Wanted An Encore at Adelaide

Fours years back, India did the unthinkable beating Australia in Australia even after getting tonked for 400 runs on the first day of the test match with Ricky Pointing going on hit a monumental double century, and then India lost 4 wickets for less then 100 runs on board. As was the case in Kolkatta , Rahul dravid & VVS Laxman had other plans and put on a partnership of 300+ runs after which, Agarkar joined the party with some great seam bowling and skittled out Australia for a score of less than 200. The target of 230 was achieved and for the first time since the days of Allan Border, a visiting team went one up on the Aussies.

If Rahul Dravid and Laxman come to the party this time around as they did in 2003-04 then it's going to be a tall task for the Aussies to force the result in their favor and then there is a small thing of Sachin Tendulkar, who might want to make amends to the modest record he has over here, as always he looks solid and I won't be surprised if he signs off this test match, which most probably will be his last test in Australia, with one of his special knocks. Jaffer has been having a pretty poor series and I think he will be dropped for this test match and won't be surprised if Bajji is brought in his place, as the pitch over here suits spin bowling. That being the case I think Pathan will open with Sehwag, as Dravid has never been comfortable with opening. Once again Dinesh Karthik being unlucky to be left out, but his chance will come sooner or later.

Australia have no such worries with Matthew Hayden coming in for Chris rogers, which should be a big relief for them with those twin failures of the top-order, in both the innings of the Perth test. Shaun Tait might be replaced with Brad Hogg, who has to deliver the goods for this might be his last chance to resurrect his test career with Stuart MacGill breathing down his neck.

After the performance in Perth the Indians will be cock-a-hoop and Australia will be looking to win this match, and show that Perth was just an aberration. India was the last country against whom Australia lost back-to-back test matches and if Aussies do lose again in Adelaide, won't be a surprise to me.