ final training session, where he informed team-mates he would be taking the field beside them the following day.”It’s difficult but, yes, I’m playing tomorrow,” Gayle said. “I’m committed to it. It doesn’t make sense to come and sit around and watch the game. It’s always difficult to come in the day before a Test match but what I try to do is prepare mentally. I know it’s a tough task ahead. The main thing is to condition my mind to go out there and lead from the front. It won’t be easy, but I’m mentally ready. I was hitting balls in the nets today and I’m feeling pretty confident.”Gayle touched down at Brisbane International airport shortly before 8am, sporting diamond encrusted sunglasses and all-black attire. He promptly dashed to the team hotel in the city, changed into his whites and reported for training at the Allan Border Field with the rest of the West Indian squad at 9am.Gayle showed few ill-effects from the long haul flight during a 20-minute batting session, with Sulieman Benn and a handful of local quicks on the receiving end of some powerful blows. He bowled several overs of finger spin to round out training, before racing across town to the Gabba to conduct his pre-match press conference.

Fans more drawn to short formats

Chris Gayle feels that declining attendance figures around the world suggest many supporters concur with his infamous assertion regarding the death of Test cricket. “If you look at what’s happening now, it’s no secret,” said Gayle, who sparked an international furore earlier this year when he said he “wouldn’t be so sad” if Test cricket were to perish.
“At the same time we’re always going to be committed to whatever cricket we play. I can’t say ‘Test cricket is going to die’ and it just happens like that. It’s just how things have been progressing the last couple of months. Spectators haven’t turned out. They’re more drawn to the coloured clothing at this point in time.”
The Gabba Test will mark the first time Gayle has represented West Indies since the home limited-overs series against India in July. Industrial action saw him miss the disastrous two-Test series against Bangladesh and the ensuing Champions Trophy, and he hopes the tour of Australia will help mend relations within West Indian cricket.
“This is a situation that we look at as a rebuild,” he said. “We’re trying to get back together. A lot has happened the last couple of months. We’re trying to put our best foot forward, go out as one unit and try to put the past behind us. We’ll give Australia a good fight.”

“I’m not feeling anything at this point in time,” Gayle said of his impending battle with jet-lag. “I don’t know what later on will happen. Hopefully I’ll get some rest in between and pull up fresh tomorrow morning. I haven’t played Test cricket for quite some time now. We haven’t played as a unit for quite some time as well. The challenge is always going to be there.”Gayle is no stranger to eleventh hour arrivals ahead of Test series. He landed in England the day before this year’s first Test, having been granted special permission by his board to extend his stint in the IPL. He also cut fine his arrival for the 2008 home Test series against Australia, also due to IPL commitments, prompting David Williams, the West Indies interim coach, to quip: “He’s getting used to it.”Gayle has spent almost 100 hours commuting between Jamaica and Australia over the past fortnight, with the latest trip occurring so he could be with his sick mother. She was released from hospital at the weekend, allowing Gayle to plan his way back to Australia. He thanked supporters for their “prayers and best wishes.””I’m honoured, it’s good to be back here,” he added, looking remarkably fresh. “Hopefully tomorrow it will be a good day for the West Indies cricket team. This time we’ll test our skills against the best team, so I’m looking forward to it.”Gayle kept fans abreast of his recent movements via his Twitter page, including updates on his mother’s improving health. He also caused a stir when, before boarding a flight in the United States, he tweeted: “couldn’t use my private jet pilot was too drunk so commercial all the way.” Upon arriving in Brisbane, Gayle said the post was intended as a joke. “I was mucking around,” he said.Joel Garner, the West Indian team manager, was buoyed by Gayle’s return. “He is the captain and one of the leading batsmen and now that he is back we hope he will be well rested over the next 24 hours,” Garner told Cricinfo. “I hope he will come out and give us the kind of support and performance that would make West Indians proud.”Williams, meanwhile, dismissed suggestions West Indies could opt to field first on Thursday to allow Gayle additional time to recuperate from his latest long-haul flight. “We’re not going to make a decision based on one guy,” he said. “If we get to the Gabba and we have a look in the morning and we feel it’s feasible for us to be bat then so be it.”

