Australian captain Ricky Ponting will look for a personal change of fortune in India as the tourists attempt a series-levelling win in the second and final Test from tomorrow.
The Aussies take the field three days after enduring one of the most heart-breaking defeats in recent history during the first Test in Mohali, which Ponting admitted hurt him badly.
India, reduced to 124-8 while chasing 216 for victory, squeezed home by one wicket as Venkatsai Laxman defied back spasms to make an unbeaten 73 and shared a ninth-wicket stand of 81 with tailender Ishant Sharma.
The defeat left a shattered Ponting still looking for his first win as captain on Indian soil, having lost four and drawn two of his six previous Tests at the helm.
Both Ponting and his Indian counterpart Mahendra Singh Dhoni said the sheer excitement of the closing stages of the Mohali Test had drained the two sides.
“It was an amazing game of cricket,” the Australian captain said. “That one I will remember for a really long time even though we lost the game.”
Dhoni said: “You don’t get Tests like that everyday. I am glad I was part of a match that will go into history as one of the greatest Tests ever played.”
The rivals begin the decider at the Chinnaswamy stadium battling injuries to key players, while thunderstorms are forecast for each of the five days.
Australian fast bowler Doug Bollinger, who missed the crucial final stages in Mohali, remained in contention after scans revealed only a very minor abdominal strain.
A bigger worry for the tourists was the poor form of batsman Marcus North, who made 0 and 10 in Mohali and averages just seven from his last six Tests.
North doubled up as a second slow bowler as frontline spinner Nathan Hauritz proved ineffective against the seasoned Indian batting with figures of 2-116 in the first innings and 1-45 in the second.
India were sweating over the fitness of first Test hero Laxman, whose injury-prone back has been under the constant watch of team physiotherapist Nitin Patel.
The hosts are already depleted by the absence of opening batsman Gautam Gambhir and fast bowler Ishant Sharma, who were ruled out of the second Test due to knee injuries suffered in Mohali.
India’s selectors added uncapped batsman Abhinav Mukund and rookie left-arm seamer Jaydev Unadkat to the 15-man squad, but neither is likely to take the field.
Opener Murali Vijay is almost certain to replace Gambhir, while fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth is the frontrunner to take over from Sharma.
Young batsman Cheteshwar Pujara is standing by in case Laxman is declared unfit tomorrow morning.
India, ranked the No. 1 Test side, will be boosted by the rich pickings at the International Cricket Council’s annual awards night in Bangalore on Wednesday evening.
Record-breaking batsman Sachin Tendulkar was named the cricketer of the year and also won the People’s Choice award, while opener Virender Sehwag was adjudged the Test player of the year.
Dhoni was nominated captain of the ICC Test team of the year, which included Sehwag and Tendulkar.
Ponting was chosen to lead the one-day team of the year, with Bollinger the only Australian to make both teams.
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