The changing of guard is a fascinating spectacle, whether at the Buckingham Palace or on the sports field. Australia arrives in India having completed the first half of the operation - the old guard is nearly gone - but with the more difficult half, the new guard replacing it satisfactorily, incomplete. For India, the old guard is looking at its watches, at calendars, at the record books as if to suggest that there is time yet. In one case, the process of change is under way, in the other, the idea of change is still being debated. While the youngsters in the visitors' squad will be looking to establish their places, it is the veterans in the home side who will be looking for consolidation. If both these events come to pass, we are guaranteed another India-Australia series that will match the best. Australia's fast bowlers have not bowled in a Test match in India, its lone spinner lacks experience. Its wicketkeeper is new, its first-choice spinner has already flown back home. It was mauled by the Board President's XI in the warm up match in Hyderabad. It is up against an Indian team playing at home with its strong band of batsmen and the most experienced spin combination in the world. Four Tests. Who would you put your money on? The easy, and obvious answer, of course is India. The ageing middle order - Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, V.V.S. Laxman, Sourav Ganguly (who announced his retirement plans on Tuesday) - has a point to prove, perhaps a last hurrah or two to attempt. The spinners expect turning tracks (whether they will get it or not is a moot question), and in Mahendra Singh Dhoni it has the premier wicketkeeper-batsman in the world. Yet, if India is not sitting back expecting an easy, pre-ordained series victory, it is because of that quality known as “Australianness”. It involves the ability to raise the level of the game when under pressure, it involves national pride, it involves an intense desire to prove all detractors wrong. After struggling against the Board President's XI in Hyderabad, Australia was written off. But that might just be the spur the visitors need to get their act together. One of sport's biggest mistakes is to underestimate an Australian team. India was clearly the superior side in 1969-70 in India, in 1977-78 in Australia, in 2004-05 in India, and yet lost all these series. In Matthew Hayden and Ricky Ponting Australia has two of the finest batsmen in the world. Mike Hussey, fresh from his century in Hyderabad and Michael Clarke, who began his career with a century in Bangalore, are in the top drawer too. Andrew Symonds will be missed, but professional teams are pragmatic, and know they have to perform with the personnel they have, not with what might have been. Ranged against the inexperience of their bowlers in Indian conditions is the poor recent form of the leading Indian batsmen. Virender Sehwag might well be the key batsman for India - he has been in great form, and he is under no pressure to quit. India will need a solid start as a cushion for its famed middle order. In this century, India has beaten Australia more than any other team. Australia has won 70 of the 94 Test matches played, losing just 11 - five to India, four to England and one apiece to South Africa and the West Indies. That is an awesome record. In the same period, India has won 34 of its 91 Tests and lost 27. Even without the baggage the teams carry into the series, therefore, there is promise of excitement. __
