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India’s imposing batting lineup casts a massive shadow over Australia’s preparations for the first Test starting on Monday at the MCG.
Two of Australia’s four frontline bowlers, James Pattinson and offspinner Nathan Lyon, are first-year players.
And while both are in good form, they’ll need to be against some of the game’s all-time greats.
India’s top five — Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar and VVS Laxman — boast a combined tally of 610 Tests.
Dravid is the leading Test runscorer in 2011 and second-best of all time. He trails only his fellow 38-year-old Tendulkar, who’s attempting to become the first player to score 100 centuries in Tests and one-day internationals.
While Australia’s bowlers are under pressure to take 20 wickets in the first Test and cut India’s confidence down to size in the four-match series, Australia’s batsmen also need to produce heroic deeds.
If India bat first and post a big score, the pressure on the inexperienced top-order trio of Ed Cowan (on debut), David Warner (two Tests) and Shaun Marsh (three Tests) will be immense.
Australia come into this series on the back of their first Test loss to New Zealand since 1993.
Coach Mickey Arthur called a three-day batting camp which was held at the MCG this week. Wicketkeeper/batsman Brad Haddin is confident Australia’s batsmen can lift for the big occasion in front of an expected crowd of more than 60,000.
“It’s important that we all stand up,” Haddin said on Sunday.
“After our series against New Zealand (drawn 1-1 earlier this month) we are very much looking forward to this.
“You talk about our inexperienced top three, I think we’ve got a very in-form top three.
“And if we’re going to do any good in this series it’s going to be from one to seven with the bat. We’ve all got to perform.
“We’ve got to make sure we’ve got our game heads on and ready to go.”
Haddin, who is vice-captain in the absence of injured allrounder Shane Watson, says the theme of the batting camp was to clear one’s mind.
“Freeing your head, having no other thoughts in your head but just playing cricket,” Haddin said.
“You’ll see over the next five days whether it has all paid off.”
Marsh’s unbeaten 99 for Perth Scorchers in a Big Bash League game on Thursday and Cowan’s three first-class hundreds this season and a century against India in a tour game are positive signs for the home side.
Warner is coming off a century in this month’s second Test against the Kiwis.
Haddin is also buoyed by the way 37-game veteran Peter Siddle has lifted with the added responsibility of guiding Victoria team-mate Pattinson into Test cricket.
Haddin says Siddle’s efforts against New Zealand were outstanding and he deserved more than his nine-wicket haul in two Tests.
Australia have made three changes. No.3 Marsh returns from injury for Usman Khawaja, opener Phil Hughes has been dropped for Cowan, and swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus has won a recall ahead of Mitchell Starc.
“We’ve picked an 11 that we think is confident to rip through this Indian side,” Haddin said.
“They’ve got some great players and I know especially our bowlers are looking forward to having a crack at them.”
The tourists, who have never won a Test series in Australia, are yet to name a side.
India skipper MS Dhoni says Australia’s inexperience isn’t relevant.
“When (Glenn) McGrath or Shane Warne made their debut, they were inexperienced,” Dhoni said.
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