Kumble fit for South Africa series

Leg-spinner Anil Kumble, out of international cricket for almost a year due to a shoulder injury, will return during India's tour of South Africa starting next month.

"Kumble will be fit. He will play," Jaywant Lele, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) told Reuters by phone on Monday from Baroda.

Kumble, who has been India's main strike bowler for the last few years, will provide a much-needed boost to India's spin attack.

"I have not received anything in writing from him, but he has conveyed to me verbally that he is available for the series," Lele added.

Kumble, 30, withdrew midway through a one-day tri-series in Sharjah last October and has been recovering after undergoing shoulder surgery in Johannesburg in January.

He played his first match in almost nine months in July when he turned out for a local league side in Bangalore and followed that up with several other domestic matches.

Kumble, regarded as one of the fitTest players in the Indian side and with a reputation for having the stamina to bowl long spells of his fastish leg-breaks, has been gunning to regain full fitness in time for the South Africa series.

The former Leicestershire and Northamptonshire spinner, who has taken 276 wickets in 61 Tests, has said he is now looking forward to achieving 300 Test wickets.

He is India's highest wicket-taker behind Kapil Dev's 434, and captured all 10 Pakistan second innings wickets in a Test in Delhi in 1999 to equal Jim Laker's world record.

ABSENT TRIO

Lele said he had not received any official information regarding the fitness of Sachin Tendulkar, Vangipurappu Laxman and Ashish Nehra, all of whom missed India's Test series against Sri Lanka due to injuries.

"I have no news about their progress right now," Lele said.

Sri Lanka won the three-Test home series 2-1 on Sunday.

Tendulkar was out because of a fractured foot, Laxman underwent surgery due to a torn ligament in his right knee and Nehra had a groin injury.

Fast bowler Javagal Srinath could also only play in the first Test after he fractured a finger during the match.

Local news agencies have reported that Srinath is expected to be fit in a week and will be available for selection for the series in South Africa.

BCCI officials said on Monday the team for South Africa would be picked on September 7, a day after selectors decide if captain Saurav Ganguly will continue to lead the side.

India will play a triangular series also involving Kenya, apart from three Tests against the hosts during the South Africa tour.

In Kumble's absence, India's attack was led by off-spinner Harbhajan Singh who has been in fine form since grabbing 32 wickets to help India to a stunning 2-1 home Test series win over Australia earlier this year.

Mail Cricket Editor