Ponting has more worries than Kumble

In the wake of the win at Perth, the fact that the Test of this series is being played at Adelaide is possibly the best thing that could have happened to Anil Kumble’s side.

Traditionally the pitch here is reckoned to be the slowest, the most batsmen-friendly, and on which teams from India have done well over the years.

It would be foolish, of course, to use only history as a ready-reckoner and believe that the series can be squared. It is four years since an Indian side played at Adelaide, and as we have seen in this series, some of the pitches Down Under have changed character.

There has been some talk that Adelaide is no longer a wicket for batsmen and spinners, and that it has acquired both pace and bounce. Strange as it may sound, it could be true.

The WACA wicket, for instance, was hardly the flier that Ricky Ponting had expected when he plumped for four fast bowlers in the previous Test. Left-arm spinner Brad Hogg was dropped, and in his stead played Shaun Tait, who was quickly blighted by the slowish track and reduced to a passenger.

In hindsight, playing Tait proved not only a source of embarrassment to Ponting, but also such a huge error in judgment that he ended up losing a Test match.

In the process, Australia have also perhaps lost the momentum which saw them win a record 16 matches on the trot, and will be under pressure again to prove their credentials as the best side in the world.

This makes them somewhat vulnerable again, which Kumble must aim to exploit to the hilt. The biggest gain from Perth was the elimination of fear of pace.

If Brett Lee and Co could be tamed at Perth, the psychological battle is probably decisively won. Yet, the battle of skill in the middle remains, and even here, Ponting now has perhaps greater worries than Kumble.

The dilemma for Kumble is of choosing one from Wasim Jaffer, Dinesh Karthick and Harbhajan Singh.

Jaffer’s form has been dismal, but should Dinesh Karthick — who will obviously feel the pressure — be played in such a crucial match? And if Harbhajan has to be accommodated, who can be left out?

My hunch is that Harbhajan may be left out of the last Test, never mind Adelaide’s reputation of being spin-friendly.

Given Virender Sehwag’s golden arm — in fact he can turn the ball as much as Harbhajan too — there might be no real need to weaken the batting to play a second genuine spinner. Between Jaffer and Karthick, it’s a toss-up.

All said and done, the composition and balance of the side is unlikely to be very different from the one which fashioned the terrific victory at Perth.

The big difference, however, may be in the mood in the dressing room. Ganguly’s ouster from the one-day squad seems to have created some turmoil and tension.

If Kumble can keep the disquiet and dissent over that decision under control, we might yet see a fascinating climax to this series.