Virender Sehwag could be recalled to give India some aggression at the top of the batting order in today's second Test in Sydney, where the tourists are under pressure to prevent Australia equaling its world record winning streak.
The highly rated Indian batting lineup failed twice in Melbourne, bowled out for 196 and 161, with trouble starting at the top both times with incredibly slow starts from Rahul Dravid.
In two innings, he scored 21 runs from 217 balls.
India captain Anil Kumble said Sehwag was being considered for an opening spot to reinvigorate the top order, while Dravid was rated a "50-50" chance of opening or dropping back to No. 3.
Sehwag "brings a positivity to our batting," Kumble said. "Before his loss of form, he was a very important part of our team. He's looked good in the nets ... he's in the scheme of things."
The 29-year-old righthander averages 49.46 from 52 Tests at a brisk strike rate of 75.75, but has not played a Test match for 12 months.
Kumble promised "more fight" and more commitment from his batsmen in Sydney, where India must win to have a chance of taking the four-Test series.
"We were very disappointed in Melbourne, but we've put that disappointment behind us," he said.
Kumble was to finalize his lineup after an inspection of the Sydney Cricket Ground pitch before play this morning.
Australia, aiming for a 16th consecutive win to equal the mark it set between October 1999 and February 2001, will take an unchanged lineup into the second Test.
That previous record streak ended in a loss to India on 2001 at Calcutta, where India produced a stunning comeback, winning after being forced to follow-on, in a result that turned the series.
The current India lineup contained many of the stars of that series, which made Australia captain Ricky Ponting cautious on a pitch in Sydney that traditionally suits the subcontinental game.
"Let's get it all in perspective. We've had a great win but it's just one Test out of four," Ponting said. "Take the MCG [result] away and they've made a truckload of runs. Everyone has a bad Test. They're an ultra-talented batting line-up.
"We have some momentum, but ... If we sit back and wait for things to happen, we know India are pretty good to take advantage of that."
The last time Australia and India met at the Sydney Cricket Ground in 2004, India put on 705 for seven declared in the first innings and the match was drawn.
"They're capable of doing that [again] but we've got a team that can prevent that happening," Ponting said.
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