Experience is India's trump card

Over the past couple of years, the Indian batting's Fab Four have attracted as many brickbats as they have bouquets. And despite consistent performances from three of them this year - Rahul Dravid, usually Mr Dependable, has been the one who's struggled - there are still many that still doubt their ability to cope against an Australian attack that shows no sign of letting up despite the exit of Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.

Yuvraj Singh's magnificent century in Bangalore has reopened the middle-order debate, but the experience that Tendulkar, Dravid, Laxman and Ganguly possess could be India's trump card on the most arduous tour of all. Tendulkar has scored centuries on each of his three previous visits - two of them in 1991-92 - and Dravid finished the last tour with over 600 runs. Ganguly had set the tone with a sublime 144 at the Gabba, but it was Laxman that shone brightest with resplendent hundreds at Adelaide and Sydney.

Those two venues will offer India the best chance of success, if they can bat first and pile on enough runs to put pressure on the Australian batsmen. Given the general discomfiture on pitches with steep bounce, the new surface at Perth will offer the sternest test. The way Brett Lee and Shaun Tait had the New Zealanders hopping around offered a glimpse of what Indian can expect, though the quality of batsmanship at Anil Kumble's disposal is in a different league to anything that New Zealand possess.

Wickets won't come easily, not against a batting line-up that can boast of names like Hayden, Ponting, Clarke, Hussey and Gilchrist. Kumble picked up 24 wickets in three Tests last time, but they cost him nearly 30 apiece. India's hopes will live and die with the batsmen. If the big boys, who tallied 1780 runs in 2003-04, can deliver, they have a chance. But if the awesome pace at Australia's disposal rattles them, they'll go the way of Pakistan, England, South Africa and every other team that have been eviscerated over the past few seasons.

Kumble knows though that his quartet possess much more than just skill. A tour of Australia, with the potshots from the local media and the sledges from the crowd, is the ultimate test of character, and India can be thankful that they have a group of greybeards who are as tough as they come. Australia may yet prove too strong, but they'll have to scrap tenaciously if they're to surpass Steve Waugh's mark of 16 Test wins on the trot.

Comments

[Dileep]

The biggest challenge will obviously be on the field, but how the Indians cope with the mental disintegration away from the middle (the young, inexperienced players) will also influence things. Personally, I can't wait to see Lee and Tait unleashed at the MCG.

[Richard]

"A tour of Australia, with the potshots from the local media and the sledges from the crowd, is the ultimate test of character"

Dileep you are intelligent enough to know that this comment misrepresents the challenge that awaits the Indians. For me your statement is a cheap pot shot. Sledges from the crowd will be the least of the tourists' worries.

I'm looking forward to the series with a great deal of anticipation as are most Australians who're hoping/expecting for a real contest.

[Dileep]

Good time to come, Peter. I'll direct you to a Ranji Trophy game or two. The season will be coming to a close then.

[Peter McGuinness]

Good for you Dileep...

I knew you'd understand. Bring on the series!

On a different matter entirely, I will be in Hyderabad in February on business. Any tips on where I may be able to take in some local cricket? I know the time is not right, but I'd love to experience some cricket (as well as all the other wonders) while I'm in town.

Any advice most appreciated!

Cheers...

[Dileep]

My point was that Aussie sledging tends to affect players more than that found elsewhere. Some of the barbs are downright funny, but pretty demoralising as well. And if a player can take it, he's certainly ready to succeed. I've seen Australian crowd applaud Ganguly (demonised quite a bit in the media beforehand) during the last tour, so I certainly have no interest in stereotyping. And like you said, idiots are there everywhere.

[Peter McGuinness]

Crowd Sledges.

Like Aussies get flowers thrown at their feet in Indian stadiums! Give me a break, old mate!

Like Indians, Aussies love good cricket, and we get the best, the VERY best competition from India. I can assure you that Australians can't wait for the Indian champions in the top order to arrive on our shores and truly test our new attack for the first time.

It is an enormously anticipated contest in Australia, and Aussie cricket fans respect your potential to beat us. Dravid and Laxman (in particular) have put us to the sword on home soil. Personally, I hope they both find form down here, because I can barely remember enjoying a partnership more than their last effort in Adelaide.

We will support our team from the stands, just like Indian fans support their team from theirs. As in all countries, there will be people who do not truly love cricket, who may disrespect the tourists. But in Australia - as in India and everywhere else - the majority of the crowd are present to celebrate champion cricketers.

I know it makes for good copy, but please be careful when describing 'Australian Crowds'. As in India, a few dozen idiots in a massive cricket crowd do not represent our whole population.

This is exemplified by the fantastic spirit and good will during Sri Lanka's recent tour here. We do not have to have 'ill-will' talked up, in order to have a strongly hard fought contest on the field.

I have many Indian mates. Many, many Aussies do. The idea of 'ill-will' is crazy. We love the competition, but that doesn't mean that fans of both countries can't (or won't) enjoy the great cricket entertainment on offer when the 'best meet the best'.

The Indian Cricket Team are most welcome down here...if only they could come more often!!!

[lod]

Hope the cricket lives up to the pre-series anticipation. The Fab Four are very experienced no doubt, but I think a lot hinges on No.1 -3, no? Sehwag and Chopra were great at blunting the Aussie attack the last time around, and Dravid was in the form of his life. If Jaffer and Karthick/ Sehwag / whoever else can survive the first hour, we might stand a chance, I doubt the Aussies will let us recover from the sort of starts we had in this Pakistan series.

India's bowling looks raw, even assuming everyone's fit, but then the way Australia bat gives bowlers a chance - Agarkar got a six-fer the last time around. All of India should be rooting for MacGill to get fit, we play him a lot better than Hogg. Can't believe the blasted BCCI only scheduled one warm-up game, bet they'll be shamelessly lining up to take credit if the team does well though..

[Dileep]

Kartik ahead of Harbhajan might have been the way to go, but then again Karthik didn't set the SCG on fire last time.

[bunty]

form, experience and slower oz pitches (save perth) favour senior batsmen but oz may field the fastest pace attack anywhere in at least 15 years and seniors age and reflexes may be severely tested; pankaj singh may be a welcome revelation; spin -kumble took wickets last tour but without great penetration and has lost zip since; may miss murali or powar; only indian spinners to really look dangerous in oz were prasanna in 67 and bedi/chandra in 77.