Mithun among trio to train in Brisbane

Abhimanyu Mithun and Under-19 players, Harpreet Singh and Mandeep Singh, have been awarded the Border-Gavaskar scholarship for 2010. The scholarship entitles them to a two-week training stint starting May 15 at Cricket Australia's Centre of Excellence in Brisbane.

Mithun, 20, had a fantastic debut domestic season, finishing as the leading wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy, in which he helped Karnataka reach the final for the first time in 12 years. His performances were rewarded with a call-up to the national squad for the Tests against South Africa earlier this year, and an international debut in the one-dayers that followed.

He wasn't picked for either the World Twenty20 or the second-string side to tour Zimbabwe, but is part of the India A outfit that tours England next month. For a player who hasn't trained or played outside India before, the trip to Brisbane helps him get a taste of overseas conditions.

"The scholarship provides good preparation for that tour (of England)," Mithun told Cricinfo. "They have good coaches for fast bowlers there, it will be a good chance to learn more about fitness for fast bowlers, and my coach has told me learn about the slower ball (which he has been working on)."

Accompanying Mithun will be two players who were a key part of India's Under-19 World Cup campaign earlier this year. Harpreet is a left-hand batsman and right-arm medium-pacer from Madhya Pradesh, and Mandeep is a top-order batsman from Punjab. Both of them caught the eye during the U-19 tour to Australia last year, and were part of the Kolkata Knight Riders for the 2010 season.

Players who have received the scholarship in previous years include seamer RP Singh, batsman Virat Kohli, Saurastra batsman Cheteshwar Pujara and Delhi seamer Pradeep Sangwan.