MELBOURNE, Dec 19: Anil Kumble has always been a master of spin but even he had a tough time spinning a strong argument that India could overcome Australia in their four-Test series.

The tourists have the enthusiasm with five or more of their champion veterans being desperate for victory on what will almost certainly be their last visit to Australia.

However, how to down a team that have not lost a home Test rubber since 1992-93, is a mighty question.

He ticked off the reasons India would be a threat, then found just as many causes for his own side to be concerned about Australia’s power. He chose his words carefully, which was not surprising for a man who has heard the spin from his captaincy predecessors on visits to Australia, and has seen the results.

His primary argument revolved around spin, which he termed Australia’s biggest weakness.

Shane Warne was proving difficult to replace, he claimed, and India’s batsmen would not mind facing up to a third-choice slow bowler with Stuart MacGill also not available.

“If the wickets help spin, then definitely we have the advantage,” Kumble said. “It will definitely help us if it turns in Melbourne and Sydney.”

Kumble eased, pondering Australia’s double-loss of Warne and Glenn McGrath. Yet he remembered that neither of the two match-winners played last time India toured Australia in 2003-04, when Warne was enduring his drugs ban and McGrath had an ankle injury.

“It definitely gives you a bit of confidence,” he stated. “But having said that the last time around when we played here Glenn was injured and Warney was not there, so…” his voice faded.

If Kumble is an optimist, the sentence might have finished with “and we didn’t lose”. But if the man possesses a pessimistic approach, then the thought could have been “no Warne, no McGrath and we still couldn’t beat them.”

India did play well on their last visit Down Under, securing a 1-1 draw and Kumble saw no reason that their style of play should change this time. But he was cautious not to make any forecasts that would come back to upset him.

“Most of the senior cricketers probably are here on their last tour to Australia, so it’s very important that we go back victorious. But not many people come here and go back victorious,” he said. “We know that Australia are a tough opposition and I think we have the experience and the quality to go out there and do our best.”—Agencies