Gavaskar predicts hard times in Australia

Sunil Gavaskar has predicted hard times for India in Australia, on the eve of the team's departure for a three-month tour that will consist of a four-Test series, followed by the VB Series also involving Zimbabwe. India's last Test victory in Australia came in 1981, and they have lost seven of their last eight Tests there, dating back to 1991-92.

India slumped to a 37-run defeat in the TVS Cup final against Australia last Tuesday, a third defeat in succession against a side that was nowhere near full strength. Chasing a target of 236, gettable even on a wearing pitch, they disappointed a capacity Eden Gardens crowd by capitulating meekly in the final stages.

The manner of surrender infuriated Gavaskar. In his Hindustan Times column, he wrote, "If they can't get 236 against a second-string bowling attack what will they do against the fully fledged attack?"

India were the last team to beat Australia in a Test series, back in 2001, but Ricky Ponting, who masterminded the TVS Cup triumph, reckoned they would struggle in Australia. Even Sourav Ganguly acknowledged that his team's recent displays - a drawn two-Test series against New Zealand and the indifferent showing in the TVS Cup - were a worry.

In the same newpaper in which Gavaskar had aired his views, Ganguly said, "Our performances in the recently concluded Test and one-day series have been below par. The situation requires everyone to put up their hands and be counted."

India go into the tour with a five-man pace attack that is woefully short on experience, with only Ajit Agarkar having played in Australia before. The batting will once again be heavily reliant on Sachin Tendulkar and Rahul Dravid, with Ponting suggesting that the Australians had worked out the likes of VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag.

The selectors have also come in for much criticism in the build-up to the team's departure, because of their decision to omit Murali Kartik - the only Indian slow bowler to show consistently good form in the recent past - in favour of Harbhajan Singh and Anil Kumble, both of whom did little of note in the home season.