Gillespie hopes to return for India series

Jason Gillespie has said that he hopes to make his comeback from a side strain in time to play in the first Test against India at Brisbane on December 4. He has been sidelined since injuring himself during the first Test against Zimbabwe last month.

Gillespie is expected to play for Adelaide Buffalos, his club side, at the weekend, although he will not bowl unless it is considered vital. He completed a net workout on Tuesday, and reported that he was happy with his progress.

"It was just to see how the side was feeling and see if I could get the ball down the other end a few times over," Gillespie said. "I managed to do that and didn't pull up sore at all, which was good, so it's really hard to tell, but I'm very positive and very confident that by the start of next week I'll be bowling a bit quicker."

Gillespie's next target is to play in South Australia's forthcoming Pura Cup matches against New South Wales and Queensland. If he comes through those unscathed then Australia's selectors are likely to risk him against India. "I'd be pretty confident that I can put my name at the selection table, and from then on it's up to the selectors whether you play or not," he added. "Fitness-wise I'm reasonably confident that I'll be there. But I've speculated that many times and I haven't been ready, so I don't really want to make any predictions at all."