India go into second Test on backfoot

The crushing 337-run defeat in the opening Test will no doubt have a demoralising effect on the visitors who need to put up an inspired show to stop Australia from equalling a record-breaking sequence of 16 consecutive Test wins.

Clearly, the Indians look in disarray as they have plenty of problems to sort out. The team management will have to give a serious thought on the composition of the team on a SCG track that was expected to be livelier.

The big dilemma for the Indians is whether to persist with Rahul Dravid as an opener despite his poor form or draft in a specialist in the form of Virender Sehwag or Dinesh Kaarthick.

Although many former cricketers have called for Sehwag's inclusion in the playing eleven, the indications are that India may stick to the same combination, which means Dravid, and Wasim Jaffer will again open the innings.

India's problems have been further compounded with the in-form Sourav Ganguly being rendered a doubtful starter after a bout of fever. The team management, however, is hopeful that the elegant left-hander will recover fully before the match.

The star-studded Indian batting line-up surrendered meekly in Melbourne in conditions that were more ‘sub-continental’ in nature and assistant coach Lalchand Rajput felt the problems were in the mind.

"They do not have any technical problem. It's the one in the mind. They need to apply and believe in themselves. Self-belief is very important and it can help you survive in any field," Rajput said.

Rajput threw his weight behind the embattled Dravid and said it was a matter of time before a batsman of his class found his touch again.

"Dravid too does not have any technical problem. It's more in the mind and I am sure he will comeback strongly. I do not think there is any need for drastic changes. We will show some aggression on the ground and more intensity," he said.

Indian skipper Anil Kumble keeps talking about the mental freedom in the middle but at least four batsmen need to follow their captain's command if the team is to do any good at the SCG.

Jaffer and Dravid as openers and Yuvraj Singh and Mahendra Singh Dhoni as lower order batsmen had been the crass casualty from the massacre at the MCG.

Neither of the four made runs nor offered any promise but India it appears are saddled with them.

Sachin Tendulkar, Ganguly and VVS Laxman had their moments at the MCG and the other four could take a leaf out of their positive intent in the second Test.

Ricky Ponting's men have tasted blood and are chasing their 16th successive Test win which would put them at par with Steve Waugh's record shattering Australians of early 2000.

All the batsmen, barring captain Ricky Ponting, ran themselves into some sort of form at the MCG but it was their bowling which caught the eye.

Brett Lee, Stuart Clark and Mitchell Johnson have made it an almost seamless transition in the post Glenn McGrath-Shane Warne era and are now quite adept at delivering blows even on pitches which are more like sub-continental tracks.

Curator Tom Parker has predicted that the pitch would be more favourable for fast bowlers than it has ever been in the past.

"I think we will see a lot of bounce and good carry in it. I do not see any gremlins in it. I expect it to be a very similar to the Ashes deck last year," Parker said.

If that is the case, the Indians can expect to find the going tough against the Australian pace bowlers who will be keen to exploit the conditions to the hilt.

Teams (From):

Australia: Ricky Ponting (capt), Matthew Hayden, Phil Jacques, Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist, Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Mitchell Johnson and Brad Hogg, Shaun Tait.

India: Anil Kumble (capt), Wasim Jaffer, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, Yuvraj Singh, Mahinder Singh Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan and Rudra Pratap Singh, Virender Sehwag, Dinesh Kaarthick, Irfan Pathan, Ishant Sharma.

Umpires: Steve Bucknor and Mark Benson

Match Referee: Mike Procter