The recently deposed No. 1 side in the world, and one of the many pretenders to the crown. This four-match series has the ingredients to be a cracking contest. Test cricket has enjoyed a mini-boost in recent weeks with West Indies’ vastly improved showing at Adelaide and an absorbing, if largely overlooked, series between New Zealand and Pakistan – not to mention Virender Sehwag’s bar-raising exploits in Mumbai. Although this forthcoming battle between South Africa and England is one match short of the ideal length for an ‘icon’ series, the history between the two teams suggests that there will be plenty of drama.Since South Africa’s re-admission, the two sides have gone head-to-head in seven Test series. South Africa have won three (including the most recent in 2008), England have won two, and there have been two drawn contests (both on English soil). Although South Africa’s home victories have given them the edge overall, there has never been more than a single result splitting the final scoreline.”I haven’t played a Test series against England that hasn’t been tough,” said South Africa’s captain, Graeme Smith. “Every series I’ve played against England has been hard-fought, and have always come down to little moments within each game. We’ve had the edge of late; we played the better cricket in the last series in England and deserved our victory there.”Not always, though, has the result reflected the superiority of the winning side. In 1999-2000, South Africa were far stronger and both their victories came by innings margins, while England’s consolation was all down to Hansie Cronje and a leather jacket. In 2004-05, meanwhile, the 2-1 margin didn’t do justice to England, who bossed four out of the five Tests and in the end Matthew Hoggard’s 12 wickets at the Wanderers proved to be the deciding factor.In the most recent meeting between the two teams it was another outstanding solo effort that regained the Basil D’Oliveira trophy. Smith played one of the finest captains’ innings seen in a run-chase – perhaps second only to Brian Lara’s effort against Australia in Barbados – as his unbeaten 154 guided South Africa home at Edgbaston. Smith’s innings came in the middle of South Africa’s golden run of results, which culminated in their away victory against Australia last year and the No. 1 Test ranking.However, that famous match in Melbourne, where Australia were finally conquered on home soil by a combination of JP Duminy and Dale Steyn, now feels a long time ago. South Africa lost the return series earlier this year and haven’t played a Test match since, while India have since usurped them at the top of the ladder. A little bit of the strut has disappeared from South Africa’s cricket (their one-day form in the last few months has been instructively poor) and this offers England a window of opportunity.In England’s last Test outing, they regained the Ashes at The Oval, a result that came despite, not because of, events during the past year. It’s a huge credit to Andrew Strauss and Andy Flower that they have gelled the team after those fractious days in January when Kevin Pietersen and Peter Moores lost their jobs on the same day. England genuinely look a happy team – to the extent that the BBC Sports Personality trophy that they picked up on Sunday night was aptly awarded.”I think we are all eager to return to Test cricket, it allows us to reconnect with what happened in the Ashes and think about what went well and what didn’t,” Strauss said. “That’s a healthy thing for us, but it’s a very different set of circumstances. We can’t afford to look back too much.”Their build-up hasn’t been ideal, but that is a common situation for touring teams these days. When the rain cleared in East London, all the batsmen made runs, with Pietersen showing significant improvement in his form, and the bowlers managed a few decent spells even though they would have liked more. Either way, it is still far in excess of what the South Africans have managed. During their three-day camp in Potchefstroom they tried to simulate match conditions but it’s never the same. England’s opposition may have been friendly, but at least they were an opposition.Normally, during a team’s home season, the lack of time the team spends together isn’t a major issue because players are immersed in domestic cricket. However, five of South Africa’s squad haven’t played first-class cricket since March. Ashwell Prince and Paul Harris have the most four-day practice under their belts after not being involved in the one-day squad. The one advantage South Africa have had was the chance to prepare at altitude while England were at sea level, but the visitors have spent considerable time in the Highveld over the last five weeks, so they know what to expect.For both teams, though, there have been a number of similarities in the issues facing them during the lead-up to this series. Injuries to key players have been a concern with James Anderson and Jacques Kallis top of the list, while the latter’s likely inability to bowl and the retirement of Andrew Flintoff has left both camps searching for balance.South Africa have opted to stick with their specialists, using Kallis as a batsman and putting the bowling workload in the hands of a four-man unit. This is an opportunity England need to seize before Kallis returns to full health and the hosts have all their options available to them again.England are keeping their cards close to their chest and it’s still tough to call which way they will go; Luke Wright as the uncapped allrounder, Ian Bell at No. 6, or Stuart Broad at No. 7. Whoever is named in England’s XI, the focus will be on the men at first- and second-drop. Smith has warned Pietersen to expect a tough reception (“I suppose Kevin’s carrying the burden for comments he’s made over a period of time,” he said), but Jonathan Trott has so far escaped fairly lightly. Nothing much has fazed Trott in the early days of his international career and a bit of booing won’t cause him to lose much sleep. Pietersen, meanwhile, loves nothing more than a baying audience.”KP found himself in quite an unfamiliar situation at the start of this tour,” Strauss said. “I think that has taken some adjusting to and you have to build up through the gears. I’m very happy with the way he’s been going about things and he looked better and better through the warm-up game. KP being the type of person he is, he will want to have a massive impact on this series. When you combine that motivation with his obvious skills, it’s a pretty good recipe.”If splitting the teams on paper is tough, the head-to-head at Centurion Park adds little to the picture. On the three occasions the teams have met here, rain has played a deciding part. In 1995-96 it ruined the event after tea on the second day; in 1999-2000 it prompted Cronje’s generosity, and in 2004-05 it helped England to a draw that secured a famous series win. A dry game is overdue and after all the recent rain the forecast is promising. If either side can break the run of stalemates they will have made a significant step towards the major prize. Still, don’t expect more than one game between them at the end.

