It's just as well that India's only preparatory game before the Test series against Australia is at the Junction Oval; Crossroads would have been an ominous portent!
A little over 48 hours after landing in Melbourne, Anil Kumble's men will take their first, almost certainly tentative, steps towards creating history. No Indian team has gone away from this country-continent victorious in a Test series. Kumble's side has the ability to do that, but cricket matches — and indeed series — are won on more than sheer cricketing skills.
The Junction Oval at the St Kilda Cricket ground is where Shane Warne plied his early wares as an aspiring leg-spinner. At the home club of one of international cricket's most colourful characters, the Indians will kick-start their seemingly endless Australian sojourn on Thursday with a three-day game against the Victoria Bushrangers.
Traditionally, Australians have been generous hosts until the real deal begins. They instill a false sense of security in their rivals by feeding them runs on flat surfaces, against less than dangerous opposition, in warm-up ties. This Bushrangers side isn't the strongest team in Australian domestic cricket; despite lying second in the Pura Cup, they are missing a host of first-choice players due to various reasons, including regular skipper Cameron White.
The three-day work-out will present Kumble and assistant coach Lalchand Rajput with the only opportunity to get things in order before next Wednesday's Boxing Day Test. Ideally, the eleven they believe is best equipped to tackle the might of the Australians in the first Test ought to be the one on the park on the morrow. From the look of things at an intense practice session at the beautifully maintained and impressively infrastructured Melbourne Cricket Ground on Wednesday afternoon, all 16 members are fit and available for selection.
The biggest dilemma ahead of the think-tank is where and how to fit Yuvraj Singh in. The left-hander has been in rip-roaring form all season long, and in his first Test in 17 months made a stirring century under pressure in Bangalore ten days back. He ought to be a certainty in the eleven, but at whose expense?
Sehwag’s presence
Virender Sehwag's inclusion has further queered the pitch. In all likelihood, he will resume his tandem with Wasim Jaffer at the top of the order. That being the case, it is quite possible that Yuvraj will have to bide his time.
Unless, of course, Kumble has a trick up his sleeve.
Almost as tricky is which of the pacers to leave out. It is all but certain that Kumble will be the lone spinner, leaving Zaheer Khan, Rudra Pratap Singh, Irfan Pathan and Ishant Sharma — Pankaj Singh must wait — as the contenders for three slots. Zaheer is definite to play provided he has recovered fully from his heel injury, as he appears to have. Rudra Pratap was outstanding at 'nets' on Wednesday, while Pathan provides batting depth — always handy against the Aussies — to go with the rediscovered zing to his bowling. Ishant's ability to hit the deck, procure bounce and jag the ball back into the right-handers is a useful asset.
Three left-arm pacemen doesn't necessarily mean a sameness about the attack, particularly given that each one brings something different to the table. So does Ishant, come to think of it! Thinking-cap time, surely.
The Bushrangers have problems of their own to contend with. Paceman Shane Harwood has been ruled out with a groin injury. Dirk Nannes is being rested to manage his workload, though why anyone would deny an aspirant a crack at some of the best batsmen in the world is a question only those who made that call can answer. There is no Gerard Denton either, rendered hors de combat with ankle soreness; additionally, stand-in skipper Brad Hodge — the best-known name — might be a non-starter if he fails to recover sufficiently from a back injury.
First-class debuts are on the cards for all-rounder John Hastings and right-hand bat Aaron Finch. India have, in the past, made heroes of little-known players. Hopefully, this is the beginning of a new era.
As much for confidence as acclimatisation, a positive run-out is a must. The Aussies will be watching keenly, from Hobart.
Teams (from):
Indians: Anil Kumble (capt), Wasim Jaffer, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Irfan Pathan, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Rudra Pratap Singh, Yuvraj Singh, Dinesh Kaarthick, Harbhajan Singh, Pankaj Singh.
Victoria Bushrangers: Brad Hodge (capt), David Hussey (vice-capt), Aiden Blizzard, Aaron Finch, John Hastings, Nick Jewell, Michael Klinger, Andrew McDonald, Bryce McGain, Robert Quiney, Peter Siddle, Matthew Wade, Allan Wise.
Hours of play (IST): 0530-0730 hours, 0810-1010 hours and 1030-1230 hours.
