'Batting will decide the series'

It is almost five years since John Buchanan took over as coach of the Australian team. During that time Australia won almost everything that came their way, including the 2003 World Cup.

As we go into this tour of India, we all bear in mind that the last tour was an exceptional one. But, this time, Anil Kumble backs up Harbhajan Singh. How do the Aussies view that threat?

Well, obviously, in 2001 they bowled exceptionally well. Harbhajan took 32 wickets in that series. He plus Laxman and Dravid were really the key points of that series from the Indian perspective and they are still all there. Then you add Tendulkar and the confidence they have gained in their performances since then.

But we go out there with a very different group from last time. There is no Steve Waugh, no Mark Waugh, no Ricky Ponting for the first Test; no Michael Slater and no Colin Miller. So we have a different set of personnel which is responding very well under Ricky's leadership in both Tests and ODI cricket.

So it all just sets up to be an exhilarating series.

This will be the first time with you as coach that the Aussies will have a full-strength attack when they come to India…

When you play against any team you always like to have a full-strength side. Unfortunately, Ricky has put a hole in that one for the first and maybe even the second Test. But having all the bowling options is a very important weapon to have. It's in how that's used and the balance we'll have that is crucial to how we will begin the series.

Virender Sehwag is always an X factor. You never quite know how he will bat on the day. So how do you prepare for a guy like this?

We understand his strengths and his weaknesses. And we would hope that we can expose those weaknesses before he delivers his strengths. But that's always going to be the case. We know that there are going to be big innings and big partnerships from Indian players. It's just how we are going to respond to that at the given time that will make the difference.

What do you think is going to be the turning point of the series for the Australians?

I think the series will be a showdown between the batting strengths of both sides. And whoever will come out on top in that area will be the team that not only dominates the series but wins it.

I believe in the end it's all going to be about how our batsmen stack up against the Indian batsmen in the course of the series. The individual battles between players are part of the puzzle, but batting, to me, will be the key.

Before every series you are normally reading Sun Tzu's 'The Art of War'. So what are you reading this time?

[Laughing loudly] Well, I've been reading Clive Woodward's 'Coaching and Winning'. So there might be the odd quote out of that. But, at the moment, I am not to sure.

What according to you is going to be the result of the series?

I never predict. I am just hoping that we understand how we need to play and go out and execute that. If we do that we are going to be pretty hard to beat.