Kumble begins slow road to recovery

Indian leg spinner Anil Kumble said on Friday he had started rehabilitation exercises after undergoing shoulder surgery in South Africa last month.

"I am feeling much better. I am doing physiotherapy. I have to do daily exercises," said Kumble by phone from Bangalore.

He said he would travel to Johannesburg again next month to consult shoulder specialist Mark Ferguson, who operated on him on January 17.

Kumble, India's second-highest test wicket-taker with 276 victims, was ruled out of the test series against Australia starting later this month following a shoulder injury largely attributed to overuse.

Kumble, who may be out of action for at least four months, has not played since withdrawing midway through a triangular one-day tournament in Sharjah last October.

He opted for surgery after rehabilitation exercises failed to solve the problem and he experienced severe pain when he tried to bowl in the nets.

Kumble, who played for English county Leicestershire last year, captured all 10 Pakistani second innings wickets in a test in Delhi in February 1999 to equal the world record of England's Jim Laker.

Kumble's performance set up a memorable victory which levelled the series against Pakistan.

Kumble was considered central to India's hopes in the coming three-test series at home to Australia, who are riding a 15-match world record run of consecutive test victories.

Mail Cricket Editor