Seamer Bhuvneshwar likely to return to India's third Test team

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, Tuesday batted without any discomfort in the nets here, raising his chances of inclusion in the Boxing Day Test team. Axar Patel replaces injured Jadeja in Test squad

Kumar came out for practice with his ankle strapped, according to a report on espncricinfo.com.

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.

But rain hampered his practice as an untimely drizzle ended India's tune-up session, before Kumar could test his ankle while bowling.

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 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.