All eyes on the toss

With most Indian fans basking in the euphoria of what happened in Brisbane, and with Les Burdett having promised a batting-beauty pitch at the Adelaide Oval, it's easy to forget that India were bundled out for 110 here just four years ago. Back then, a good pitch couldn't quit counterbalance India's lack of quality, or some decidedly dubious umpiring against Sachin Tendulkar.

Four years on, Tendulkar's thunder, and just about everyone else's, has been stolen by the Indian team management's decision to fly in Murali Kartik. Considering that he gets into Adelaide only late Thursday night, it's unimaginable to think of him starting the match - jetlag and all - if India have to bowl first.

Sourav Ganguly wasn't revealing too many cards at the pre-match press conference, saying that the team would have a good look at the wicket tomorrow before deciding on whether to play two spinners or not. It was blistering hot in Adelaide two days ago, and though it has since cooled down, the wicket is expected to be dry, and full of runs over the first three days.

Anil Kumble, reduced to a stock bowler the last time India toured, could be given a chance to make amends. "He's a handy customer if the pitch is dry," said Ganguly. "He's also a bit of a skidder off the pitch. But I'm not sure it's right to say that he'd be doing the third seamer's job. He's a spin bowler at the end of the day."

If Kartik's midnight-hour finds him a spot in the XI, Harbhajan Singh, who finished with 1 for 169 from 35 overs at the Gabba, might be the one to make way. "He's been working hard in the nets, and is a quality bowler," said Ganguly about someone he has always backed wholeheartedly. "But he has to improve, that's the way we're looking at it."

Steve Waugh wasn't overly worried by the fact that India might go in with two spinners. "We've got two of our own in Simon Katich and Stuart MacGill," he said. "The pitch looks very good, with lots of runs. I can see both sides making lots of runs batting first. It should be a good wicket for three days at least."

Brad Williams, who flew in from Perth yesterday, will come into the side, replacing Andy Bichel, who was carted around by the Indians at the Gabba. It was a tough call for Australia to make, given that Bichel had taken ten in his last outing at the Adelaide Oval, in a Pura Cup match against South Australia two weeks ago.

Waugh reckoned that India's strength lay in their middle order, and said that early wickets were essential to put pressure on them. Speaking of Tendulkar, who got another dodgy decision in Brisbane, he said, "There's always pressure when you fail in an innings. Adam Gilchrist also made a duck at the Gabba, and no matter how good a player you are, there'll be a few nerves when you walk out to bat the next time."

He also singled out VVS Laxman as a player to watch. "He's an amazing player with a great eye," said Waugh. "When the ball isn't moving too much, he's a real danger, but we've got a plan for him."

If the pitch deteriorated over the final two days, Waugh reckoned that MacGill could be a possible matchwinner. "He's always been a wicket-taking bowler, and he's very confident. The Adelaide pitch will help him, and I can sense a big performance from him. He's been building up to that."

Ganguly accentuated the positives from Brisbane - "On previous overseas tours, we have usually lost the first Test and been under pressure" - but whichever attack he goes in with, there will be no margin for error. The Adelaide Oval has the shortest square boundaries in Australia - 63m from the middle to the rope - to compensate for what is possibly the longest straight boundary in the world at 95m.

Even a miscued sweep from Matthew Hayden could go for six in the general direction of the river. There will be no safety in spin numbers for India, not here. Unless the bowlers are spot on, they'll be chewed up and spat out. And the same applies for their Australian counterparts.

If the team that wins the toss makes in excess of 500, they might not have to bat again. So watch that spin of the coin carefully tomorrow. It could well determine the outcome of a series that is no longer as cut-and-dried as everyone thought it would be.

Australia (likely) 1 Justin Langer, 2 Matthew Hayden, 3 Ricky Ponting, 4 Damien Martyn, 5 Steve Waugh (capt), 6 Simon Katich, 7 Adam Gilchrist (wk), 8 Jason Gillespie, 9 Nathan Bracken, 10 Brad Williams, 11 Stuart MacGill.

India (likely) 1 Akash Chopra, 2 Virender Sehwag, 3 Rahul Dravid, 4 Sachin Tendulkar, 5 Sourav Ganguly (capt), 6 VVS Laxman, 7 Ajit Agarkar, 8 Parthiv Patel (wk), 9 Anil Kumble, 10 Zaheer Khan, 11 Harbhajan Singh.