Bryce McGain is rightfully acknowledged as Australia's premier spin bowler. At 36, he heads Ricky Ponting's spin attack. In first-class cricket last summer McGain took 38 wickets at 33.00, but more than that, he impressed with his persistence and ability to build constant pressure.

McGain will become the oldest Australia debutant since NSW leg-spinner Bob Holland played his first Test in 1984.

Tough initiation

Bowling against the batting prowess of Tendulkar, Laxman, Dravid and Dhoni, makes for a tough initiation for McGain and how he copes at this level will be as must a test of character as it will be a test of his bowling skill.
 
Since the retirement of Shane Warne and Stuart MacGill, the Australian selectors have been at their wits' end to find an international-class spinner.

McGain has been the stand-out at a time when South Australia's 'off-spinner Dan Cullen has gone backwards at the rate of knots. He's had a few mates:

NSW offie Nathan Hauritz has also lost a lot of ground. Both spinners have promised much and have delivered bugger-all. The selectors gave them a warning by picking Tasmanian off-spinner Jason Krejza, who operates at a fizzing pace, but because of his flat trajectory and predictable length he shouldn't worry the Indian batsman unduly.

Poor record

Krejza took 18 wickets at an average of 47.11 last summer, hardly figures to write home about and only marginally better than Cullen's 18 at 49. Those sort of figures should bring about one's dumping from State cricket, let alone being picked for higher honours.

Ponting's men had Chinaman bowler Beau Casson in its line-up against the West Indies, as standby for Stuart MacGill. But MacGill was unfit and out of form and he gave up trying. Casson proved, as have Hauritz and Cullen in recent times, to be totally out of their depth on the international stage. It seems as though Australia will rely on McGain to shore up an end with lengthy spells, complementing the relenting pace of Brett Lee, especially, Mitchell Johnson and that old medium-fast warhorse, Stuart Clark.

Symo will be missed

With no Andrew Symonds this time, the Australian attack looks a little thin, for Shane Watson, apart from being a classy batsman, is pretty much cannon fodder as a medium-fast bowler. Australia's chances in India will depend greatly on its pace attack and the ability of McGain to quickly adapt to a higher level of cricket.
 
Part-time left-arm orthodox spinner Michael Clarke may fid himself having to bowl a lot more than normal, but Clarke is no Bishan Bedi. He won't be able to sustain good quality stuff for long periods.  India is a side which has under-achieved for too long, but it will have the edge on this Australian team, which no longer boasts the combined magic of Warne and Glenn McGrath. It is now very "beatable."

India's biggest problem is playing up to its collective ability. Do that and India will win the series easily. Just how McGain bowls will be the key to what may well prove to be a fascinating battle.

The author, a former Australia off-spinner, claimed 28 wickets in their 1969-70 Test series win in India. He is now a spin coach.