This is a much anticipated series especially after the good showing by the Indian batsmen during their last visit in 2003-04.

The situation will be much different this time, when the Aussies will be better prepared.

Of special concern is India's bowling. Their current bowlers are inexperienced and are not penetrative by any means. I doubt whether they will trouble the Australian batsmen.

Another one-sided series dominated by Australia is on the cards.

God, I hope not. Some things India can do to put up a fight (at the very least):

1. Bring Sehwag. I don't care who you have to leave out, just bring him and play him.
2. Select bowlers who won't be hammered- this probably means no R.P. Singh.
3. Do any team experimentation now, against Pakistan. This can't be done anymore once on Australian soil.
4. Get in at least two prac. matches (but that's not going to happen).
5. Arrive with plenty of time to acclimatise (but again, that's not going to happen. This hasn't been well scheduled at all.).

On the plus side for India, at least they'll just have been playing Test cricket, while Australia will probably be in one-day mode.

Overall, I hope that it's an interesting series, that there's a contest, and that India don't mess up at the selection table.

I would say that the Aussies are warm favorites, but no more than that.

India's plusses:
India have Australia in experience.
They have (on paper) a batting lineup not far off the Aussies.
They have a reasonable pace attack
They have a spin attack that will be more effective against Australia, than what Australia's will be against the Indian batsmen
They have a good captain in Dohni, who will ensure that the Indians will fight and fight hard.

Australia's plusses:

Australia' pace attack is in form, and will trouble the Indian batsmen far more than India's will trouble the Aussie batsmen.
Australia has home ground advantage
The MCG and WACA wickets will definitely suit Australia.
Australia have a younger, fresher team with overall better fielders.
Australia have confidence, and results behind them.

On the face of it, it has the ingredients for a good, hard fought series.

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The thought police are everywhere..............

I am not sure about Sehwag, he is past his best. He relies on hand/eye coordination for batting rather than any technique. And he is not getting any younger. His reflexes are now slow and he will never be the same batsman again.

All Indian bowlers except Kumble and Khan are relatively inexperienced and will be hammered by the Australian batsmen. The current Indian bowling attack is not good enough to take 20 Australian wickets in a test.

I do not believe that Australia not playing any test matches for 5 weeks or so will affect their performance.

I too would like to see a good contest. But regardless of any team that India might select, I honestly believe that this time around the Australians will absolutely hammer them.

I too hope that the series is an exciting series, but......

Maybe not, but he is probably the only opener in the world right now who will actively take the fight to the Australians, and already enjoys a good record against us. In terms of technique, he actually reminds me a lot of Michael Slater; just one of those batsmen who can dispatch any short ball to the square boundary as soon as he comes to the crease. Certainly, if both Jaffer and Karthik hammer centuries in this current series, then play them- but Jaffer had an ordinary series in England, and if he has another one he needs to be replaced.

I don't know. Munaf Patel seems like he can keep it pretty tight, and Sreesanth's only going at 3.26 RPO so far. Even if he does get a bit of stick, he's probably going to take wickets, and he's definitely going to take the fight to the Australian batsmen. So I'd have Khan, Sreesanth, Patel and Kumble- I think they can do a bit of damage. Here's hoping, anyway.

Totally agree along with Tendulkar he is the only guy who seems comfortable attacking paceman on bouncy wicket's.

Dravid, Gangully, Laxman ..etc just tend to let the pace bowler on the bouncy wicket set the agenda and accumulate.

2. Tell the Indian pace bowlers to leave some of the "bad boy gangsta" attitude at home

OK doing it in front of your own adoring fans, different story when and if they try it in front of a hostile crowd.

Although I am sure one bowler will bring it regardless..Shoop Doggy Sreesanth..Grand Master Sreesanth..EmiSreesanthneM..what ever he likes to call himself.

Because he has got an image to protect. Bollywood's next bad boy

India dont have the bowlers to win this series unless we something amazing from Kumble. There attitude makes them interesting, I agree with acker with saying that it is a different story sledging the Aussie in Australia. They will cop it from the crowds if they act the way they did in India.

My advice for the Indians is to play cricket dont worry about talking, and if your an out fielder dont just stand there are be scared to turn around. Play with the crowds because if and Englishman can have fun with the Aussie crowds anyone can. The Aussies took sledging to a new level and no mater what the Indians say it wont effect the Aussie in a negative way especially with Symonds and Hayden because they will just hit the ball harder and further.

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Bill Ponsford - The only one who could play in Bradman’s company and make it a duet.

I think pace, rather than spin will decide the series. Even the SCG has not been particularly great for spinners from the games i have seen this year - the ball does spin, but it is very slow and generally gives batsman plenty of time to adjust. The best place for spinners in Aus at the moment is the WACA, but pace is perhaps more potent there too as well

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The thought police are everywhere..............

Cricinfo - Sehwag recalled, call-up for Pankaj Singh

Well Aurelius you've got your wish and Sehwag is back in the squad and if he comes in for Karthik (not an opener and certainly not in Australia) the batting on paper at least has a reassuringly solid look about it. The bowling on the other hand minus both Sreesanth and Munaf looks little more than cannon fodder.