Melbourne, Dec 25 (IANS): India and Australia have had close battles on the cricket field for a decade now, and the two countries will resume the rivalry with the the Boxing Day Test here Monday. By all accounts, the Indians have their best chance of winning their first series Down Under.
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his Australian counterpart Michael Clarke have already promised some tough cricket over the next two months though they categorically stated they would like to get over the bitter memories of the last tour here in 2008 and play in the spirit of the game.
"I can guarantee you that nobody in the Australian team will cross the line and if they do, there will be punishments from the ICC but also from Cricket Australia. We will be doing everything in our power to play some really competitive, tough cricket. But we understand and acknowledge that we won't cross that line," Clarke said in the pre-match media conference at the Melbourne Cricket Ground Saturday, while reflecting on the Monkeygate that marred the 2008 series which the hosts won 2-1.
The Indians realise that they can put it across a side that has struggled to stay afloat against South Africa and New Zealand.
The famed batting trio of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and V.V.S. Laxman, will most likely be playing their last series in this country and have made it clear what it means winning a series here to them.
Unlike Australia, India are yet to announce their playing XI for the match. The batting looks solid as ever with the presence of the "Big Three" and a lot will also depend on how Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir fare at the top of the order. Virat Kohli is likely to be picked over Rohit Sharma in the middle order.
The bowling, considered to be India's weak link on the tour, looks unsettled with doubts over fitness of premier fast bowlers Zaheer Khan and Ishant Sharma. Dhoni, however, assured Saturday that everyone in the team is "fit" for the series opener. Ravichandran Ashwin picked-up a four-wicket haul in the second warm-up match at Canberra and is likely to get the nod ahead of Pragyan Ojha.
The Australian XI for the match have a debutant in Ed Cowan, who made the cut after scoring 100 in the practice game. He replaces out of form Phillip Hughes and will open with the explosive David Warner. Left-hand batsman Shaun Marsh, returning to action after recovering from a back injury, will be keen to prove his worth to the selectors, who picked him ahead of Usman Khawaja.
The most pressure to perform will be on veterans Ricky Ponting and Michael Hussey. Hussey struggled for runs against South Africa and New Zealand while many former players are calling for the retirement of Ponting. The former captain scored his last Test hundred in January 2010.
The pace battery comprise Peter Siddle, James Pattinson and Ben Hilfenhaus, who earned a national call-up after a strong performances for Tasmania in the domestic circuit. Off-spinner Nathan Lyon will be the fourth bowler with skipper Clarke and Ponting being the part-time options.
Talking about the venue, Australia enjoy a great record against India at the MCG. The home team have won seven out 10 Tests since the first series in 1947-48. India have emerged winners on two occasions with the last one coming in 1981.
Squad:
Australia (playing eleven): Michael Clarke (captain), David Warner, Ed Cowan, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin, Peter Siddle, James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon, Ben Hilfenhaus.
India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, VVS. Laxman, Ravichandran Ashwin, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Wriddhiman Saha, Abhimanyu Mithun, R. Vinay Kumar, Pragyan Ojha.