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MELBOURNE - Indian cricket captain Anil Kumble has highlighted spin as Australia's weakness in the upcoming test series and believes Brad Hogg would pose few worries for the tourists batsmen if selected for the first test starting here next Wednesday.
Kumble said India's batsmen could confidently handle any spin offering Australia deployed post-Shane Warne, and with Stuart MacGill sidelined, and predicted test cricket would provide Hogg a tough challenge despite his one-day success.
India's 16-man squad arrived yesterday confident of achieving a maiden series win in Australia, especially given the four-test series begins in Melbourne, and then Sydney, where the pitches should be conducive to spin.
"We're very used to playing spinners so it's not an issue for us but, yes, if the wickets have spin, then definitely we have the advantage," Kumble said.
Australia are considering abandoning tradition and playing four fast bowlers in the first test, including Shaun Tait.
Sticking with a conventional attack of three quicks and a spinner would mean a recall for left-arm wrist spinner Hogg, who made his debut in 1996 but has not played a test since 2003.
Hogg's average per wicket against India in one-day internationals drifts by seven runs from his career mark, but he took 11 scalps at 22.63 in the series there in October, where his wrong'un was useful.
But Kumble, himself a legspinner, said Australia missed Warne and their lack of an accomplished successor was "definitely" their weak link, as Hogg would find it different bowling to Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman in a test.
"I think one-day cricket is a bit different," he said.
"We have played him before and should not have any problems with the spinners."
However, Australian chairman of selectors Andrew Hilditch said Hogg's domestic form for Western Australia had been good this season, and was confident he could be a handful against India if given another chance.
"We think he'll do really well, most countries and most batsmen seem to have some difficulty reading him, so I think he's ready to make that step," Hilditch said.
"Hoggy, performance-wise, what he offers to the side is a real good package, so we've really very little doubt about how he'll perform at test level."
Kumble was also confident his batsmen could cope with Tait, whose only bowl at India, for Australia A in a tour match in Hobart four years ago, earned him figures of three for 85 and none for 22.
"He's a good fast bowler with an interesting action, but we have played him on a tour game the last time (India visited), I remember, and the batsmen are very experienced and will be able to handle that," he said.
India have just one day to prepare for their sole warmup match, a three-day game against Victoria, starting tomorrow at Junction Oval.
But Kumble said three recent tests against Pakistan - which resulted in a 1-0 series win - gave India sufficient buildup, and comparably a tougher preparation than Australia, who have not played a test since beating Sri Lanka last month.
He rated the challenge of beating Ricky Ponting's men in their backyard cricket's biggest prize, and took confidence from India's effort in drawing the series 1-1 on their last visit here.
Tendulkar and wicketkeeper Mehendra Singh Dhoni both missed the third test against Pakistan through injury, but should be available for the first test against Australia.
Kumble said India had not finalised their side for the first test, but would field close to their strongest 11 against Victoria.
- AAP
