Kumble in injury worry

MOHALI – Anil Kumble’s fitness remained a worry for India as Australia grappled with injury problems of their own heading into the second Test today.

Kumble, the inspirational Indian skipper who turns 38 on Friday, said he was hopeful of playing but would take a final call only on the morning of the match. The veteran bowler was saddled by poor form and fitness in the drawn first Test in Bangalore where he toiled for 51 wicketless overs, triggering a debate on whether it was time for him to retire.Kumble, India’s most successful bowler ever with 616 wickets from 131 Tests, hit back at his critics and declared he would quit on his own terms.Australia, seeking to go 1-0 up in the four-Test series, were coping with the injury-induced absence of frontline bowler Stuart Clark.Clark failed to recover from a sore elbow joint and was replaced by uncapped 23-year-old paceman Peter Siddle who has taken 43 wickets from 12 first-class games.Siddle’s inclusion would mean Australia having four squad members who have played less than five Tests.All-rounder Shane Watson and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin have played four Tests while spinner Cameron White made his debut in Bangalore.Australian captain Ricky Ponting, however, dismissed the inexperienced tag.Ponting said he hoped his bowlers would deny Sachin Tendulkar his impending milestone.Tendulkar needs just 15 runs to overtake West Indian Brian Lara’s tally of 11,953 runs and become the world’s highest Test run getter.Ponting’s confidence in his bowlers stemmed from the fact that the Mohali track has usually assisted seam bowling.Nampa-AFPThe veteran bowler was saddled by poor form and fitness in the drawn first Test in Bangalore where he toiled for 51 wicketless overs, triggering a debate on whether it was time for him to retire.Kumble, India’s most successful bowler ever with 616 wickets from 131 Tests, hit back at his critics and declared he would quit on his own terms.Australia, seeking to go 1-0 up in the four-Test series, were coping with the injury-induced absence of frontline bowler Stuart Clark.Clark failed to recover from a sore elbow joint and was replaced by uncapped 23-year-old paceman Peter Siddle who has taken 43 wickets from 12 first-class games.Siddle’s inclusion would mean Australia having four squad members who have played less than five Tests.All-rounder Shane Watson and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin have played four Tests while spinner Cameron White made his debut in Bangalore.Australian captain Ricky Ponting, however, dismissed the inexperienced tag.Ponting said he hoped his bowlers would deny Sachin Tendulkar his impending milestone.Tendulkar needs just 15 runs to overtake West Indian Brian Lara’s tally of 11,953 runs and become the world’s highest Test run getter.Ponting’s confidence in his bowlers stemmed from the fact that the Mohali track has usually assisted seam bowling.Nampa-AFP