India Australia Series

Mishra to pave way for Kumble: Kirsten

Haryana leg-spinner Amit Mishra will pave way for fit-again skipper Anil Kumble in the third Test against Australia, India coach Gary Kirsten hinted on Monday.

Kirsten said Kumble was recovering well from the shoulder injury that kept him out of the Mohali Test, handing Mishra his maiden Test cap.

Kirsten said there was no possibility of going into the match with three spinners at the cost of a middle-order batsman and chances are also slim that India would opt for two leg-spinners, Kumble and Mishra, dropping the in-form offie Harbhajan Singh.

“If Kumble is fit, he is the captain of the team, he’ll play the next match I expect,” Kirsten said after India’s practice session at the Ferozeshah Kotla on Monday.

“He is looking good, so we are happy with the way things have progressed,” he added.

Ruling out the prospect of fielding three spinners at the possible cost of VVS Laxman, Kirsten said, “No, there is not a possibility of that, as far as I’m concerned…I would like to go into a Test match with six batsmen.”

Mishra’s slender hopes now hinge on the toe injury Harbhajan picked in the Mohali Test even though Kirsten said he expected the off-spinner to recover before the third Test.

Tags: Amit Mishra, Australia, Border-Gavaskar Trophy 2008, India