June 07, 2008	Saturday	Jamadi-us-Sani 02, 1429

MELBOURNE, June 6: India Test captain Anil Kumble has warned Australia that they won’t make much headway during their tour of India, if they don’t have a quality spin attack.

In an interview with The Age newspaper, Kumble said with the retirements of quality spinners like Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill in the last 17 months, the Aussie selectors and captain Ricky Ponting faced a tough challenge four months ahead of their tour to India.

“The success Australia has had over the last 15 years or so, has been because of the depth and variety in their bowling attack. They definitely have fast-bowling quality, but it’s important to have a quality spinner to give bowling the right balance.

“It will be a tough task for them. It’s something we will definitely be looking at from an opposition point of view,” the ace leg-spinner added.

Not even Warne thrived against India. MacGill played only one series against them, and Kumble remarked: “It’s not that they know what I bowl, it’s that they don’t care.”

In 2004, Australia conquered Indians in their own conditions with a concerted pace assault, and experimented with finger-spinner Nathan Hauritz when Warne was injured.Now uncapped Chinaman bowler Beau Casson has been thrust to the head of the queue, with Dan Cullen potentially an off-spin option for sequel to last summer’s absorbing and fractious series.

Australia enter a 12-month period containing Tests against India, South Africa and England with a giant question mark over their spin stocks.

Kumble’s resolve to snatch Australia’s top ranking is undiminished since home side’s hard-fought 2-1 victory last summer.

“We still have to win a lot of matches to get there, but we are moving in the right direction. There’s a challenge coming up against Sri Lanka and after that we are all looking forward to the Australian series,” Kumble expressed.—Agencies