Fourth Test Preview: India v Australia

It was one of the most widely-anticipated series of the year, expected to throw up some of cricket's best battles as well as its fair share of off-field controversies - a sequel, if you will, to the enthralling and at times bitter contest between these two sides Down Under. So how has that gone then?

Unfortunately, like most sequels, it hasn't quite entertained like the original.

In Mohali the pitch was quicker and India put in a sparkling display of fast and slow bowling to decimate Australia and procure talk of the end of their dominance.

But in Bangalore and Delhi sluggish pitches left sides unable to glean a result despite winning good tosses and batting well up front - in Bangalore the pitch did not deteriorate as expected, leaving Australia frustrated, while in Delhi the wearing wicket was too slow to maintain extended pressure on the batsmen.

We've had the familiar plot of questionable on-field conduct, with Zaheer Khan and Shane Watson receiving fines and Gautam Gambhir forced to sit out this final match for elbowing Watson.

There have also been some new plots added to the story with historic milestones achieved, a new Indian spinner born to the international arena and an old one suddenly calling it a day, but overall we haven't witnessed the same level of entertainment that the series in Australia served up.

The final acts of the show will be played out before us in the surrounds of the new VCA stadium in Nagpur, and the events of the next five days will decide whether this sequel has the surprise ending it needs. We could yet witness a thrilling finale and leave looking forward to the next installment.

With Anil Kumble calling it a day in Delhi, India begin a new life under Mahendra Singh Dhoni and the omens of future success are good. The wicketkeeper-batsman has proven a worthy successor to the grand old spinner during his stand-in stints and promises more attacking cricket than that seen under Kumble.

Harbhajan Singh returns from injury at just the right time to take up spinning duties with the new boy on the block, Amit Mishra. It's a combination that has the potential to serve India well for many years to come, and the hosts will hope it clicks as well as it did in Mohali.

Gambhir's ban, however, could hardly have come at a worse time given the scintillating form he has shown throughout the series, and Australia will be eager to take on little-known Murali Vijay. The right-hander has been plucked from relative obscurity due to his form for India A and in the Ranji Trophy, and he comes into the match off the back of a double-hundred for Tamil Nadu. Dhoni has confirmed the 24-year-old will make his debut in a match that is also Sourav Ganguly's last.

Meanwhile Australia are fretting once again over their preferred bowling line-up, and Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Tim Nielsen and Merv Hughes had a long chat as they looked at the wicket on Wednesday afternoon.

Jason Krejza seems likely to play at the expense of Cameron White, although that decision may change if they're confident that the bare wicket will take considerable turn. It seems highly unlikely, however, that one of the pace trio of Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson and Stuart Clark would be dropped when White has bowled so poorly throughout the series.

It's the tourists who need some drama from this final act the most. For the good of the series, let's hope that we get it.

Key Men

India: He hasn't quite fired yet and now has the pressure of partnering a rookie at the top of India's batting order. The hosts need a big score from Virender Sehwag, and on a hard pitch like this they may well get it.

Australia: It's been a tough series for Brett Lee and consequently a tough series for Australia's bowlers, but he looked a lot better in Delhi and could be more successful on this new pitch.

Last Five Results

2008/09: Third Test: Match drawn at Delhi
2008/09: Second Test: India won by 320 runs at Mohali
2008/09: First Test: Match drawn at Bangalore
2007/08: Fourth Test: Match drawn at Adelaide
2007/08: Third Test: India won by 72 runs at Perth

Prediction

The early indication is that this is a good pitch for batting and so the draw is a wild favourite with the bookies. It's difficult to back any other result, but I'll be hoping I'm wrong.

Probable Teams

India: Virender Sehwag, Murali Vijay, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, Mahendra Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Amit Mishra, Ishant Sharma.

Australia: Matthew Hayden, Simon Katich, Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke, Mike Hussey, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Brett Lee, Jason Krejza, Mitchell Johnson, Stuart Clark.

Dates: 6 - 10 November
Morning session: 09:30-11.30 local time (04:00-06.00 GMT)
Afternoon session: 12.10-14.10 local time (06:40-08.40 GMT)
Evening session: 14.30-16.30 local time (09:00-11.00 GMT)

Match referee: Chris Broad
Umpires: Billy Bowden and Aleem Dar

Source: cricket365.com