'Zaheer, Ishant fit'

 India’s pacemen Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma appeared to be fit to play in the opening Test against Australia beginning here on Monday.

Both the pacers, who have been nursing injuries, bowled vigorously at the nets after which middle-order batsman VVS Laxman said “they were fit and raring to go”. Former Australian cricketer Dean Jones, who watched them at the nets, also said the two bowlers looked impressive and seemed to have ‘hit the nets very hard’.

Laxman gave enough indication that the pace duo could feature in the starting line-up. “Ishant didn’t finish the first practice game in Canberra, but the way he bowled in the second innings of the (Cricket Australia) Chairman’s XI in the second match, and also the way he bowled today at the nets is proof that they (Ishant and Zaheer) are both fit and raring to go,” Laxman said.

“Even the Australians are missing their frontline bowlers because of injuries. But it’s good to see the way Zaheer Khan has come back after his ankle surgery. He is lean and fit, and you can see he has really worked hard on his fitness,” the sylish Hyderabadi added.