It’s not just about green tops

From India's perspective, their chances hinge on the bowling composition and perhaps a change or two in the batting line-up. Back in 2008, India went with three seamers and a lone special spinner who did the job.

The quick bowlers - RP  Singh, Ishant and Irfan - took 14 of the 20 wickets with Kumble snaring four and Sehwag (second innings) two. Dravid was the top scorer of the match with a 93 in the first innings.

That being the case, I believe that it is best for India to go with an unchanged bowling attack (Zaheer, Ishant, Yadav and Ashwin) though there is a case being made out for inclusion of either left-arm spinner Ojha or a fourth seamer in Vinay Kumar for Ashwin.

I doubt if any such changes will make much of an impact. But what will is if the seamers stick to the basics. In Sydney, they were guilty of erring in length and line to bleed runs even making allowance for the pitch easing out. On the same surface, the Aussie quicks bowled better and that made the difference.

In the recent Tests at the WACA, the Aussies have always opted for a four-man pace attack with Siddle, Harris, Hilfenhaus and Starc doing the duties. There is always the highly under-rated Clarke whose left-arm spinners are deceptively innocuous. Their major concern is the top order that is sorely missing Watson.

India vs Australia

Thus, it stands to reason that the current Australian team is anything but invincible as the Melbourne Test showed when India had them cornered at 27 for four in the second innings and again at Sydney (37 for three in first).  At this juncture, it matters little to discuss what India should have done or shouldn't have. The point is that Aussies are as vulnerable as Indians are, the difference being discipline in all three departments of the game the hosts showed.

Reverting to the Indian team selection, if Dhoni lives up to his reputation, then he will probably opt for an unchanged line-up with a possible change (if at all) of Rohit Sharma replacing Kohli. For all the criticism that Dhoni has attracted over his captaincy and decision making, he remains a very stubborn man who backs himself all the time, unperturbed by extraneous factors.

With six straight overseas defeats, it was to be expected that the rumour mills would be working overtime. Dissension within the team is not uncommon to Indian cricket. I have been a witness to it, notably back in the Kapil Dev-Gavaskar era when the two enjoyed their own set of supporters among their mates, but in public presented an united front that we knew was superficial.

Thus, differences within the team usually get highlighted when it is going downhill. After all, virtually the same team had won a series at home. At that time, none quibbled or wrote about players not sharing the same perspective.  

When two persons, leave alone 11, come together, there are bound to be different points of view, but what matters is performance and results the reasons for which lie on the field and not necessarily in the dressing room.

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Historically, the Indians have always been exposed on the bouncy Aussie tracks, and with Board’s negligence in preparing sporting pitches at home, our teams will continue to struggle Down Under. A good student will prepare well for the exams and the Indian team has not ahead of the tour. Perhaps, a decade from now, you will hear and read the same. After all, we are like this only!