Lone spinner ... Nathan Lyon.

Lone spinner ... Nathan Lyon. Photo: Getty Images


On an orange clay track that would make Rafael Nadal's mouth water, India are expected to bank on their slow-bowling contingent headed by off-spinners Ravichandran Ashwin and the recalled Harbhajan Singh.

Australia's inclusion of Nathan Lyon as a lone spinner is a clear consequence of the squad's lack of world-class spin options, but the Test captain said they were not exposing themselves to potential calamity with the radical selection of Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson and all-rounder Moises Henriques in such conditions.

"I don't think it is [a gamble]. I think we've got a really good attack. We've got three specialist fast bowlers. We've got the all-rounder in Moises and then we have got our front-line spinner in Nathan Lyon and a couple of part-timers in David Warner and myself," Clarke said.

"Personally, I think we have covered all bases. I think India's team will be a lot different to ours, but I think we have gone with our strengths and we're backing that when the wicket does deteriorate here, not only will it spin more, it will go up and down more, and we think reverse swing will play a part as well."

The balance of the Australian XI has been upset by the fact Shane Watson, ordinarily a top-order all-rounder, is taking a break from bowling. Had the vice-captain been at full capacity, there would be no requirement for Henriques to be thrust into a Test debut and Clarke's team could have instead included a second specialist spinner or the spin-bowling all-rounder Glenn Maxwell.

Henriques's form in the squad's warm-up matches in Chennai was compelling, however. It convinced Clarke that reverse swing and variable bounce was an alternative route to victory over M. S. Dhoni's vulnerable hosts. Clarke and coach Mickey Arthur called a team meeting on Thursday to discuss strategies with the old ball.

"Australian summers are not different but generally here, because you sweat so much, the guys that aren't bowling need to take control of the ball," Clarke said. "So whether that is me or Watto in slip, we have to look after it for the bowlers and keep it out of their hands as much as possible. If the ball is reverse swinging, if you get the shiny side wet, it stops the swing so that is something we will talk about."

If Australia's left-field plan comes off over the next five weeks, they could not only claim a rare series win in India but put a full stop on the legendary career of Sachin Tendulkar. India will look to the next generation, Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli, to keep an often flimsy batting unit afloat but Clarke said Australia must be wary of Tendulkar despite the 39-year-old not having scored a Test century in two years. At Chennai, Tendulkar has bludgeoned 876 runs at 87.6 in nine Tests including five hundreds – the most he has scored at any ground.

"What I know about players like Sachin is once they get in, especially in conditions they're so accustomed to, it's really difficult to get them out," Clarke said. "So the key is if you get any sort of momentum in the subcontinent you have to run with it for as long as you possibly can. So if you make a 50, a 60, a 70 and get out, you're more accountable there than the guy who made zero."

The teams: Australia: Michael Clarke (c), Ed Cowan, David Warner, Phillip Hughes, Shane Watson, Matthew Wade, Moises Henriques, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon (12th man to be named)

Possible India XI: M. S. Dhoni (c), Virender Sehwag, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravi Ashwin, Harbhajan Singh, Pragyan Ojha, Ishant Sharma Pointer