Bhuvneshwar Kumar likely to return for the third Test against Australia

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Melbourne, Dec 23 (IANS) Injured Indian seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar, nursing a sore left ankle that forced his exclusion from the first two Tests against Australia, on Tuesday, batted without any discomfort in the nets here, raising his chances of inclusion in the Boxing Day Test team.

Bhuvneshwar came out for practice with his ankle strapped, according to an ESPNCricinfo report.

He batted with fellow pacers Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav in the nets. If declared fit, he is likely to come in place of Varun Aaron.

His practice was, however, hampered by an untimely drizzle, which ended India's tune-up session. It didn’t let Bhuvneshwar test his ankle while bowling, as well.

He, though, had resumed bowling at the nets, a day after India lost the second Test at the Gabba.

Kumar has picked up 28 wickets from 11 Tests. He was, on Monday, handed a Grade A contract for 2014-15 by the Indian cricket board as a reward for his impressive form on the England tour earlier this year, where he picked up 19 wickets from seven Test innings.