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Perth: Australia skipper Michael Clarke won the toss and decided to field against India in the third Test of the four-match series at the WACA, Perth on Friday.
Both Australia and India go with four quicks in the match. Pacer Vinay Kumar came in place of off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin for India whereas for the hosts Mitchell Starc replace spinner Nathan Lyon.
The highly-rated but underperforming batsmen have to click to keep a jittery India afloat amid serious concerns about their ability to counter the pacy WACA track.
India's batting has come a cropper in the series so far with their famed batsmen collapsing like a house of cards in most of the innings they have played so far against an inexperienced but disciplined Australian bowling attack.
Not a century has yet been hit by any Indian batsman. Except for Sachin Tendulkar, who has been in imperious form in all the four innings he has played, no top order batsman has been among runs with average below 30s.
Tendulkar, who is just one short of his 100th international ton, has scored 226 runs in four innings at an average of 56.50.
India, however, can take solace from the pages of history. Contrary to the reputations of its batsmen on faster pitches, India has always done well at the WACA. Indians won the 2007-08 Test even though Australia opted for four quicks in the match.
With the batsmen coming a cropper so far, the Indian bowlers have to ensure that they do not allow the Australians to wriggle out of tight situations as they have in the first two Tests.
The home side were in dumps in practically each innings of the first two Tests. They were 214 for six before tailenders came to party in the first innings in Melbourne. They were 27 for four in the second innings. In their only knock at SCG during the second Test, Australia once again were tottering at 37 for three.
Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav have to step up the plate and prove ideal foil to irrepressible Zaheer Khan.
The lively pitch is not the only issue for the tourists. The extremely hot conditions in Perth makes it a task to even stand in sun for a considerable period.
India, above all, needs to play as a team. It's not easy when not just the series, even individual careers are at stake. It becomes difficult for a cricketer to look beyond the self or keep bigger picture in perspective.
Teams:
India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt & wk), Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Virat Kohli, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Vinay Kumar.
Australia: Michael Clarke (capt), David Warner, Ed Cowan, Shaun Marsh, Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey, Brad Haddin (wk), Peter Siddle, Ben Hilfenhaus, Ryan Harris, Mitchel Starc.
