* England coming sans Stewart, Gough and Atherton

England have announced their squad for the tour of India. Alec Stewart and Darren Gough have both opted out. Also missing is Michael Atherton who announced his retirement from Test cricket on Tuesday.

Graham Thorpe though will be coming. Nasser Hussain will captain the Test squad, which includes two uncapped players, the Essex wicket keeper, James Foster, and the Yorkshire off-spinner, Richard Dawson. Also recalled to the senior squad is Lancashire wicket-keeper Warren Hegg.

"Ashley Giles has been included in the Test squad subject to him satisfying the selectors of his fitness ahead of the tour departure and he will be one of three spinners together with Robert Croft and Richard Dawson," English chairman of selectors David Graveney said.

Squad:

Nasser Hussain (Captain), Usman Afzaal, Mark Butcher, Andrew Caddick, Robert Croft, Richard Dawson, James Foster, Ashley Giles, Warren Hegg, Matthew Hoggard, James Ormond, Mark Ramprakash, Graham Thorpe, Marcus Trescothick, Michael Vaughan, Craig White. Duncan Fletcher (coach)

* Tendulkar hopes to be fit for South Africa tour

Sachin Tendulkar is still having problems with his injured toe but he hopes to be fit in time for India's upcoming tour of South Africa.

"I am not in too much pain, although when I run, my foot gives trouble. So I decided to get expert advice," Tendulkar, who is in Durban to consult Dr Mark Fergussen for his injury, said.

Fergussen meanwhile said that he would prescribe a course of treatment after running a few more tests. "We are presently looking at some of the sports shoes he will have to wear," he added.

The South African doctor was the man who treated both Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble. Tendulkar injured his right toe during the triangular One-Day series in Zimbabwe and had to miss the ongoing tour of Sri Lanka.

* BCCI in a fix about Laloo participation

No one seems to be ready to touch the former Bihar Chief Minister Laloo Prasad Yadav even with a barge pole these days. Even The Board of Control for Cricket in India.

The BCCI has sought legal opinion on whether the President of Cricket Association of Bihar Laloo Prasad Yadav, should be allowed to participate in the Board's Annual General Meeting. The Board's decision follows a letter from one Sanjay Singh who claimed he was the genuine representative of the Bihar Cricket Association and not Yadav, according to BCCI sources.

Let us see which way the ball rolls...

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