Kumble optimistic of India's fightback

Anil Kumble on Sunday said the Indians could stage a comeback in the third cricket Test if their middle-order batsmen fired tomorrow.

Anil Kumble, whose six-wicket haul prevented the Australians from taking a much bigger first innings lead, on Sunday said the Indians could stage a comeback in the third cricket Test if their middle-order batsmen fired tomorrow.

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The ace leg-spinner, who returned figures of 6 for 176 in 51 overs, also said that if his side could wipe out the deficit and take a good lead, it could "still be a tricky chase" for Australia in the fourth innings.

Australia ran up a huge total of 558 to take a 192-run first innings lead over India and then reduced the visitors to 27 for two to take firm control of the match.

But Kumble was optimistic of his team, 1-0 up in the four-match series, staging a fightback.

"Four of our middle order batsmen are still intact. Three of them have hit centuries while one (Tendulkar) is yet to fire. He is looking forward to it," said Kumble.

The bowler was not too worried about the condition of the track saying "the wicket is still good, there are no great footmarks.

"We are positive. It could have been nice to keep intact all the 10 wickets but if we can have a good start tomorrow, we would be able to put up a decent score."

"If we could get the runs the game could still be open. It has started to keep a bit low. It might do a bit more on the last day."

Kumble was "satisfied" with his effort in the field on Sunday and was relieved that the Aussies did not run away to a much bigger total.

"It has been satisfying to have another good day in the field personally and restrict that lead to 192 which could have been bigger had we not plugged away on Sunday.

"We had a hard day yesterday and needed to come back to pick early wickets. If we had not got Steve Waugh at that stage it would have been longer."

Kumble got Waugh for 19 when he had him trapped leg before and Australia, from 502 for five at one stage were restricted to 558 all out.

"The conditions demanded that I be patient. The wicket is good and so is the opposition with everyone of their top order averaging close to 50 or more. All are very good international batsmen. I just needed to be patient."

Kumble praised double centurion Ricky Ponting and the way he stuck to his task.

"He was the key for Australia. He did not take many chances. He took calculated risks early on but, unlucky for us, we could not capitalise."

Ponting, who became only the second batsman in history to score three double centuries in one year - Don Bradman was the first and only one to do it in 1930 - was pleased with his side's lead and said it could have a telling effect on the final day.

"A lead of 200-odd runs is very good. We have got two wickets and hopefully we would create more opportunities tomorrow."