Cricket-Kumble confident top order will tame Mendis

COLOMBO, July 15 (Reuters) - India test captain Anil Kumble was confident his experienced top order would cope with new Sri Lanka spin bowler Ajantha Mendis.

Mendis, 23, destroyed India's top order in the Asia Cup final earlier this month, claiming 6-13, but Kumble backed his strong test line-up to cope better than the one-day team.

"He is something we need to watch out for, although we respect every bowler we face," Kumble said at a media briefing after the team's arrival in Colombo for a three-test series.

"Test cricket is different and we have the quality.

"Our middle order has more than 30,000 test runs and four of them have played more than 100 tests.

"In tests you get more time to figure out the bowler. It will be challenging, but I am sure our batsmen will cope."

A confident Kumble was also pleased to have a full-strength bowling line-up for what he expected to be a tough series.

"We have Zaheer Khan back in the team and his experience bowling in subcontinent conditions will be useful," said Kumble.

"There is also Ishant Sharma who has really progressed well as a seamer and we have Harbhajan Singh back as well.