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
Complete artical HERE

Team India fly off to Australia in bid to create history

Skipper Anil Kumble and his teammates on Monday left for Australia bidding to create history by becoming the first Indian team to conquer the Aussies in their own backyard.

Kumble and his men left by a morning flight to Singapore en-route to Melbourne, firm in their belief that they had the wherewithal to bring to the knees the mighty Australians on high-bouncing pitches against fiery speedsters.

"It's a tough challenge to play Australia in Australia but we are ready for the challenge. We have the potential and players to win the series in Australia," Kumble said here about the high-profile contest against Ricky Ponting's men.

"We had a very good series against Pakistan. We won the one-day as well as the Test series which is a confidence booster for doing well in Australia," proclaimed Kumble who will give way to one-day captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and return home at the end of the four-Test rubber.

"We have quality in the side. We have enough experience of Australian conditions to adjust to them which is a pre-requisite of international cricket.

Courtesy:news.digitaltoday.in
Complete artical HERE