Come on India, bring in the surprise element

Buoyed by triumphs in successive series, India have embarked on their journey Down Under for a grueling summer that will see them return only in March. But things will not be easy for them as they do not have enough time to acclimatise to a place where no team has won a Test series since the West Indies in 1991-92.

For Australia, their season began in late September with the Twenty20 World Championship and a handful of One-Dayers in India after which they began an arduous summer ahead by hosting Sri Lanka for a two-Test series. India, on the other hand, post their early exit from the 2007 World Cup in the Caribbean, have been playing non-stop cricket since, which began with a tour of Bangladesh in May.

Under new Test captain Anil Kumble, though the Indians have form and plenty of thoroughbred class in their ranks, they are nonetheless likely to get exposed to the travails of alien quarters, not just from the hosts but elements within their own dressing room.
Picked purely on his memorable trip Down Under on the previous occasion, Virender Sehwag's inclusion could turn out to be either a master-class or hara-kiri. But the prolonged desertion of his form remains of utmost concern to the management, as India's opening woes are yet to subside. However, with Wasim Jaffer's assurance at the other end, India have to trust Sehwag's instincts and hope he repeats his histrionics.

India also go with the rest of their batsmen having hit boom time with the bat. Sourav Ganguly capped off his comeback year hammering his maiden double-century and compiling 1000 runs for the first time in a calendar year, while Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman have all amassed runs in characteristic fashion.

Courtesy:cricketnext.com
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