The New Zealand captain Daniel Vettori will make his Australian domestic debut on Wednesday when he lines up for Queensland in their Twenty20 game against New South Wales at Stadium Australia in Sydney. Vettori was named in a 13-man squad for what is a must-win match for both teams, each of whom have one victory from three games.It could be a one-off appearance for Vettori, who is available only for this match and the preliminary final on January 19, should the Bulls qualify. Vettori will play for Northern Districts in New Zealand’s Twenty20 tournament, the HRV Cup, on Tuesday and will fly in to Sydney on the day of the Big Bash match to link up with the Queensland side.He must then head straight back to New Zealand for another HRV Cup fixture on Friday. Vettori has replaced the batsman Nathan Reardon in the squad, in the only change from the group that defeated Tasmania at the Gabba on Friday.Queensland squad James Hopes, Ben Dunk (wk), Lee Carseldine, Andrew Symonds, Glen Batticciotto, Chris Simpson (capt), Chris Lynn, Craig Philipson, Daniel Vettori, Ryan Harris, Ben Cutting, Nathan Rimmington, Scott Walter.

Les Burdett, the long-serving Adelaide Oval groundsman, has announced his retirement. At 59, he will relinquish the position he has held for nearly 32 years.”I’ve always believed that the Adelaide Oval pitch has hosted good cricket because its characteristics provide a great contest between willow and leather,” he told the . “From the outside looking in it looks pretty simple – grab the lawnmower and the roller and get out there and do it and talk to the seagulls. But if you ask my family, it’s a seven-day summer. It’s a commitment.”Burdett started work at the Adelaide Oval as an 18-year-old in 1969 and took over as curator in 1978. His expertise has been in demand overseas and he has helped in pitch preparation in several countries, such as India, South Africa and Malaysia.James Sutherland, Cricket Australia’s chief executive, said: “Obviously the Adelaide Oval is one of the most beautiful grounds in the world and he’s always been very proud of the way he’s kept that ground. He’s done a lot more than just that and he’s played a role throughout Australian cricket as a consultant to us.”Federal Sports Minister Kate Ellis termed it a sad day. “I don’t think many other grounds meet the standard of this picturesque venue, there aren’t too many cricketing venues in the world that are held in the same esteem as Adelaide Oval and Les’ legacy will live on in this amazing venue.”

Dirk Nannes, the left-arm fast bowler, has decided to become a limited-overs specialist and has retired from the first-class game. Nannes has completed only one Sheffield Shield match for Victoria this season due to injury, but has remained a threat in the one-day and Twenty20 arena, including being part of Australia’s plans.”This decision will allow me to concentrate on 50-over and Twenty20 cricket and extend my career with Victoria and Australia,” he said. “Hopefully I can continue to make a strong contribution in the shorter forms of the game for a number of seasons to come.”Nannes struggled with a hamstring tendon injury at the start of the summer but returned to help Victoria win the domestic Twenty20 tournament and gain a spot in the Champions League. He will also link up with Delhi in the IPL next month and is in contention for a spot in Australia’s side for the World Twenty20.Now 33, Nannes focussed on skiing and snowboarding in his early 20s and didn’t debut for Victoria until 2006. In 23 first-class games he took 93 wickets at 25.02.”Dirk has been an important player for us across all forms of cricket in recent years but has struggled to get on the field in four-day games this season,” Cricket Victoria’s chief executive Tony Dodemaide said. “In light of this and taking into account his age and desire to play the shorter formats for as long as possible, we’ve accepted his position and look forward to him helping Victoria achieve even more success in the future.”

