Khoda, Joshi and Rajasthan turn the heat on England Rajasthan is famous not only for its fortresses and camels; it boasts an opener called Gagan Khoda. With the selectors on the look-out for an opener, Khoda will unfurl his best attacking strokes. Unlike Wasim Jaffer or Sridharan Sriram, Khoda is an aggressive strokemaker. If the visitors thought that the marathon against Sriram under the sun was tiresome, they had better be prepared for Khoda's sprint. Believe you me, this is the boy to look out for. But hey! don't write off the skipper of the India 'A' side just yet. Sunil Joshi, just three Tests before he was dropped, was named Man of the Match against Bangladesh. "This is a very important match for me personally. I'm very happy with the way I'm bowling right now and am keen to catch the eye of the selectors," said the left-arm spinner. Will Joshi force his way into the Indian side? Catch the latest news in CricInfo's "On The Road" tour newsletter, sent out every Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

New English attack yet to bowl Fletcher over Duncan Fletcher, the Zimbabwe-born England coach, has played a major role in the renaissance of the England team under the suave Nasser Hussain. A man who commands the ear of his team's captain and the respect of the players, Fletcher was openly critical of the inexperienced English attack, which disappointed again at Hyderabad. "Our bowlers did not bowl that well. They should be more disciplined on tracks like this and bowl a consistent line and length as Sanjay Bangar did today. We have a very inexperienced attack, and the boys are learning," he told newspersons at the end of the drawn three-dayer against the Indian Board President's XI at the Lal Bahadur Stadium on November 24. The only English bowler who escaped Fletcher's censure was Martyn Ball. The 31-year-old Gloucestershire off-spinner, whose action is reminiscent of Robert Croft's, whom he replaced, picked up three for 89 in the Board President XI's only innings. "He has bowled well in this match, and he is in the learning process; so is Richard Dawson. We are going to have a look at the them in the Jaipur match," Fletcher said. The English coach also had news on the one man whom he and all of England would be keen to see on the field: Ashley Giles. According to Fletcher, the left-arm spinner, who played a stellar role in England's series wins over Pakistan and Sri Lanka, had a 50-50 chance of playing in Tuesday's match at Jaipur. England and Fletcher might be able to live with Giles’ absence at Jaipur, but they definitely would not want the latter to remain on the sidelines at Mohali, when the first Test begins on December 3.

Hussain keen to take on 'great' India In the last 10 days, there has been a massive furore in India over the scrap between the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the respective cricket boards of India and South Africa. Former Indian cricketers, television commentators, and a section of the media seem to have lost their sense of balance. Dragging in issues of discrimination, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) even took the matter to Parliament. The captain of England, however, is unruffled by the events. In a press conference held at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium on the eve of the final tour match, Nasser Hussain, with characteristic restraint, explained his stance. On the controversy brewing in South Africa, Hussain said, "We're going to play a Test match in a week and are preparing for that. What's happening in South Africa is none of our business. Too much comment has been made on the issue in the last week or so, and I don't want to add to this. All I can say is that cricket has suffered." What would he do if India picked Virender Sehwag for the Mohali Test? "My decision is to pick my best side and get the best out of them. It is for other offices around the world to sort out this matter. We are going to turn up at Mohali and are looking forward to playing India, who are a great side," said Hussain.

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