SYDNEY, JANUARY 1: The Indian team had high hopes of doing well in the first Test of the new millennium, irrespective of their performance in the last two Tests. These hopes were evoked because traditionally, the Sydney wicket has been slow and helps the spinners more than the fast bowlers.India have had their only moment of glory on this tour here when they beat a New South Wales team and were looking forward to their return trip with more than a passing interest.Imagine the shock they must have got to see a wicket that had more grass on it than at Adelaide and Melbourne and the colour of the surface was more green than brown. The Australians have done their home work well and do not want to leave anything to chance in trying to win their second home series 3-0. What must be the morale of a team that has been left with an opening pair of doubtful quality? After Sadagoppan Ramesh was ruled out of the tour due to a fractured thumb, India have been left with very little choice but to push Devang Gandhiback into the side and hang on with VVS Laxman.The only other batsman they are left with is Vijay Bharadwaj, who hasn't batted with any degree of assurance to be pushed into the side. If he plays tomorrow, it only reflects on the lack of choices the Indians are facing here.This brings the topic back to Mohammad Azharuddin. Given the condition of the Indian team at the moment his presence might have been of help. If nothing else, his experience might have boosted the team psychologically. If the Indians can't find a decent replacement for him that is what it looks like there may be no harm in holding on to a man even if his best is behind him. At the same time, let nobody fool himself by believing that Azharuddin's presence here would have made the team perform better.The major flaw with this team has been the dismal failure of its openers. It requires gutsy, talented youngsters more than a man who, it should be obvious to everyone now, is not wanted in the team due to more than just cricketingreasons alone. Like Mongia, Azharuddin is out of favour for `actions' in the past that the establishment will never disclose but will always hold against him. Only tongues will wag, the truth will never be told.In this almost despair-like situation for the Indians, one man has emerged with credit. More than Hrishikesh Kanitkar's fluent batting, his temperament has been a revelation. He walked into very tough situations at Melbourne in both the innings and both times his response was positive.His flaw, like that of most others, has been inability to play a long innings. A Test match is not a one-day game and making 30-40 quick runs serves very little purpose. If Kanitkar can realise that flashiness pays, but longevity has greater rewards, then India may have found the number six they were searching for so desperately.It is a reflection of the team's mood that on the eve of the Test, the talk was more on why India perform so poorly on tours. Sachin Tendulkar was repeating what he and most have beensaying for so long now: Improve domestic cricket, wickets and quality of competition.While the Indians were introspecting what is wrong with their cricket, the Australians, despite an injury scare to Glenn McGrath, are bracing themselves for another whitewash. Captain Steve Waugh has already said that he backs his team against any side of any era. A tall claim, no doubt, given his team's record against the Indians in India and the series loss to Sri Lanka in Lanka a couple of months ago. But of one thing there is no doubt. This team knows how to wriggle out of tight situations and convert a potential disaster into a match-winning situation.The teamsINDIA (from): Gandhi, Laxman, Dravid, Tendulkar, Ganguly, Kanitkar, MSK Prasad, Agarkar, Kumble, Srinath, Prasad, Bharadwaj.Australia (from): Blewett, Slater, Langer, M Waugh, S Waugh, Ponting, Gilchrist, Warne, Lee, Fleming, McGrath, Miller.LIVE TELECAST on ESPN from 5.30 am.
