By Ben Kunicki BBC Sport Online

Yet again India's openers are under the spotlight as the Test series against England looms.

The current pair, Shiv Sunder Das and Wasim Jaffer, both looked short of match practice and form in the tour match against West Indies A at Arundel.

It was their first appearance of the tour following the one-day NatWest Series, when the opener's berths were filled by Sourav Ganguly and Virender Sehwag.

And although Das has been given a prolonged run in the Test side, Jaffer is still a relative novice at the top level.

Fruitless search

It was ever thus for Indian cricket since the retirement of the legendary Sunil Gavaskar.

Ever since the second highest run-scorer in Test cricket hung up his sun hat for the last time, India have struggled to find anybody to take his place.

In some sense the quest for Gavaskar's replacement echoes that of England's eternal search to replace their own talisman, Ian Botham.

The problem is not a lack of talent. In the likes of Navjot Sidhu, Manoj Prabharkar and Ravi Shastri, India have had some more than competent players at the top of the order.

Sidhu was one of the more successful openers tried

However, since those three gradually faded away from the international scene, the selectorial scrambling has become even more pronounced.

Although injuries played a part, India changed their opening partnership no fewer than 22 times in 34 Tests between November 1996 and November 2000.

That included series against both South Africa and Australia where a different pair were used in every Test.

With that kind of inconsistency in selection, no wonder the prospective openers have been unable to cement a place.

During that time, no fewer than 12 players, including Jaffer himself were all used.

Mostly they were rotated around but only poor Mannava Prasad played in a solitary Test.

Destructive process

This merry go round was finally brought to a halt when Das emerged and together he and Sadogopan Ramesh appeared to have struck up a partnership that would provide the answer.

However, despite Das gaining the plaudits of many for his dogged defence, Ramesh's form and fitness began to desert him.

Since the tour to South Africa in November 2001, Das has now had three more partners, Deep Dasgupta who flattered to deceive with a century in his second match, all-rounder Sanjay Bangar and Jaffer.

Wasim Jaffer is the latest to try his luck

The latter made two half centuries against West Indies in May but averages only 22 after five Tests and on the first day at Arundel, he took an hour to make just five runs.

He improved that record with a 50 in the second innings but he is still unproven in English conditions and facing Darren Gough in a Test match is an entirely different proposition.

Meanwhile, the likes of Dinesh Mongia and Mohammed Kaif are forced to sit on the sidelines despite their excellent form in the recent one-day series.

Mongia in particular demonstrated his form at Arundel, hitting 87 after the openers failed, but he can only play in the Tests if the tour management seek special permission from the Indian Board.

The Punjab batsman has opened in one-day matches for India before, indeed his best effort 159 not out against Zimbabwe, came in that slot.

Whoever is chosen, England have already identified India's openers as a potential weakness and know that the sooner Sachin Tendulkar has to face the new ball the better.