Back from the brink

When India last toured England in 2007, Rudra Pratap Singh fared reasonably well with 12 wickets in Tests -- including a five-wicket haul at Lord's -- and seven in the ODIs

Back from the brink

When India last toured England in 2007, Rudra Pratap Singh fared reasonably well with 12 wickets in Tests -- including a five-wicket haul at Lord's -- and seven in the ODIs. This would have played a crucial role in his selection into India's ODI squad for England after pace spearhead Zaheer Khan was ruled out due to injury.

Given the lack of options in the pace department, Singh has been has beenrecalled into the India side after almost two years. He represented India last on September 26, 2009 in a Champions Trophy match against Pakistan (ODI) at Centurion. This time round though he has a bigger void to fill, as Zaheer was included in both the Test and ODI sides against England.

A flashback on RP's career reveals he enjoyed fair success in the initial years, but thereafter drifted into oblivion after he returned wicketless against South Africa in a home series in 2008.

Correspondingly, RP's form in the domestic season of late hasn't been impressive either. He claimed 17 wickets in the last Ranji Trophy, while in 2009-10, he scalped 27 but both with very poor strike rates of 54.1 and 69.0 respectively.

It's an acid test for the seamer nevertheless, but given his ability to move the ball both ways, he could well come handy in windy English conditions.

RP in England...
In ODIs -- Matches: 5, overs: 42, runs: 222, wkts: 7, BBI: 3/55, Avg: 31.71, Econ: 5.28, SR: 36.0
In Tests -- Matches: 3, overs: 92.3, runs: 347, wkts: 12, BBI: 5/59, Avg: 28.91, Econ: 3.75, SR: 46.2

RP In Ranji Trophy...
In 2009-10-- M: 5 wkts: 17, SR: 54.1
In 2010-11 -- M: 8, wkts: 27, SR: 69.0