Extra rest to aid conquest of the final frontier

Tim Nielsen: 'We've got to be careful how we keep the guys physically and mentally fresh for the whole tour' © Getty Images

Australia's players will be given extra rest days to cope with the rigours of a tight schedule during this year's Test series in India. They play four Tests in 33 days in the familiar venues of Bangalore, Chennai and Mumbai and in the relatively unknown Nagpur.

Given all four Tests against India last summer went to a fifth day and with hot weather expected, Australia's coaching staff plan to give Ricky Ponting and his team as many rest days as possible between matches. That means key players may not even train between Tests to help them stay fresh in a country where coping with crowds, food and heat can be a challenge.

"It's something we're conscious of," assistant coach Tim Nielsen said yesterday. "We've got to be careful how we keep the guys physically and mentally fresh for the whole tour."

Staff will plan between-match routines days in advance. There may also be a back-up for wicketkeeper Adam Gilchrist, as the schedule makes it tough to fly in reserves if injury strikes. "That will be the key criteria for selection - that you are 100 per cent fit," Nielsen said.

Ideally, Australia will arrive in India soon after reaching the September 25 final of the Champions Trophy in England.

Nielsen said recent visits to India - in 2001 [Tests] and last year (ODIs) - would also aid Australia in their quest to win a series there for the first time since 1969-70. "A lot of the guys who make up the core part of the team have been there before, so they know what to expect," he said.

The Australians rate Bangalore, in India's south, as one of their favourite venues - they are undefeated there in two Tests. The second Test will be played in the south-east city of Chennai, formerly Madras. It is where Allan Border's side played cricket's second tied Test, in 1986. The most recent time Chennai hosted Australia was in the 2001 series.

While the second Test in Calcutta, where VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid steered India to a remarkable win, was unforgettable, the Chennai decider was also memorable. Matthew Hayden scored 203, but had his thunder stolen by Harbhajan Singh, who took 15 wickets and was at the crease as the home side won by two wickets to clinch the series 2-1.

Mumbai, where Australia won by 10 wickets in 2001, will host the fourth Test this time around. Australia have never played a Test in Nagpur and only one ODI, beating Zimbabwe during the 1996 World Cup.

The India tour starts with a three-day match against the Indian board president's XI, from September 30.