NEW DELHI // The India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh has a toe injury and is doubtful for the third Test against Australia, which starts on Wednesday, said the team coach Gary Kirsten. The 28-year-old bowler, who is one short of 300 Test wickets, briefly batted at the nets today but sat out most of the session massaging a toe on his left foot, which is his landing foot. "I'm not sure, to be honest," Kirsten said. "Hopefully it is not serious, we're not sure at the moment.
"I think he picked it up towards the end of the last game. It is just maybe an overuse injury." Harbhajan took three Australian top order wickets in 10 balls in the second innings to spur India to a record 320-run win in the second Test in Mohali last week. India lead the four-match series 1-0. The Indian captain and leg-spinner Anil Kumble, who missed the Mohali game with a shoulder injury, had a long spell at the nets and is expected to return to lead the side.
"Anil is looking good," the coach said, adding that if Harbhajan and Kumble were fit, the leg-spinner Amit Mishra would sit out the match despite taking seven wickets on his Test debut at Mohali. "There is no possibility of playing three spinners," he said. "If Kumble is fit, he is the captain of the team. He will take Mishra's place." Batsman Vangipurappu Laxman also took a painful knock on his knee while batting to be forced to leave the nets session.
*Reuters