KEY POINTS:
NEW DELHI- Australian paceman Stuart Clark's fitness to be considered for next week's pivotal third Test against India was being tested tonight in a bowlers' net session at the Feroz Shah Kotla Ground.
Clark has been held back by elbow soreness since the first Test in Bangalore, and
missed the tourists' 320-run thrashing in Mohali due to the problem.
His ability to return to action in time is crucial to the visitors' chances of building the pressure they will need to exert against India's batsmen in Delhi.
In his absence last week the likes of Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Sourav Ganguly and Mahendra Dhoni were able to attack Australia's bowlers with little risk, and Clark's accuracy and bounce would have been more than handy.
Today, Clark is going through what is likely to be a two-hour session at the Kotla ground, with Brett Lee also bowling as he works on his form and technique after two exceptionally quiet matches.
Left-arm quick Mitchell Johnson, arguably Australia's lone pace success story of the tour so far, said that by going 1-0 down the Australians may actually have taken some pressure off themselves, as all of India now anticipates a home series victory.
"I think we can put a lot of pressure on the Indians, I think they're going to be feeling it a little being 1-0 up," said Johnson.
"I think all the pressure's on them so most of the guys are confident. When you're losing there's disappointment there but we'll get back on track.
"I don't think we're too far away to be honest. There's a few good things, like Shane Watson batted very well and bowled well. Peter Siddle was outstanding on debut, you've got plenty of guys who've done well.
"The next test now for us is for everyone to get out there and put a big effort in."
Should Clark fail to prove his fitness, the Australians would be in a race against time to sort out their bowling attack for Delhi, and would also need to make a decision on whether or not a replacement should be called for from home.
There have been some delays to the arrival of Phil Jaques' replacement Shaun Marsh this week as the West Australian left-hander cools his heels in Perth while he awaits an Indian entry visa.
Some talk has centred on the form of South Australian quick Shaun Tait, a well-known exponent of reverse swing, who might just be considered as an aggressive option if Clark were to head home.
Such a call would be outlandish given that Tait is still in the early stages of his comeback from a self-imposed break from the game that began in January following his disastrous showing in the Perth Test against India.
- AAP