Looking for a reshuffle after the stinging setback against the Aussies at home, the selectors on Tuesday recalled four players for national duty in the 15-member squad for the first two Tests against Sri Lanka. Leading the surprise inclusions are fast bowler Sreesanth, left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha and middle-order batsman S Badrinath. Spearhead Zaheer Khan makes an expected return to the fold after injury.

Sreesanth’s call-up comes based on his reputation of bowling well against left-handers ? the Sri Lankan squad has six ? despite the Kerala speedster returning empty-handed in the Ranji opener last week. Sreesanth, who spent considerable time in recovering from injury since playing his last game in 2008, was only last month given a final disciplinary warning from the board to improve his conduct.

Talking about his selection, he said: “I have changed a lot in these 19 months. I am looking forward to a fresh start. I will now focus on cricket only, all other things are secondary. I will try not to repeat the mistakes I committed earlier. My first target now is to get 100 Test wickets. It will be a long journey but I will do my best.”

Ojha walks into the team as back-up option to Harbhajan and Amit Mishra while Badrinath has been awarded for his consistent performance on the domestic circuit. Ishant Sharma managed to keep his place while statemate Ashish Nehra failed to latch on to a Test berth after the selectors decided to keep him away from the rigours of five-day cricket.

Murali Vijay retains his place as the reserve opener after selectors decided to ink an extra 15th member in a home game to help the team management decide on the composition after having a final look at the wicket.

The Ahmedabad pitch is expected to assist seam bowling while Kanpur is known to help spinners and Sreesanth and Ojha’s presence is seen as a move to help the management pick the side based on the nature of the track.

Munaf Patel again goes back to domestic circuit while Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman return to provide a familiar look to the middle-order with Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni adding meat to a line-up that will figure Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir at the top.

The squad

Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, M Vijay, Pragyan Ojha, S Sreesanth and S Badrinath