Bengaluru, Oct. 8: Well begun is half the job done, they say. Though it didn’t go as per the script, India did manage to squeeze a memorable victory in Mohali. Now, the pressure will be on the Australians to play catch-up while the hosts look to seal the series 2-0.
More than Indian skipper M.S. Dhoni it would be Ricky Ponting who would be hoping the weather gods permit a full Test match to allow his team a chance to level the series.
The result of the Test will not affect the hosts as they have already retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. However, a loss for the Australians will see them slip to a new low of number five in the ICC Test rankings. This means they will be ranked below England during the Ashes this winter.
As teams prepare for the big battle, the biggest question remains is whether the visitors have the bowling arsenal to pick 20 wickets. This, especially after abdominal strain forced Doug Bollinger midway through the first Test at Mohali.
The Australians are likely to miss Bollinger and could replace him with the towering Peter George. That would leave Mitchell Johnson as the lone experienced pacer.
The Indians too have their own injury worries. After losing Gautam Gambhir and Ishant Sharma to knee injuries, the hosts would be hoping that the chief architect of Mohali win — V.V.S. Laxman, who is suffering from back spasm — would be fit for the match.
Laxman did not take part in the practice session and his participation would be decided on Saturday morning.
The onus will be on Murali Vijay and Sreesanth to deliver. Sreesanth, who is making a comeback from injury, played his last Test match against Bangladesh earlier this year. He looked in good rhythm during practice sessions though.
The biggest task ahead of the Indian batting line-up would be the short ball. Even at the slightest bounce offered, the Aussie pacers will look to exploit India’s weakness, as was evident during the second innings at Mohali. Laxman was the only batsman to deal with the short stuff without much trouble.
If Laxman fails to make the cut, it will pave the way for Cheteshwar Pujara, a run machine in the domestic cricket, to bag his maiden Test cap.
The Aussies wouldn’t be complaining that the final Test is being held in the city. For, this has been one of the least successful venues for India and the last victory came way back in 1995 against New Zealand. Meanwhile, during the same period, Australia have won two before drawing their last Test in 2008 here.
The Aussies are most dangerous with their backs to the wall and Dhoni’s men would do well to remember that.