Am happy to be back: Sourav

Kolkata -- Former captain Sourav Ganguly said Thursday he was very happy to be selected to play for the Indian Test team in South Africa.

"I am happy to be back," said Ganguly addressing a press conference minutes after chairman of selectors Dilip Vengsarkar announced his name for the Indian squad in New Delhi.

Sourav Ganguly, who Wednesday stepped down as Bengal's Ranji Trophy skipper to facilitate his selection to the Indian squad, said the Test matches in South Africa would be "challenging".

To a question as to what strategy he would adopt, Ganguly said: "I have played there before. I will just try to get runs. Depends how quickly one gets used to the conditions."

Asked how he would fare in the matches, he said: "I have done well for 10 years."

The Indian team is currently in the midst of a disastrous five-match ODI series, having lost two matches, with the first having been rained off.

Stylish batsman V.V.S. Laxman has been named vice captain.

India will be playing its first Twenty20 international match during the South Africa tour.

Ganguly last played a Test for India against Pakistan Jan 29-Feb 2 at Karachi, scoring 34 and 37 and taking one wicket in the second innings. Pakistan won the match by 341 runs.

His last ODI was against New Zealand in a tri-series at Harare on Sep 6, 2005, scoring 31 as an opener. New Zealand won that match by six wickets.