Warne holds key to Aussie success

This is clearly Australia's best chance to beat India in India. Their 3-0 victory in Sri Lanka has given their leading players adequate exposure to sub-continental tracks, writes Allan Border.

It's a mouth-watering prospect, really. If the previous two Test series between Australia and India are any indication, this four-Test series should be a cracker.

Memories of the absorbing contests in 2001 and 2003-04 have whetted the appetite of cricket-lovers in both countries. India is indeed the 'final frontier' for the Australian cricketers, who have beaten everyone in sight in the last few years, except the Indians.

Adam Gilchrist and his players, most of whom toured India three years ago, will be smarting under the 1-2 loss in 2001 and the 1-1 deadlock last year. They will be going flat out to add India to their impressive array of conquests. On the other hand, the Indians will do everything in their grasp to defend their near-invincible reputation at home.

Test cricket is all about 'battles within the war'. The duels should be fascinating - McGrath versus Dravid, Warne versus Laxman, Hayden versus Harbhajan. It will be safe to say that the team that wins most of these duels will stand a better chance of winning the series.

Hayden will feel at home in Indian conditions, having done so well the last time he played a Test series there. Of course, it's not mandatory that a player who has done well in a particular country will succeed on every subsequent tour of the same land, but Hayden has the technique and maturity to come good a second time.

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