India hope to spin out Aussies

India have laid out a spin trap for the mighty Australians with old fox Anil Kumble hinting on Monday that a three-pronged spin attack would be unleashed in the first Test in Bangalore to exploit a "dry" track.

After a close look at the wicket at M Chinnaswamy stadium, Kumble declared that it would "definitely" spin as the match progressed.

"It is pretty dry -- it is going to be a good wicket. definitely it is going to spin although it depends when and how," the veteran leg spinner said.

"So I think, John Wright, Sourav Ganguly and the team management are probably leaning towards three spinners."

Asked specifically if India would go into the match, starting Wednesday, with three spinners, he said, "I don't know (but) that's probably the intention, it all depends..."

However, Kumble did not think that the track would give India an edge over the Aussies, "it (advantage) would be even for both. Definitely, home advantage is with us. We have done very well at home and we would like to take that confidence into the game."

Kumble reminded that India had also done well against Australia when they toured the country in the last season.

"We have done well against Australia both at home and away, we would like to take that confidence into the games," he said.

Kumble also conceded that Australians had improved from the last time that they visited India in 2001.

"Obviously (they have improved). They have played in these conditions and have done well in Sri Lanka -- they batted well. The more you play (in these conditions) the better you get. They are a very good side, we respect them for that. But we will also go out and play to our potential, if we play to our potential, we will be able to witness a very good series."

The Bangalore player also said that one-day cricket should not be a criteria for judging form in the longer version of the game.

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"It's only one-day cricket that we have been playing (recently). In Test cricket we have really done well this year. Unfortunately people start looking at form in one-dayers and take it to be Test cricket form. I'd like to reiterate that our Test cricket form has been really good."

Kumble, just three wickets short of completing 400 Test scalps, said he would like to reach that milestone in the first Test before his home crowd but was not putting himself under unnecessary pressure on that account.

"It would be really nice to get there as soon as possible. I don't want it to linger on for a long time. Hopefully it will happen here -- but not on the first day as we would like to bat first!" Kumble said.

"It would be nice to do it in front of the home crowd, family and friends. I started my cricket career here and it would be nice if it happens here," he said adding he would not be under any added pressure.

"I don't think so. Pressure will always be there, but we don't generally think about that. It is important that we start well and the first Test is always important, specially in a four-match series."

On his Australian rival Shane Warne, Kumble said he had always enjoyed a good friendship with him.

"It's really nice that he is pretty close to the world record. I am sure he will go past that (in this series). He has been a great bowler for Australia and for the leg spinners.

"Everybody looks up to him and even I look up to him as he is a wonderful ambassador for spin bowling. It's good that he has come back to the Australian squad."