Match facts
Oct 9-13, 2008
Start time 9.30am (0400 GMT)
Big Picture
All the talk of retirement and succession planning has hogged the limelight over the last few weeks, but thankfully the focus will switch to the cricket when India and Australia take the field in the first of four Tests, at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Thursday. For both teams, the series is of massive importance: the Australians are in transition mode, and are searching for replacements who can adequately fill the huge voids left by Glenn McGrath, Shane Warne and Adam Gilchrist; the next month could be a pointer to just how well the team will fare in their absence. For the Indians, this series is the last time their five experienced stalwarts will all be playing together. With the Australians so inexperienced to these conditions - none of their specialist bowlers have bowled a ball in a Test in India - this is an excellent opportunity for India to sneak a series win after two successive losses against them.
Australia may be a relatively weaker team, but that's only when compared to their formidable sides of the recent past. The batting has plenty of class, while the pace attack will probably ask uncomfortable questions of the Indian line-up even on slow tracks.
India have the better balanced bowling attack and plenty of experience in their batting, but most of their top order are coming off a lean spell in Sri Lanka. The home advantage belongs to India, but Australia have done well in Bangalore in the past: the last time they played here was also in the series opener, and they cruised home by 217 runs, with Michael Clarke scoring a delightful 151 and winning the Man-of-the-Match award on debut.
 | 06:00 - 15:00 | Test/Odi's | Live! |  | ||||||
 | India | vs. | Australia |  | ||||||
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