Cricket news: http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 geared up for Indian encounter
It is crucial time for Ricky Ponting’s men as they set their sights on regaining the biggest prize in test cricket the Ashes at their home land at the end of November.
For the time being their stop is in India where they would take on the number one test team in a short two match series, which would also act as ideal preparation for the fight against old enemy England, down under.
In the last decade or so the Australians have frequently visited http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 for test match series and in fact there has been an overdose of India-Australia tests in the sub-continent ever since the epic 2001-02 series that was won by the hosts after conceding
a 1-0 lead in a three-match classic.
The series introduced to the world the “Turbanator” Harbhajan Singh who claimed more than 30 scalps, as he led his team to an inspiring win.
In 2005-06 the Australians won another closely fought series 2-1 with their legendary bowling trio of Glenn Mc Grath, Shane Warne and Jason Gillespie doing most of the damage.
The Australians were in for a real hiding when they last toured India for a test match series losing the contest 2-0.
This time around the battle for supremacy begins with the first test starting in three days time at Mohali - a wicket which is known to produce big runs, yet has something in it for the quick as well as slower bowlers.
The Australians showed fine batting form in their warm-up match with Marcus North and Shane http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Watson-c96326 making big runs.
North especially would be pleased with the outing after failing miserably in the two tests neutral series against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 in England earlier in the year. The series was drawn 1-1 with the Australians having been wiped out for a miserable 88 in the first
innings of the second test at Leeds.
The tourists would be relying heavily on the duo, yet they have some other superstars in their line-up that can come to the fore at any situation in a test match.
Ricky Ponting is an all-time great and perched at the second spot behind little master Sachin Tendulkar on the list of the highest run getters in the longest format of the game.
Besides him, the experiences Mike Hussey brings real solidity to the lower half of the batting line-up with opener Simon Katich also proving to be a dependable opener with his string of consistent scores in recent months.
The Australians have an impressive bowling attack led by Hilfenhaus, Bollinger and Nathan Hauritz.
Hilfenhaus many believe is the key for the tourists, as he is the only Australian who has the ability to swing the new ball that too at a high pace.
The series would be another big test for left-armer Mitchell Johnson who failed to make an impression against the fragile Pakistani batting line-up. Against the Indians his task would be twice as tough especially given the great strength of the batsmen in
home conditions. Johnson would have to get on top of the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Virender-Sehwag-c95429 early on in the piece, as a set Veeru can cause severe damage, as he scores at a breath-taking rate.
Nathan Hauritz had a golden run against Pakistan in the three-match home series that concluded in January with a 3-0 win for the hosts.
The off-spinner claimed 18 wickets and took his team to an improbable win in the second test at Sydney where the hosts made one of the most remarkable comebacks in test history after they were down and out for the first three days of the match.
However, the Indian batsmen would be a severe test for Hauritz and would certainly determine his class in top level cricket.
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