Ground Dog Day
It was comical for the spectators and an embarrassment for the organisers. Like streakers, dogs have made appearances in cricket grounds, but what happened at the MA Chidambaram Stadium was above tolerance levels. Chennai Super Kings were given the luxury of an extra strategic time out when a dog trotted on to the outfield and refused to leave until it understood why one team’s logo is a lion and the other’s a bull.Remember Newlands 2009 – the opening game of the second IPL, coincidentally involving Chennai – when another canine interrupted play? The sight of the security guard handing out a sandwich had everyone in splits then but this time there was not a single dog lover in sight. The dog emerged from the deep cover boundary, headed to third man, then to short fine leg for a five-second stretch, continued to square leg and picked up pace, perhaps realising he was holding up something. He then pierced the gap between mid-off and extra cover with such precision that none of the fielders moved. The only player who tried to shoo it away was Muttiah Muralitharan.The dog finally headed back to where he emerged from and a spectator yelled in Tamil, “Thank goodness, that’s the last of him.” Or so we thought. Another one unleashed itself and the security guards once again didn’t budge. Someone simply had to bellow “who let the dogs out!” The umpires didn’t want to waste anymore time and called play, despite the dog merrily strolling in the outfield.Stump or javelin?
The sight of a stump cart wheeling is fabulous as long as you’re not the batsman. When M Vijay gave Chaminda Vaas the charge, he heard the sound of ball hitting wood and looked back to see something bizarre. The leg stump did a few spins but instead of lying flat on the ground, it landed in a semi upright position, like a javelin. Vijay walked back and knocked the stump down with his bat as his final deed for the night.Two in two
Adam Gilchrist’s withering onslaught had reduced Chennai’s seamers to ash before the home crowd could find something to cheer about. At the end of four overs, Deccan were 47 for no loss. R Ashwin was given the ball and, with his fifth, got the breakthrough to raise decibel levels in Chepauk. He beat Gilchrist with his flight and got the ball to spin and clip off stump. VVS Laxman had a mix up with Herschelle Gibbs and was run out the next ball.I’m afraid you have to go
Another run out, though it didn’t seem like it to the batsman in question. Rohit Sharma pushed the ball to extra cover but the batsmen decided against the single. Symonds turned back on seeing Hayden gather the ball quickly and hurl it accurately to the non-striker’s end. Chennai appealed and the decision was referred but Symonds didn’t look concerned and even resumed his position at the non-striker’s end. Even the fielders went back to their positions, expecting the appeal to be unsuccessful. The verdict, however, was ‘out’ and a stunned Symonds had to make his way off the field.Dud of the day
The Mongoose didn’t turn up. The buzz ahead of this game was Matthew Hayden’s unveiling of a cricket bat which resembles a paddle because of its unusually long handle. However, he decided to save it for another day and walked out with conventional equipment instead. The Mongoose is designed to increase power by 20% and bat speed by 15%, and Hayden may have cleared short fine leg had he used it.

