The team that copes with heat first will control the Test: Kumble

Chittagong, May 16 (UNI) Veteran leggie Anil Kumble today said the team that coped up with the heat and humidity early will have an advantage in the Test series.

Talking to the media after a gruelling practice session, Kumble said, ''The conditions are very hot and humid and the team that acclamatised first and adjusted to the conditions would have an upper hand in the Test.'' Asked on how focused was he now that he had retired from the shorter version of the game, he said, ''I feel more relaxed now.

But there is no problem with focusing. I am concentrating on the longer version fulltime.'' On his expectations from the Test series, he said, ''The last time we played we won convincingly. Hopefully we will keep the winning momentum. We will go into the Test matches with that frame of mind.'' Asked to comment on the Bangladesh side, he said, ''I have seen them during the World Cup. They have improved a lot. We respect them as a team.'' ''The last test they played against Australia, they did very well. They came close to winning. So we know we have a game in our hands,''he added.

On the two new spinners in the side, he said, ''Romesh (Pawar) and Rajesh (Pawar) have done well in the domestic cricket over the last five-six years. They are a confident lot. They have done well in the limited opportunities they have got and hope they will do well in future.'' He was also hopeful that Piyush Chawla as a player will blossom with time.

Asked if he missed Harbhajan Singh, he said, ''Its not a question of missing him. He is too good a player to be out of the team for long. He is sure to make a comeback soon.'' Asked if he expected the wicket to spin, he said, ''I hope it will. They have three left arm spinners and we hope the wicket will take spin sooner.'' UNI