Uphill task for Australia

A two-Test series does scant justice to a rivalry which has been the most consistently compelling of the last decade, but Australia and India will have to make do with just that over the next two weeks. That still gives India a chance to further strengthen their hold on their top position, and they'll fancy their chances against an opposition they beat 2-0 the last time they toured. For Australia, on the other hand, it's an opportunity to avenge their convincing defeat of 2008, and take their first step towards regaining the top spot. For both teams, this will also be the beginning of a crucial period of Test cricket - Australia host the Ashes later this year, while India host New Zealand and then travel to South Africa.

Australia still lead the overall head-to-head record comfortably, but over the last ten years India have held their own against them, winning seven out of 19 Tests. In the last five series between the two, both teams have won a couple, while the 2003-04 series in Australia was drawn 1-1.

Over the last couple of years more teams have challenged Australia's dominance, but India is the only side which has won more than it has lost against them since 2001. In this period, Australia have beaten India six times and lost on seven occasions, giving them a win-loss ratio of 0.85. Against all other teams, their ratio is at least 2.50; England have won a couple of home series against them, but despite that they only have a 6-15 win-loss record during this period. South Africa is the only other team to have won more than a Test against them.

The biggest problem for Australia on their tours to India has been the inconsistency of their top batsmen. Among those who are in the current squad, most average lower in India than in other countries. For some batsmen the difference is small, but for others it's huge.

The one batsman who has plenty to prove in India is Ricky Ponting. He has toured India five times, and played 12 Tests, but he has struggled almost every time. His first Test century in this country came on his previous tour, in 2008-09, when he scored 123 in the first Test in Bangalore. Even that, though, didn't translate into sustained momentum, as his next six innings in that series fetched him only 143. His average in that series was 38, which, while not meeting his lofty standards, was still comfortably higher than anything he had managed on previous tours, and a huge improvement on his average of 3.40 in 2001. Michael Clarke started his Test career with a delightful century in Bangalore, but he has scored only one more hundred in his next 14 innings in India.

Most of the Indian batsmen, on the other hand, have excellent home records against Australia. VVS Laxman and Sachin Tendulkar have consistently done well, while Gautam Gambhir and MS Dhoni have excellent numbers too: Gambhir has two hundreds in four Tests, while Dhoni averages more than 60. The only major disappointment has been Rahul Dravid: the 180 he scored in that unforgettable Kolkata Test in 2001 remains his only century at home against Australia in 26 innings, and his average of 35.52 is well below his career average of almost 53. His last two home attempts against them have been particularly disappointing - in 14 innings, he has scored a mere 287 runs. With this certain to be his last home Test series against Australia, it's his final chance to make amends.

There are question marks over Harbhajan Singh's fitness, and it will be a cruel blow to India if he misses either of the two Tests. In home games against Australia, Harbhajan has been outstanding, averaging seven wickets per match - against a career average of 4.2 - and less than eight overs per wicket. He was truly astonishing in 2001, but even in the last two series Harbhajan has done pretty well, taking 21 wickets at an average of 24 in 2004 and 15 at 28.86 in 2008. Zaheer Khan is the other big threat, but he has generally been more effective overseas than at home, averaging 37.30 in 29 Tests in India, and 30.93 abroad.

The venues for the two Tests, Mohali and Bangalore, are also interesting choices given India's recent records there. Mohali has been excellent for the hosts - India have won three out of six since 2000 and drawn the others - but Bangalore has been equally dismal, with three defeats and no wins in six games during this period. (Click here to see India's Test record at all home venues since 2000.)

Australia will look forward to playing in Bangalore too - since 1990, they've won two out of three Tests here, and drawn the other. In Mohali they've lost their only match, in 2008, by 320 runs.

Most of the current Indian batsmen have performed well in Mohali, which is the venue of the first Test. Gambhir, Sehwag, Dravid and Laxman all average more than 55 at this ground, but Tendulkar has been below par, scoring only one century in 14 innings. Gambhir's last four Test innings here - two each against Australia and England - read 67, 104, 179 and 97. With both Sehwag and Gambhir among the runs at this ground, the opening partnerships have blossomed too: in six innings, these two batsmen have put together two century and two half-century stands, and average 81. Their highest came on Australia's previous tour in 2008, when the pair added 182 in India's second innings.

Mohali used to be a venue which helped fast bowlers, but over the last decade, spinners have done much better, as is illustrated by the table below. The only fast bowler to take a five-for in six Tests during this period is L Balaji, while Zaheer has taken eight wickets in four Tests at an average of 59. (Click here for the full list of fast bowlers at this ground since 2000.)

Spinners, on the other hand, have fared quite well. Apart from Harbhajan and Anil Kumble who've had plenty of success here, legspinners Amit Mishra and Danish Kaneria have been among the wickets too. (Click here for the full list of spinners since 2000.)