India must play on turning
tracks: Sidhu

Only spinner-friendly pitches can help India face Australia on equal terms in their home Test series later this month, according to former Indian opener Navjot Singh Sidhu.

Sidhu, who played 51 Tests in his 15-year career that ended two years ago, said Australia's batsmen could be contained only on turning tracks, despite the absence of Anil Kumble from the series following shoulder surgery.

"Tracks are going to play a very important role. And there is only one way, play on turning tracks," said the cricketer-turned-commentator, adding India should play attacking cricket.

Australia will arrive in India determined to extend their world record of 15 consecutive Test victories and captain Steve Waugh has declared his team can claim to be the best in history only if they win the Indian series.

Sidhu, whose attacking batting was crucial in India's 2-1 home Test series win over Australia in 1997-98, also said Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne would be a tougher prospect for the Indian batsmen this time.

"He (Warne) didn't settle down well last time," said Sidhu, who played his part in the attack on the wrist-spinner by scoring 341 runs from five innings for a series average of 68.20.

"But this time they have done their homework. They are likely to bowl a leg-stump line. Indians are not very good at the sweep shot and playing against the spin, they are bound to give more chances," Sidhu said in an interview on Monday.

Warne, who was nursing a shoulder injury during the tour, bowled an off-stump line which suited Indian batsmen two years ago.

DUEL WITH WARNE

Sachin Tendulkar won a much-anticipated duel with Warne, scoring 446 runs in five innings which included two centuries for a series average of 111.50. Warne took only 10 wickets in the three Tests at an average of 54.00.

Former India skipper Krishnamachari Srikkanth gives India a "60-40" edge over Australia and predicted the home off-spinners would succeed against Australia despite lack of experience.

He said he expected Sharandeep Singh, who took six wickets in his only previous Test in India's 1-0 series victory over Zimbabwe at home last year, to do well.

Sidhu said the fact that Australia had not won a Test series in India since 1969 could not be ignored.

However, he said the absence of Kumble, India's second highest Test wicket-taker after Kapil Dev, is a big blow.

"For the last five-six years, he is the only match-winning spinner we had. He not only used to take wickets economically, he used to put pressure on the batsmen to score from the other end," he added.

Kumble is expected to be out of action at least for the next four months. He has been sidelined since last October with a shoulder injury but is on the road to recovery after an operation in Johannesburg last month.

Australia's itinerary in India includes a three-Test series, starting on February 27, and five one-day internationals.

Mail Cricket Editor