Favourites clash in tournament opener

Just two days. That's all the time we have to get over one of the greatest Test series in recent memory. The emotion over such a keenly contested rubber and the retirement of an Australian icon have to be set aside very soon. Australia take on India in the opening match of the VB tri-series and despite all their frailties which were exposed in the Tests, Ricky Ponting's team wear the favourites tag.

There wasn't even time for a warm-up game for India and Australia. With the batsmen indulging in some run-revelry in the Tests, shifting gears will not be a problem. But what of the bowling? Anil Kumble will be India's best bet again but he can't bowl all day, and the support cast will need to strike rhythm early. India will also rely heavily on part-timers: Sanjay Bangar's medium pace will need to be as military in its discipline as in its description while Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar will provide restricting options.

Nathan Bracken finds himself in the elite indisposed company of Glenn Mcgrath and Shane Warne, which means that Jason Gillespie and Brett Lee will be the vanguards for Australians. Brad Williams's pace and pumped-up vigour will add some zip while Andy Bichel's heroics are never too far away. And then there is a small matter of Ian Harvey's slower balls and yorkers at the death - something that tormented the Indians in the TVS Cup.

The batting stocks could not have been more bullish. Ricky Ponting and Rahul Dravid are batting as if in a trance. Sachin Tendulkar, irrespective of whether he plays the cover-drive or not, has stood on ODI Olympus in the past year and Virender Sehwag will be given far more license to swat it around. Matthew Hayden, Adam Gilchrist and Andrew Symonds need no invitation to brutalise, and Michael Clarke has shown composure when confronted with pressure. And then there's Bevan ...

Lets not forget, though, that a third team is involved in the tournament as well. Heath Streak insists that Zimbabwe aren't around to just make up the numbers, but their form in Australia so far has hardly been inspiring. In fact, they have been mauled in two of their three matches. Yet, they fought tooth and nail with West Indies in a five-match home series. Heath Streak and Tatenda Taibu scripted many a rescue act and Andy Blignaut finished as the joint-highest wicket-taker.

With Craig Wishart and Stuart Carlisle suffering injuries and the top order failing time and again, the picture looks far from rosy. But it was a similar story before the Test series in October, and they fought quite magnificently. Ray Price was their hero then and Zimbabwe will look for similar performances to prevent the tri-series from being an abject misnomer.