Cricket: Aussies ready for Indian challenge

Indian great Sachin Tendulkar prepares to bat in a training session ahead of the first test against Australia. Photo / Getty Images

Australia wicketkeeper Brad Haddin says Michael Clarke's men have put their embarrassing loss to New Zealand behind them and are in a good frame of mind for the Boxing Day test against India.

"We're in a very good space at the moment. We've had a week to prepare so from that point of view we couldn't be more prepared," said Haddin yesterday.

"Boxing Day, it's a great occasion to walk out on to the MCG.

"As a sportsman, it's a highlight to be able to come out in front of 60,000 or 70,000 to watch a test match.

"We're up for it. We've had a very good couple of days at our batting camp."

Australia trimmed uncapped allrounder Dan Christian and pace bowler Mitchell Starc from their 13-man squad.

Swing bowler Ben Hilfenhaus has won a recall after recovering from knee tendinitis while Shaun Marsh returns to bat at No 3 after overcoming a back injury which kept him out of this month's series against New Zealand.

Clarke admitted it was a gamble to leave out No 6 batsman Christian, especially with fellow allrounder Shane Watson declared unfit as he recovers from hamstring and calf strains.

The skipper said he could call on himself and other part-timers Michael Hussey, Ricky Ponting and David Warner to bowl a few overs.

Tasmania's Ed Cowan, 29, will become the tenth Australia player to make his test debut in 2011.

Cowan will open the batting with David Warner against No 2-ranked India with Marsh at No 3 in a trio of first-year players.

Haddin said the possibility of India's Sachin Tendulkar achieving the historic milestone of 100 test and one-day international hundreds in the Melbourne test had not come up at No 4-ranked Australia's team meetings.

"That's exciting, the prospect of him scoring his hundredth 100, for the fans and everyone involved in the game," Haddin said.

"We haven't discussed anything about Sachin's hundred. With a bit of luck we don't give him the opportunity to get there."

Now the real test starts for rival offspinners Nathan Lyon and Ravichandran Ashwin.

After impressing this year in their test debuts, the pair will face formidable challenges through the series.

Lyon will bowl to an all-time great Indian top order that routinely dines out on opposition slow bowlers.

Ashwin had great success last month in the home series against the West Indies, but now he must adapt to the more pace-friendly Australian pitches.

There was nothing surprising or subtle about comments from Indian captain MS Dhoni ahead of the start to tomorrow's test.

Stars such as Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman intend to go after him.

"We're just hoping that we score some runs off him, try to put pressure on him," Dhoni said.

Lyon was a groundsman at Adelaide Oval last year when he was talent-spotted into the South Australian team.

In July, he was a surprise addition to the Australian squad and he hasn't missed a beat, taking 22 wickets in seven tests at an average of 24.59.

- AAP