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ArkRoyal wrote: SD: there is no easy alternatives you are correct. They have an off-spinner whom turns it towards the right hand batsman and left arm whom turns it away; in this sense the selectors have done their job. If he gets slaughtered in India you may not even be able to pick him for the Ashes series.

This actually happened to the bloke from Tasmania whom they took over there a few years ago. Do you remember?

I wouldn't put Krazys struggles down to India, I think he was just Crazy

SD I hope your right on Swepson -- you never know. If our batsmen were any good we would be able to at least draw the series whatever happens. I think England could have easilly won one test had they played with more 'gusto' so that gives me some hope when we go to India.

Lyon wont get a wicket in game 1 and that will throw all the plans out the window for Australia. Him and O'Keefe are not that good at spinning the ball and Lyon has a terrible record on the sub continent......Play Agar and Swepson from game 1 I reckon, at least kids don't scare as easily as older players, and they have nothing to loose

The biggest challenge for Australia is part time spinners don't work in India. Yes the Indian spinners took a heap of wickets against England but they went at about an average of 30 per wicket, so it wasn't easy. England picked part time spinners that can bat, and guess what they were not good enough to take wickets to win the series. If part timers are taking wickets then the tests wont last three days because the wickets are that bad.

I also think Cook won all 4 tosses while England was there, The only chance you have in India is to win the toss, bat for 150+ overs in the first innings, look to get them out and bat again and hope they cant last the 5th day. You need to keep India in the field for long times. England did this in each test and still lost

Interesting reading what Gillespie had to say today, when they won, and he got 20 wickets in a three test series, they bowled straight, with lots of leg side fielders, took away the leg side boundaries, and used patience. He still thinks that's the best way to win there, pick bowlers that will bowl the right lines and be patient.

It will be an interesting series if Australia is patient, if they are reckless it will be 4 nil and each test wont last 4 days. If that happens surely the pressure has to go back onto the coach

PH: good post: I do believe England won the previous series in India but they had Swann and Panesar plus some good batsmen; a fact, which, naturally highlights the correctness of your analysis. I too think the seam bowllers could be effective if they bowl straight.

Interestinglly, in the one day game being played in India today, England have selectted just one part-time spinnner in Moen Ali down from three of four during the test series.