Yuvraj Singh continues cancer comeback after being named in Test squad to face England

The 30-year-old has not played Test cricket in a year after being treated for a rare germ-cell cancer between his lungs, but could now feature against England later this month.

Indian cricketer Yuvraj Singh walks back to the pavilion during his appearance for the India A side against England
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Yuvraj Singh is on course for a possible Test comeback for India against England after being included this morning in a 15-man squad.

His was the most notable inclusion in a squad also containing Harbhajan Singh as a third front line spin option for the first two Tests - in Ahmedabad on November 15 and then Mumbai on November 23.

The 30-year-old was included in a 15-man squad for the first two Tests of the four-match series against Alastair Cook's tourists which opens in Ahmedabad on November 15.

Yuvraj, who has not played Test cricket since last November, was treated for a rare germ-cell cancer between his lungs in the United States earlier this year.

He returned after chemotherapy treatment in April, was picked for the World Twenty20 in Sri Lanka in September and cracked a double-century on his return to domestic first-class cricket last month.

The left-hander forced his way into the Test squad after scoring a half-century and taking five wickets for India A in England's tour opener in Mumbai last week.

Yuvraj is almost certain to take the number six spot when the playing XI is finalised on the eve of the first Test, while his left-arm spin gives the hosts another slow bowling option.

He looks favourite to replace Suresh Raina, dropped after two failures in the recent series against New Zealand. Ajinkya Rahane, more suited to a place in the top three, and Murali Vijay are the other options if India opt for another specialist batsman as a direct replacement for Raina.

Off-spinner Harbhajan has not played a Test since August last year, at Nottingham during England's 4-0 whitewash of India to go to the top of the world rankings.

The 32-year-old may have to bide his time, however, with Ravichandran Ashwin and slow left-armer Pragyan Ojha the men in possession of India's spin-bowling berths.

Sachin Tendulkar is also in the squad which will be led by Mahendra Singh Dhoni and contains opener Virender Sehwag and seamer Zaheer Khan - despite their respective recent injury scares and indifferent form.

India's Test squad:

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Cheteshwar Pujara, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin, Pragyan Ojha, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Murali Vijay.

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