Aussies threatened by Laxman-Dravid pair

Australia's stand-in captain Adam Gilchrist said that it was not Sachin but the Dravid-Laxman combine that has proved to be Aussie's nemesis over the years.

Australia's stand-in captain Adam Gilchrist on Tuesday said that it was not Sachin Tendulkar but the Dravid-Laxman combine that has proved to be the world champion's nemesis over the years.

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Gilchrist said that Tendulkar was a great batsman but was not the one who had caused "damage" to the Aussies in the last two series. He, however, was quick to add that his team would not relax because Tendulkar was not playing.

"His absence is not a disappointment, I promise you. The game is better placed with Sachin in it but with all respect to Sachin, he hasn't been the one in the last two series that really did the damage to us," said Gilchrist ahead of the first Test starting in Bangalore on Tuesday.

"He had some remarkable innings in there (Australia), but over the course of the series it was probably (VVS) Laxman and (Rahul) Dravid that has really hurt us."

Gilchrist said he would personally miss Tendulkar but India had other talented players to take on the world's top ranked Test team.