White prepared for India challenges, Victoria coach

Adelaide: Victoria legspinner Cameron White who was chosen as a replacement for the injured Bryce McGain, got a big thumbs up from his coach Greg Shipperd, ahead of the first Test at Bangalore.

Several former cricketers, including Terry Jenner and Tom Moody, have evinced doubts if White was the right replacement for McGain, who was tipped to be Australia's frontline spinner for the Test series in India. The basic question mark was whether White, an allrounder, could fill in the slot made vacant for a specialist spinner.

Australian captain Ricky Ponting on Sunday said both White and Jason Krejza stood with equal chances of making it to the final XI. The dice looks heavily loaded in favour of White now, after Krejza had a rather ordinary match against the Indian Board President's XI - conceding 199 runs in 31 overs.

Questions were also asked of White's preparedness to bowl long spells in India. However, Shipperd said White would be up to the challenge, despite not bowling too much in recent times - mainly because Victoria had a very good bowling attack.

Shipperd said, "That's (White not bowling that much) been an issue of team balance.

"Cameron as captain had a very strong bowling group to lead with and was in a position that he didn't need to bowl.

"He's played enough cricket now that he's learned his lessons from the past."

"And having just competed in India and done well he would be as relaxed as you can be for the challenges that a Test match against India in India would bring."