It is typical of Indian cricket that we take one step forward and two back as in the case of Sourav Ganguly whose inclusion in the Indian team for the Test series against Australia has understandably triggered a debate tinged with passion and emotion rather than vision.

When Vengsarkar, the previous chairman of selection committee, decided enough was enough and began cutting out what he perceived as dead wood so as to allow the Indian cricket plant to grow, it was obvious that he was initiating a period of transition. Looking ahead, he realised, and rightly so, that the future was with the younger generation. So, Ganguly was the starting point.

The fact that Ganguly was not included for the Irani Trophy game was a clear signal that his days as an international cricket were numbered. Vengsarkar had also initiated a similar process in the ODIs by dropping Laxman and Dravid, besides Ganguly while Kumble did the smart thing by retiring from the shorter version. More importantly, Vengsarkar had the courage to stand by his convictions in the face of a massive public and media uproar.

Now that he has made way for Srikkanth, his former team-mate and captain, the process has been reversed. Ganguly has been thrown a lifeline. Never mind that the statistics suggest that Ganguly has had a better run in the past season than any other Indian batsman, including Tendulkar. But the point that Vengsarkar made was about Ganguly physical fitness and not so much questioning his credentials.

The point is that the selection process in Indian cricket is more about compromises than picking players on immediate form. Reputation is given undue weightage. In contrast, the Australian selectors, in a famous move, had a private talk with the then captain Steve Waugh and informed him of their plans for the future that did not include him. He was accorded the courtesy of a farewell series and though Waugh scored a century in his final innings, there was no going back.

In India, it is all about cloak-and-dagger stuff. The selectors, by and large, rarely communicate their long-term plans (if they have any!) nor does the Board think it fit to come out in the open. Consequently, the environment is a breeding ground for speculation and rumours.

The absolute lack of transparency only fuels the fire. For example, will we ever get to know about the "briefing" the newly elected president Manohar and secretary Srinivasan gave to the selection committee before they sat down to pick the team? If the selectors are said to be "independent", then what was the "briefing" all about?

Now, the word is that Ganguly has been told the series against Australia would be his last for India. Looking at the scenario, it is obvious then that his inclusion was a last minute compromise of sorts. After all, if Ganguly was sure of making it to the Indian team, then he would have been in Bangalore training along with the rest of the cricketers instead of staying at home.

Having selected Ganguly, the selectors realised that he was short of match practice, not having played cricket for over a month. So, they have now flown him to Chennai for the Test match between India A and New Zealand A to help him put some time in the middle ahead of the opening Test against Australia in Bangalore next week.

As Javagal Srinath said the other night in an interview, statistics only reveal a player's achievements and not necessarily his immediate current form. The only saving grace for Ganguly is that he was not the only frontline batsman to fail in Sri Lanka and hence, can justify his right to be included.

Not for a moment can we gloss over Ganguly's illustrious career as an elegant and aggressive batsman and a leader of men who changed the approach and attitude of the Indian team. But then, that was in the past. Aging process is not unique to just Ganguly or cricketers, but it is the same in every walk of life.

There comes a time when the mind and body do not move in conjunction. It is for the individual to look in the mirror and admit that he or she is not getting younger any more and so, it is time to move on. A lot of top sportspersons quit when on top, with their public image and status intact. It is such a pity then that some of our very senior cricketers just hang on, taking all the mud thrown at them and becoming butts of public ridicule.

So, why not walk out with dignity rather than getting chased and hounded out? It is a question that only the player can answer. Until then, the game of musical chairs will go on.

As for the rest of the team, it contains no surprises save the selection of Amit Mishra ahead of Piyush Chawla as the third spinner. Badrinath's inclusion was known in advance to a select few who were privy to "inside information". It is a moot point whether either would get to play in the eleven that will be the usual combination of six batsmen, a wicket keeper and four bowlers (two spinners and two pacemen).  Credits:Sify.com

Whatever, we have not heard the last of Ganguly although I suspect we have reached the final chapter in a saga that underlines the fact that Indian cricket will remain like this only!