SCG Set For an Emotional Finale Test

Sydney: The memory of batsman Phillip Hughes in the Australian when they take on India in final Test at Sydney Cricket Ground (SCG) starts from Tuesday.

It has been a familiar narrative for India in the ongoing Test series against Australia. Once again, after exhibiting glimpses of promise initially, they are left playing catch-up.

The stage was set for them to draw first blood in Adelaide but a batting collapse denied them a match they looked set to stunningly seize from Australia. Brisbane wasn't as threatening as it was assumed, yet Australia, under a new skipper in Steven Smith, romped home inside four days.

The Melbourne Test did save India some face, aided by rain, Smith's delayed declaration and his surprising decision to accept a draw with four overs left.

Ovearall, it's been the same old story - the one where India have been run ragged overseas.

A fair bit has transpired since the Boxing Day Test and both Smith and Kohli will have their respective sets of permutations and combinations to deal with in terms of team composition. While Australia will have to deal Mitchell Johnson's absence, India will ponder over the respective cases of KL Rahul and Axar Patel.

Rahul had a forgettable debut in Melbourne, twice out to silly shots for cheap scores. In the first innings he batted at No 6 and in the second at No 3, which could have left him confused and disappointed alike. Rahul is a top-order batsman, the toss-up is between persisting with young Rahul in an unfamiliar role or handing a recall to Suresh Raina who hasn't played Tests since 2012.

Mohammed Shami has been too erratic and Umesh Yadav too expensive, leaving India hoping that Bhuvneshwar Kumar can return to lead the bowling.

The SCG pitch is wearing a greenish tinge and the Australian team has gone in with only one change with Mitchell Starc replacing Johnson. Peter Siddle once again misses out as Australia go with three pacers and a spinner for the final Test.

Teams

Australia XI: David Warner, Chris Rogers, Shane Watson, Steven Smith (capt), Shaun Marsh, Joe Burns, Brad Haddin (wk), Ryan Harris, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Nathan Lyon.

India (from): Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (Capt), Ajinkya Rahane, Lokesh Rahul, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Akshar Patel, Karn Sharma, Varun Aaron, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Dhawal Kulkarni

Pitch and conditions
The SCG historically is renowned for offering spin. The forecast for the duration of the match is for temperatures in the high 20s, with showers possible on several days.

Stats and trivia

• Australia have won 10 of their past 11 SCG Tests, the only loss having come against England in the disastrous 2010-11 Ashes series.
• Should Virat Kohli score a century in Sydney, he will join Herbert Sutcliffe and Wally Hammond as the only visiting batsmen to make four hundreds in one Test series in Australia

Match facts
January 6-10, 2015
Start time 1030 local (2330 GMT, 5am IST)