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Australia’s selection chairman John Inverarity, along with tour selectors skipper Michael Clarke and coach Mickey Arthur, faces two major problems.
The more serious is whether the second Test at Hyderabad goes ahead next Saturday, after two bomb blasts last Thursday night killed 15 people.
And if the Test does get underway, the second issue is how to balance the baggy green line-up far better than the current Test at Chennai.
To go in with four quicks and just one recognised spinner on that track was, and is, suicidal.
MS Dhoni put the attack to the sword overnight with a commanding and career high 206 not out, after Sachin Tendulkar (81) and Virat Kohli (107) had laid the foundation.
Leading by 138 on the first dig with two wickets in hand and as many days to play, Dhoni has made sure only India can win this first of four Tests, as Australia will never get the hosts out twice with the bowlers they have on duty.
Three quicks max and two recognised spinners, with Clarke and part-time leggie David Warner to chip in as required, is not enough.
First up, bring back the 19-year-old left-arm spinner Ashton Agar who is still officially in the squad, even though he wasn’t selected.
Agar was sent on a development mission to India after just three Sheffield Shield games for Western Australia, and was the most impressive of all the spinners in the only two warm-up games.
Then Inverarity sent him home where he went within a sniff of winning the man of the match award against Tasmania with 13 and 71 not out, with 3-47 off 14 and 1-52 off 17.
Agar was instrumental in the West winning by two wickets, especially his unbeaten 71.
Bad call sending Agar home.
Agar must play in Hyderabad with Nathan Lyon, as he is a far better proposition than Xavier Doherty, and Glenn Maxwell.
And Shane Watson must open the batting. Full stop.
The next question – what to do with Ed Cowan and Phil Hughes?
Bat Cowan at three to steady the ship if an early wicket falls from the two dashers, or bat Hughes at three to keep the scoreboard turning over quickly.
Like the latter leaving the top order as Watson, Warner, Hughes, Cowan, and Clarke.
Moises Henriques can’t be dropped after his debut 68 in Chennai, and he’s a better bet at six than keeper Matt Wade, who drops down to seven.
The last four?
Pacemen Mitchell Starc and Peter Siddle are so far wicketless between their 47 overs, rest them for the second Test.
Retain James Pattinson after his 4-89 so far off 26, all bowled, to team up with Jackson Bird who should have been on duty in Chennai.
So there’s the batting order for Hyderabad if the Test stays there – Watson, Warner, Hughes, Cowan, Clarke, Henriques, Wade, Pattinson, Agar, Bird, and Lyon.
That’s more like it.