India could play the five-bowler card

After a dramatic win in Perth, India are plotting the final punch in their battle against the world champions. Cold logic says that the eleven men who won them the Perth Test should retain their place but could their be a twist in the tale? There is even talk, muted for the moment, that India may gamble with five bowlers.

Traditionally, the Adelaide Oval is a batting paradise. And India know the onus is on them to find a way to take 20 Australian wickets to level the series at 2-2. So could they find a place for this man, Harbhajan Singh in their eleven?

The seam bowling trio earned their stripes in Perth, so Harbhajan will find it hard to displace any of them. But one team source says the option of playing five bowlers isn't closed. It's an idea the vice-captain certainly likes.

"Our bowlers, they have bowled consistently and they have encouraged the batsmen to drive the ball, so at times that really helps and that is helping us in taking wickets," Mahendra Singh Dhoni says.

If five bowlers were to play; Dhoni will have to bat at number six. On current form, he is averaging a shade over 17 from six innings on tour; that will be a pretty big gamble.
But with Irfan Pathan showing impressive form with the bat in both innings in Perth, India could be tempted to take the risk. He could bat at number seven, an option even the opposition camp believes isn't out of the question.

"Pathan batted very well over there (Perth) too, so they get down that avenue, or as they did in Sydney, play two spinners and two quicks and the extra batter," Australia opener Phil Jaques says.

If India do play five bowlers, this man will be forced on the bench. Wasim Jaffer has made just 49 runs in six innings so far at an average of under nine.
And once again, Rahul Dravid could be asked to open the innings, which will be a tough call for the management to take after his 93 in the first innings at Perth, especially as Dravid himself is reluctant to do the job.

The final call will only be taken after assessing the pitch at the Adelaide Oval. But there is no doubt that victory is priority number one going into this Test match and this Indian team is prepared to chart a brave new course if need be to achieve it.