Batting and spin give India the edge

Over the last seven years, there's been little to separate India and Australia in Tests. In four series since 2001, India have won one and lost two, but each team has won at least one Test in all series. Australia achieved a comprehensive victory the last time they toured, and the 2-1 result ensures they maintain a slight edge in terms of their win-loss record in India. The other aspect which stands out is that in seven Tests between the two teams in India since 2001, only one has been drawn, and even that was due to the inclement Chennai weather, which washed out the entire last day and ruined a match which would surely have ended decisively otherwise.

On paper, India start as favourites, thanks primarily to their batsmen and spinners. Of the five specialist batsmen who have played more than one home Test against Australia, only Sourav Ganguly has a sub-40 average. Similarly, Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh have fantastic home records against Australia: Kumble's 59 wickets have cost him 20.86 runs each with six five-wicket hauls in eight Tests, while Harbhajan has taken 55 in seven Tests at 21.54

Among the Australian batsmen, Matthew Hayden and Michael Clarke have tackled Indian conditions superbly, but the same can't be said of their captain. For Ricky Ponting, this will be a huge opportunity to set right a gaping hole in his career stats - 172 runs in eight Tests, at an average of 12.28.

Australia's wafer-thin spin attack puts the onus of wicket-taking on the fast bowlers, and how the Indians tackle the pace and swing of Brett Lee will probably be a huge factor in the outcome of the series. While Lee has a pretty good record against India - 45 wickets at 26.71 - the Indian top order has handled him pretty well. Virender Sehwag averages nearly 80 against him, while Dravid has good numbers against him too. The only specialist batsman who has struggled is VVS Laxman, who has fallen to him five times in 231 deliveries. (All head-to-head numbers are only since 2002.)

Australia's batsmen will be up against the twin threat of Kumble and Harbhajan, and while most of them have impressive numbers against both, those runs were mostly scored in the last two series in Australia. (Remember, these stats don't include the 2001 series, when Harbhajan took 32 wickets.) In conditions more favourable to spin, both bowlers are likely to be a much bigger force.

Over the two most recent series, the toss has been a vital aspect: the last six decisive results have all gone in favour of the team winning the toss. Australia called correctly in Bangalore and Nagpur on their previous tour, and in Melbourne and Sydney last season, while India won the toss in Mumbai and Perth. The last time a team won the toss and lost the Test was in the Boxing Day Test of 2003, when India won the toss and batted, but lost by nine wickets.