06 October 2004	Wednesday	20 Shaban 1425

BANGALORE, Oct 5: India and Australia go into Wednesday's first Test here without their first-choice teams amid growing concern about both the inclement weather and how the wicket will play.

The Indians confirmed on Tuesday that star batsman Sachin Tendulkar will miss the match but indicated he was likely to be fit for the second Test starting in Chennai on Oct 14.

Australia, seeking to win their first series on Indian soil in 35 years, are not only without injured captain Ricky Ponting but also bereft of a second spinner to support Shane Warne after ignoring Stuart MacGill for the tour.

Seasonal rain over the last week and a forecast of more showers for the next few days has only added to the uncertainty in both camps at the start of the highly-anticipated series.

"Its terribly disappointing that Sachin won't be around," said Indian captain Saurav Ganguly. "The good news, though, is that he will fire in Chennai. Thats the best one can look forward to."

Ganguly hoped the four-match series will not be as close the previous one between the two teams on Indian soil in 2001 when the hosts won 2-1 in the last session of the third and final Test in Madras.

"That one went down to the wire, I hope this one does not," he said. "A close contest takes a lot out of both teams." Both India and Australia will name their playing elevens on Wednesday morning, but Ganguly did not rule out including a third spinner in Murali Kartik to complement Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh.

"I have never seen such a dry wicket in Bangalore," said Ganguly. "It is bound to turn but a lot will depend on how the weather behaves." Australia, whose coach John Buchanan described the wicket as "terrible" on Monday, will lean heavily on Warne to deliver and the champion leg-spinner was ready for the task.

"I don't feel as if I have something to prove," said Warne. "I have been inconsistent here, I've had some absolute shockers, but it doesn't mean I can't bowl. "The conditions here are so hot that sometimes you can't execute what you want, but this is the first time I have come to this country fit and raring to go."

Warne, who needs six wickets to overhaul Muttiah Muralitharan's world record of 532, will be supported by a three-pronged pace attack of Glenn McGrath, Jason Gillespie and Michael Kasprowicz.

Left-hander Simon Katich will be pushed up the order to take Ponting's pivotal number three position, while Michael Clarke makes his Test debut to strengthen the middle order.

Australia, who have not won a series in India since 1969, have lost five of their last seven Tests here. India have been beaten just once in their last 21 home series, by Hansie Cronje's South Africa in 2000.

Likely teams:

INDIA: Saurav Ganguly (captain), Akash Chopra, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Venkatsai Laxman, Yuvraj Singh, Parthiv Patel, Irfan Pathan, Zaheer Khan, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh.

AUSTRALIA: Adam Gilchrist (captain), Matthew Hayden, Justin Langer, Simon Katich, Damien Martyn, Darren Lehmann, Michael Clarke, Shane Warne, Jason Gillespie, Michael Kasprowicz, Glenn McGrath.

Umpires: Steve Bucknor (West Indies) and Billy Bowden (New Zealand).

TV umpire: Avi Jayaprakash (India).

Match referee: Ranjan Madugalle (Sri Lanka). -AFP