Bollinger almost certain to miss Bangalore Test

Doug Bollinger is almost certain to miss the Bangalore Test after he didn't bowl in any of Australia's two training sessions leading up to the match. The two-metre tall South Australia fast bowler, Peter George, is likely to get a Test debut, ahead of Mitchell Starc, a New South Wales left-arm quick in the Mitchell Johnson mould.

George's richer first-class experience - he has played 19 Shield games to Starc's 10 - is likely to tip scales in his favour. Moreover, George is seen as somebody with Glenn McGrath-like control, and Australia would want that in a crucial Test. George played in the tour game in Chandigarh too, taking a wicket first ball in McGrath fashion, with the slant away from the left-hand batsman and some bounce.

India, on the other hand, are waiting on VVS Laxman's recovery before they decide their final XI. Laxman came out for a light training session on Friday evening, where he had both batting and catching practice. "Laxman is much better right now," MS Dhoni said. "We will take a call in the evening or tomorrow before the game. Five days of game can be difficult if you are injured at the start, and we will take a call later."

Ricky Ponting is expecting Laxman to play, but won't offer him the generosity of a runner. "If he comes into the game, knowing what we had last week, he can't bring in pre-existing injuries and expect to have a runner," Ponting said. "I don't see any concerns with him, though. He actually looked pretty good with his movements as far as I am concerned about the last game. I am a bit surprised he hasn't batted today but he is obviously giving himself as much recovery time as possible."

India, though, had good news on another front, with Harbhajan Singh looking good to play. "As of now everybody is available for selection apart from Laxman," Dhoni said. "None of the players have any injuries to my knowledge."