Yuvraj Singh keeping Test dream alive

He hasn't played a Test match in almost three-and-a-half years, but veteran India batsman Yuvraj Singh hasn't ruled out a return to the five-day game.

Yuvraj played the last of his 40 Tests in late 2012, not long after a lengthy and life-altering absence from the game to undergo treatment for a rare form of cancer.

Back to full health, the left-hander’s appearances at international level have been sparse since his illness; he's played just three Tests and 19 one-day internationals in the almost four years since his return, although he has been a regular part of the Indian side in T20 cricket.

While the his international career is far from over at the age of 34, he knows he's one of the back markers to resume his spot in the Test XI.

But with India scheduled to play 17 Tests at home in the next 12 months, the veteran is not giving up hope of a recall.

"There's an opportunity there, for sure," he told The Times of India.

"India is playing 13-15 Tests in India next. I've scored six-seven hundreds in the past couple of seasons in the Ranji Trophy (domestic first-class competition).

"If I get a chance to play on spinning tracks, I've been playing spin well.

"I'd love to play Tests again ... (but) selection isn't in my hand. All I can do is try my best."

India are scheduled to host the West Indies (four Tests), New Zealand (three Tests) and England (five Tests) later this year before Australia tour in February or March next year in a four-match battle for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.

And despite boasting a depth of middle-order options including captain Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara, Yuvraj could bring some welcome experience to the batting line-up.

Yuvraj has proven to be far more proficient on spinning surfaces in the subcontinent than abroad; all but two of his 14 scores of 50 or more at Test level have come in either India, Bangladesh, Pakistan or Sri Lanka, while he averages just 19 in 12 Tests outside Asia, which is less than half his average on the subcontinent.

Most of those runs were scored as part of a daunting middle order led by Test legends like Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, the dominance of that magnificent trio making opportunities scarce for other middle-order players.

Yuvraj believes the competition for spots made it difficult for new players coming into the side, adding the current crop of batsmen have rightly been given a greater opportunity to establish themselves.

"When you've been the 12th man of a team for seven years, and you have greats like Tendulkar, (Sourav) Ganguly, Dravid, (Virender) Sehwag and Laxman, it's difficult to get an opportunity because that time we used to get one or two chances," he said.

"Right now, there are more opportunities. Guys are getting a chance to play 10 Tests. If they do well or don't do well, they still play.

"It's good that this is happening because they're secure that even if they don't do well, they'll get a chance.

"In our time, there was so much competition that it was hard to get opportunities.

"So, whatever the circumstances, I think I did decently well (in my career).

"There were times when I couldn't convert my '60s and '70s into 100s. So, I think that's where I lacked.

"Instead of three, if I had six to seven hundreds, I'd have been happier, but it's not easy to score hundreds at No 6."