Paul Harris, the South Africa left-arm spinner, has completed a move to the Lions franchise in a bid to be included in the national squad for the 2011 World Cup. Harris left the Titans after eight seasons with the Centurion-based franchise because a lack of game-time in the limited overs formats of the game.The Titans were unable to guarantee Harris a place in all three versions of the game because of the continued good form of Roelof van der Merwe and Faf du Plessis, whereas the Lions have assured Harris that he will start the season as their first-choice spinner. “Obviously, if I bowl badly, and then I don’t play I can accept that, but at least I know I will be at the frontline at the beginning of the season,” Harris told Cricinfo.He will face stiff competition from the current crop of spinners at the Lions that includes Werner Coetsee and Aaron Phangiso, and Lions coach Dave Nosworthy has said the rivalry among players will be healthy. “There are never any guarantees when it comes to selection and it will be good to have players fighting for positions. We are very happy to give Paul the opportunity to challenge for a spot in the South African team with us and I think our players will also learn a lot from a guy like him.”Nosworthy and Harris will be reunited at the franchise, after the former discovered Harris “languishing at Western Province B” almost ten years ago. Harris played under Nosworthy at the Titans and hopes being with his old coach will trigger a positive reaction. Harris has also informed the national powers-that-be of the reason behind his move and said Corrie van Zyl and Graeme Smith are aware of his intentions to crack the one-day side. “Everyone has been very supportive of my move and told me that they think it will be good for me and my game.”Harris said he has no particular plan to unseat the likes of Johan Botha or van der Merwe at the national level but that he hopes, “by getting game time and taking wickets, I will be able to put my hand up for selection. If I perform well and don’t manage to get selected, then maybe I can just help the Lions win a few trophies,” he said.The beleaguered Johannesburg-based franchise has won only one trophy since the franchise system began and developed the reputation of whipping boys in all three domestic competitions, although they made a surprise entry into the pro20 final in the past season. Harris said he had knowledge of the internal strife that has plagued the GCB since last year. “I am going to just focus on the game and whatever happens behind the scenes is not my issue. I just want to play cricket.” The union is currently awaiting an investigation by Cricket South Africa into issues surrounding the legitimacy of its board.

Indian captain MS Dhoni has expressed confidence that his team will be fresh and ready to compete in the ICC World Twenty20 despite the tournament starting just days after the conclusion of the IPL. The close proximity of the two major Twenty20 tournaments followed a similar pattern last year, when the then defending champions India failed to qualify for the semi-finals, but Dhoni said his players were experienced enough to manage the traveling and workload.”It’s not that we have not played games. Sometimes you have to just take the schedule, there’s no point complaining about it,” Dhoni said in Mumbai before the team’s departure for the West Indies.”The IPL was supposed to finish on the 25th. We had one and a half days’ rest after that, then one whole day of flying and after reaching we have 2-3 days which is more than enough. We play throughout the year. We are together for almost 250 to 300 days so I don’t think that should be a concern at all.”The coach Gary Kirsten backed Dhoni’s comments and said he was confident his team could go all the way. “We have got the schedule and can’t do anything about it now,” Kirsten said. “The Indian players may feel the heat of it more because all of them played in the IPL but our responsibility is to go out there and ensure that we are well prepared. We will do what we can in these circumstances.”It wasn’t the best of IPLs for Yuvraj Singh, who managed 255 runs in 14 games for Kings XI Punjab at 21.25. Yuvraj had just returned from injury and didn’t have enough time to work his way back to form once the tournament started, but his performance didn’t worry Dhoni, who backed him to bounce back in the West Indies.”Yuvraj is a great player, one of the best in T20 format, one of the biggest hitters of the ball and he can contribute with the ball at the same time,” Dhoni said. “He has not scored too many runs in the IPL but at the same time it’s not a big worrying factor.”In the T20 format you need just 5 to 10 deliveries to strike form. He is still hitting the ball well. So we aren’t too worried about it.”The only injury blow for India is opener Virender Sehwag, who was ruled out towards the end of the IPL due to a shoulder injury. M Vijay, the Tamil Nadu batsman who had a rewarding IPL, was named his replacement.Looking ahead to the tournament, Dhoni said the wickets would be on the slower side and he expected his spinners, including allrounders like Yusuf Pathan and Suresh Raina, to play a big role.”Both Yusuf and Harbhajan Singh did very well for their teams opening the bowling in the IPL. We also have very good part-timers in the team. Yusuf, Ravindra Jadeja and Harbhajan have done well in all formats of the game over the years to be called as specialist spinners,” Dhoni said. “I don’t think bowling should be a problem.”India’s problem of facing short deliveries – which was exposed last year in England – was also addressed but Kirsten said the players were prepared to face any challenge.”Every player is aware of what he plans to do and how he wants to set up his game plan. I’m sure the players themselves would know the bowlers they will be facing and would try to exploit the potential weaknesses of those individuals.”We will do as much work as we can in the limited time available to make sure we are as well prepared.”