Cricket Update: http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 Aim to Topple India at Mohali
One of the most engrossing sights in international cricket is an India-Australia test match and the two rivals have squared-up in one of the most titanic battles in the last decade or so.
Now the battles resumes as the first of the two test match series gets underway at Mohali, the hosts are favourites as they look to maintain their stranglehold on the number one test ranking.
In recent series that have taken place between the two teams the Indians have given the Aussies a real run for their money winning the most number of tests against them compared to any other, the Indians have won seven while the Aussies
have succeeded in toppling the sub-continental side six times during the period.
However, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/MS-Dhoni-c2028 the Indian captain is aware of the threat posed by the Aussies and believes that his team would have to be on guard when the action begins in the longest format of the game.
"It doesn't matter on who the pressure is. At the end of the day, you are expected to win if you are playing at home. Your ranking doesn't matter here much."
His counterpart Ricky Ponting feels that the series would be an enormous challenge for his team, especially for the bowlers given the strength in the Indian batting line-up.
"It is going to be a very big test for our bowlers and for me as a captain. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 is the No. 1 team in the world and they are there for a reason."
For Ponting, the test would be to devise a strategy that can keep the batsmen in check especially the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Virender-Sehwag-c95429 who has the ability to toy with the best attacks in the world.
On the other hand, the Indian bowling line-up would also be confronted with a big challenge throughout the two match series.
However, there is one man who loves bowling to the Australians; he made his mark in a series against them in 2001 and 2002 that turned a new chapter in his career. He is the Turbanator, the Indian spin wizard who claimed more than
30 wickets in the historic win, where the hosts secured a series win after going down in the first match.
Once again, Harbhajan Singh is raring to go against the team from Down under.
"Whenever I play against the Aussies and perform, I feel good. I will try to perform even better this time so that next time when the next series happens they should again take my name first."
The feisty spinner had an injury concern on the eve of the match, yet was able to regain full fitness and would be leading the Indian attack in the test match.
There is a real glimmer of home for the Australians, as reports from Mohali suggest that there is a tinge of green on the wicket which is going to make life relatively easy for the tourist bowling attack.
It remains to be seen if the wicket retains the grassy patches on the morning of the match or not as generally grass is shaven off the wicket on the eve of a test match.
All in all, the match is set to be a real engrossing battle and one that the fans of both countries besides the neutrals are looking forward to. Both teams are star studded with some of the leading batsmen from around the world pitted
against each other.
The series comprises of only two matches yet regardless of the outcome, excitement is guaranteed and so is a full house in a country where the passion for cricket is second to none.
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