India vs Australia Second Test Preview: Plenty to Ponder for Clarke's Men as Hosts Target 2-0 Series Lead

With the first Test done and dusted - quite apt considering the nature of the pitch in Chennai - India will be keen to take a stranglehold in the series against Australia with spin yet again expected to dominate.

The last time India played in Hyderabad, the spinners took 18 of the 20 wickets, with R Ashwin - as he did in the first Test -- coming to the fore against New Zealand.

India, however, will be aware of the pitfalls of complacency. Previously when MS Dhoni's men took a 1-0 series lead with a comprehensive victory, they were quickly brought back down to earth by England.

Dhoni is not one to make the same mistake twice; so expect a more tuned-in Indian XI to step out at the Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium.

Enough cannot be stressed about the importance of the nature of the pitch in Hyderabad. If it aids spinners from day one, India can expect to win again in a canter - because unlike England who had a quality second spinner in Monty Panesar, Australia only have the unproven Xavier Doherty.

However, if the wicket has a little bit of bounce and pace, the likes of James Pattinson, Peter Siddle and Mitchell Starc will come into play.

India have been found wanting too many times against good pace bowling, and Pattinson was the man who troubled the home side the most even on the placid Chennai track.

India's major worry, though, is the form of the openers. Virender Sehwag looks a shadow of the dominating player who tormented every single bowler at will. The Delhi Dasher needs to find his old touch; because putting the pressure again on the middle order to perform every time will backfire sooner rather than later, although the form shown by Sachin Tendulkar and Virat Kohli in the first Test was pleasing.

One of Murali Vijay, extremely poor on his home ground in Chennai, Ajinkya Rahane and Shikhar Dhawan will take guard alongside Sehwag for the second Test. All three have their pros and cons, but maybe it is time to give Rahane a run out in the longer format, even if it might not be his natural position.

Vijay has flattered to deceive more often than not, and Dhawan might find the Aussie pace barrage a little too hot to handle. Rahane has impressed at the top of the order in the limited overs format, even if he might have looked out of touch against England recently.

Another aspect for Dhoni and co. to ponder will be the inclusion of Pragyan Ojha. The left-armer took six wickets the last time he played in Hyderabad and deserves a place in the lineup, whether that is at the expense of a second pace bowler or Harbhajan Singh.

Australia have larger worries of course; because apart from Michael Clarke, Moises Henriques and James Pattinson, nobody convinced.

The inexperience in the top and middle order is telling, and Clarke might need to push himself up to avoid being three or four down for nothing.

If Doherty does come in, as he should, considering the fact that the spinners are expected to dominate, either Starc or Siddle will sit out the match.

Australia, unfortunately, just do not have enough confidence in Doherty to step up and be effective in the place of a fast bowler, but it is a chance that they might have to take, if they are to stand a chance of levelling the four-match series.

Squad: India: MS Dhoni (capt), Virender Sehwag, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma, Pragyan Ojha, Harbhajan Singh, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Ashok Dinda.

Australia: Michael Clarke, David Warner, Ed Cowan, Shane Watson, Philip Hughes, Moises Henriques, Matthew Wade, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, James Pattinson, Nathan Lyon, Xavier Doherty, Ashton Agar, Mitchell Johnson, Usman Khawaja, Glenn Maxwell, Steven Smith.