Indian cricket captain Sourav Ganguly said Wednesday he would attempt to persuade pace spearhead Javagal Srinath to reconsider his retirement plans and make the upcoming tour of England.

The 32-year-old new ball spearhead had announced his retirement from the Test scene last week to concentrate his on fitness and availability for next year's World Cup in South Africa.

Srinath's exit will leave India's pace attack badly depleted, and that's why Ganguly wants the experienced fast-medium bowler back in the Test squad.

"Srinath is our best bowler who can guide the youngsters," the Indian captain said after returning home from the team's Caribbean tour.

"I will speak to him as early as I can and ask him to reconsider his

decision."

Srinath, with 232 wickets from 64 Tests, is India's second most successful fast bowler after Kapil Dev's tally of 434.

Srinath claimed just 13 wickets during the recent five-Test series in the West Indies, which India lost 2-1, and was then rested for the one-day internationals.

The Indian team for the one-day triangular series later this month against England and Sri Lanka will be named on Saturday.

The squad for the subsequent four Tests against England will be picked later.

Although India won the one-dayers, but still remain without a Test series win outside the sub-continent since 1986 when they beat England.

Ganguly, who was retained captain for the England tour, tried to play down the Test defeat by saying he was happy to win the one-dayers.

"It was disappointing to lose the Test series, but I think we did pretty well to win the one-dayers and I am happy the way the young bowlers

performed on the tour," he said.

"It is a young side and we have some very talented youngsters. I think it will take them a little time to form a winning unit."

Ganguly also allayed fears that star batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who developed a shoulder injury in the latter part of the West Indies tour, will not be fit for England.

"The injury is not serious and Sachin should be okay with a few days rest," he said.

Ganguly was adamant the experiment of asking frontline batsman Rahul Dravid to keep wickets in one-day matches will continue in England.

"I would like Dravid to keep wickets so that we have a strong batting order," he said.

"However we will see how things works out in England and then change accordingly."

With the two-month Caribbean tour behind them, the Indian cricketers have 12 days to rest before flying to London on June 18.