Virender Sehwag says India may play both Ojha and Ashwin. VVS Laxman is set to retain his place in the squad. Michael Clarke thinks conditions in Adelaide will suit the visitors.
India are left playing the fourth Test against Australia, beginning here on Tuesday, for pride after being beaten in the earlier three Tests by big margins. The visitors can take heart from their unbeaten record at the Adelaide Oval in the last 12 years.
India, on a seven-Test losing streak overseas, have been found wanting against a potent bowling line-up which has used the pace and bounce on the Australian pitches to perfection. There could be some respite for the struggling Indian batsmen here as the surface is conducive to stroke making and has traditionally provided big scores in the first innings.
Besides the wicket being good for batting, curator Damien Hough said it will assist spinners for most part of the game, making it another welcome news for the Indians, who have only looked at ease against the spin of Nathan Lyon and part-time bowler in Australia captain Michael Clarke.
They can also take heart from Clarke’s comments on the eve of the Test that conditions at Adelaide will suit the Indians more than the hosts.
“We know these conditions are probably going to suit India a lot more than where we have come from in Perth. So we are going to have to be at our best to beat them, that is for sure,” Clarke said on Monday. “I think reverse swing will play a huge part in this Test. It always does. The ground is in great nick so the outfield will keep the ball newer than I have seen it in the past. But I think as the day goes on, especially in the heat, you will see a lot of reverse swing,” he said.
Meanwhile, India are considering playing two spinners in and have brought left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha into the squad for the match, stand-in captain Virender Sehwag said on Monday. Off-spinner R Ashwin also returns to the squad after missing the third Test in Perth.
“We’ll decide in the morning,” Sehwag said. “It depends on the wicket, if we think it’s dry enough and there’s help for spinners, we will definitely go with two spinners.”
India, who have crossed the 300-run mark only once in their six innings, can draw positives from their batting efforts here in their last two Tests when they posted 500-plus scores in the first innings. They won the 2004 match for their first win in Australia in 22 years and drew the next one four years later.
Sachin Tendulkar made his last Test hundred in Australia on this ground and will certainly heave a sigh of relief if he gets the elusive 100th hundred in probably his last Test Down Under. VVS Laxman, who was seen undergoing extensive net sessions, is likely to retain his place despite reports of his place being taken by uncapped Rohit Sharma.
Australia, on the other hand, are in no mood to relax after securing the Border-Gavaskar trophy at Perth. Skipper Clarke has already said that he will be sad if his team doesn’t complete the 4-0 whitewash of India. Nathan Lyon is back in the side replacing Mitchell Starc and will be eager to perform at his home ground, besides improving upon his two wickets from the first two Tests.
The pressure of retaining their place in the side will be on Shaun Marsh and wicketkeeper Brad Haddin. Both have failed miserably with the bat, scoring an aggregate of 11 and 27 in their last six innings.
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