Symonds absence lifts Sehwag

Virender Sehwag claims India can take heart from Andrew Symonds' absence

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India opening batsman Virender Sehwag claims Andrew Symonds' exclusion from the Australia team will favour India in the Test series.

The all-rounder was reprimanded and ordered to return home when he chose to go fishing rather than attend a team meeting just before the one-day series against Bangladesh in Darwin earlier this month.

And Symonds was not included in the Australia squad announced yesterday for the four-Test tour of India starting next month in Bangalore.

"Of course his omission is going to help us," Sehwag said. "He is a player who can change the course of a match with either his batting or his bowling.

"Coming in as he does at number five or six, he is a dangerous batsman. India will definitely benefit from his absence.

"However, having said that, he is a quality player and his absence is a big loss for the game.

"It is players like Symonds who make the game interesting and a spectacle to watch."

Despite the absence of Symonds and injury concerns over captain Ricky Ponting and Matthew Hayden, Sehwag believes that it will still be difficult for India to beat the tourists, the side rated number one in the world.

"It is going to be a challenge and we would have to be on our toes to beat them,” he added.

"Ponting and Hayden are recovering from injuries, but I think they would be fit and on the field when the first Test comes around.

"The absence of an experienced and quality spinner might cost them, though. You have to have a good spinner in the squad."