DECEMBER 25: INDIA failed to take advantage of the Australian selectors' conservatism in Adelaide and their punishment will be to face the express pace of Brett Lee at the MCG. Make no mistake Lee is fast; ask any of the India A batsmen who were in Los Angeles. However, this time he won't be operating on a pitch that is anything like as friendly as the one just down the road from tinsel town, as there is plenty of bounce in the MCG pitch, but it is usually pretty even.By showing themselves to be vulnerable to the short-pitched ball, the Indian batsmen have also ensured that they will be subjected to a fair amount of hype concerning Lee's actual pace and true to form there are already statements flying around that he is as fast, if not faster than Shoaib Akhtar. Like the Pakistani paceman, Lee has been reported as promising to strive for a really fast delivery, but he'd be wise to learn from Shoaib's mistake and concentrate on bowling as he did in Los Angeles, with controlled pace and aggression. Pace is one thing, but smart fast bowling is what good batsmen least like facing.Lee will add to India's worries and if that isn't bad enough, they did nothing in the match in Hobart to alleviate any of the problems that resulted from the Adelaide loss. Australia, long ago, learnt the value of stomping on the opposition in first-class tour matches, so that form is maintained and an aura built up. These matches don't necessarily have to be won, but superiority should be established before the throttle-hold is released so that star performers aren't overworked before a five-day match.Like batsmen, bowlers can only build up confidence by tasting regular success and Javagal Srinath is one who could have benefited by taking a few early wickets in Hobart before being released from serious duty in order to rest up for what will be a big workload at the MCG. The fact that India's bowlers were pasted all over Bellerive Oval for a couple of days will have created a doubt in the tourists' minds, whilst boosting the outlook of the Australian batsmen.I understand Sachin Tendulkar's back problems, but a thunderous century from him would have reverberated through the Australian camp. Also, the opportunity to try a few different field placings would have helped him better understand captaincy under Australian conditions and the quicker he comes to grip with this facet of his job, the more value he will be to his team.The Australian team understand the psychological side of the game better than any other team and they consequently work harder on this aspect in the build up to a series and then each individual game. Hence the confident statements that have emanated from Steve Waugh this season and until the opposition learn to fight this battle on equal terms with Australia, the war in this country will continue to be half over before it even commences.Consequently, Australia not only enter the Boxing Day Test without being made to focus on their inadequacies, but they are also being allowed to accentuate the positive of adding Lee to an already successful attack. Armed with the extra pace man to support Glenn McGrath and the knowledge that India are shaky at the top of the order, Steve Waugh is likely to insert the opposition on the merest whim.If the pitch has any moisture and the day is not too warm, then India can expect to bat first and be subjected to a torrid time. If ever India needed a good start it will be at the MCG and if Tendulkar then follows up with a sparkling century that would erase the enormous advantage with which Australia enters this Test. It might be a good idea for the Indian batsmen to bring forward their New Year's resolution otherwise the festive period will be anything but a happy and peaceful time. Be that as it may, I hope yours is a happy and peaceful period.
