Dinda to cover for injured Yadav

Ashok Dinda, the Bengal fast bowler, has been asked to join India's squad in Mumbai as cover for the fast bowler Umesh Yadav ahead of the second Test against England, which starts at the Wankhede Stadium on Friday.

Yadav did not take the field during India's practice session on Wednesday due to a lower back injury. Though the team management remained tight-lipped, a BCCI insider confirmed that Dinda is being flown in to Mumbai since there were "doubts over Yadav's availability" for the second Test. Dinda was called as cover in the first Test as well, for Ishant Sharma.

Yadav was the most successful fast bowler in the opening Test in Ahmedabad and had supported the spinners by picking up four wickets during India's nine-wicket victory. MS Dhoni, the India captain, was particularly impressed with the pace and reverse-swing Yadav generated on a surface that the England pacemen struggled to draw any assistance from.

Dinda is expected to join the squad ahead of Thursday morning's session. The 28-year-old who made the last of his 15 international appearances - 10 ODIs and five Twenty20 internationals - against England during the World Twenty20 in September has been in the reckoning for a Test spot for a while now. He was the second-highest wicket-taker in the last year's Ranji Trophy, picking 37 wickets in six games at 20.64.