India set to recall Kumble for fourth Test

Indian leg-spinner Anil Kumble, left out for the last two Tests, is likely to return for the fourth match of the series against West Indies starting on Friday.

"Kumble has been a great performer for India over the years," captain Saurav Ganguly told Reuters on Tuesday.

"He will certainly be on our minds when we pick the side for the Antigua Test."

Kumble, who has taken 318 wickets in 69 Tests, missed India's 37-run win in the second Test at Port of Spain. He was also absent when West Indies levelled the series 1-1 with a 10-wicket victory in Barbados.

India chose three pacemen and only one spinner, Harbhajan Singh, in the last two Tests, but the off-break bowler had only limited success.

Ganguly selected the 21-year-old ahead of Kumble just 10 minutes before the start of the Trinidad game and described the decision as the hardest one he had ever made as captain.

"They are both excellent bowlers. Their records speak for themselves," Ganguly said.

"It's not easy to pick one of them but we have to play with three pacemen if we are to compete overseas on these kinds of wickets."

Kumble took all 10 second-innings wickets in a Test against Pakistan in 1999 to equal the world record of England's Jim Laker and bowl India to a memorable series-levelling win.

Harbhajan was nicknamed "Turbanator" after grabbing 32 wickets against Australia last year to lead India to a stunning 2-1 home series victory.

DASGUPTA MAY RETURN

The Indians are also contemplating bringing back wicketkeeper-batsman Deep Dasgupta for Ajay Ratra, who made his debut in Trinidad.

Ratra has kept well but has failed to produce with the bat as India's lower-order has continued to be a cause of concern for the team management.

"Deep could get a lot of balance to the side because he's a good player," Ganguly said.

"We'll have to, however, take a look at the wicket and the conditions before deciding the final playing 11."

Dasgupta opened the batting in the first drawn Test at Georgetown but was then left out because of poor form behind the stumps.

He struck a match-saving half-century in the tour match against a Busta XI team in St Lucia after a depleted Indian side had been asked to follow-on.

All-rounder Sanjay Bangar opened the batting in Trinidad before Wasim Jaffer finally solved India's opening problems with a half-century in Barbados.

West Indies have made one change to their victorious Barbados squad, bringing in left-hander Wavell Hinds for opener Stuart Williams, who failed to shine in the first three Tests.

Hinds, who has played in 20 Tests, scored 175 against India in the tour match in St Lucia.

Mail Cricket Editor