Two-nil down on the field, four off it...

For Australia, the Test seems to be over even before the first ball has been bowled. It’s hard to miss the deafening silence in the Aussie camp, though they went about their business as usual.

The visitors seemed to be making a conscious effort to avoid the media. Some of them were glued to their mobile screens or meekly following head coach Mickey Arthur’s instructions.

Back to the Test, it’s a rare instance when the Aussies will not debate over the playing eleven. That’s what happens when you are down to 13 members. For the uninitiated, the remaining four have been sent home because of their “unacceptable attitude”.

To add to Australia’s woes, their regular wicketkeeper Matthew Wade is nursing a sore ankle. Michael Clarke said, “If Matthew Wade is passed fit, we still have 13 players to select from. And I’m very confident that with the 11 we decide to go with, we can have success and win the third Test.”

Wade did bat for around 15 minutes on Wednesday, though the ankle appeared to be hindering his movements. Brad Haddin, flown in as backup, continued with his extra preparation.

Not to forget that Australia have just two pacers, Peter Siddle and Mitchell Starc, to choose from. It means Moises Henriques will have to stretch himself.

The visitors are even more depleted in their spin resources. Nathan Lyon looks to be Arthur’s last choice. If the attack comprises Glenn Maxwell and Xavier Doherty, dismissing India twice will be that much harder.

Meanwhile, coach Arthur outlined the other offences that lead to the four players’ ouster.
“Being late for a meeting, high skinfolds, wearing the wrong attire, back-chat or giving attitude are just some examples of these behavioural issues that have been addressed discretely but continue to happen,” Arthur has now written in his blog. You understand when he says that the past two days have been the toughest in his 11-year coaching career.

Alas, all this could have been avoided!

@shekharluthra