AS IT HAPPENED: Second Test - Australia v India

WHAT'S AT STAKE?

Victory would hand Australia an unbeatable 2-0 series lead.

While it cannot reclaim the No.1 mantle briefly held at the start of 2014, Australia must win the series against India to maintain second position.  

If Australia wins the series 4-0, it would close the gap on South Africa to four rating points, with India dropping to seventh, while a 3-1 win would cut the Proteas' lead to six.

PITCH AND CONDITIONS

According to reports, the Gabba strip on which MItchell Johnson terrorised England last season has been replicated.

The postponment of the Brisbane Test has allowed the wicket to have an even grass coverage and fast bowlers from both sides will benefit.

However it is likely the match will be affected by rain delays.

Possible showers are predicted for every day of the Test, and up to 20mm of rain is expected to fall on Thursday (day two). 

NEW LEADERS ALL ROUND


_{India captain MS Dhoni is set return from a thumb injury. Photo: Getty}

Both sides will have different captains from last week's Test, with MS Dhoni back from a thumb injury to replace Virat Kohli and Steve Smith named as Australia's new skipper.

There has been the odd murmuring that India would be better served with Kohli was its full-time captain. But for now the BCCI is backing the ever popular Dhoni.  

Shaun Marsh, the left-handed middle-order batsman, is set to replace Michael Clarke in Australia's middle order. 

HAZLEWOOD CHALLENGING SIDDLE'S POSITION

Australia's selectors are mulling over whether to add fresh faces Josh Hazlewood and Mitchell Starc to the pace attack.

Peter Siddle was unwell in the first innings, and bowled only nine overs in the second dig. The Victorian looked below his optimum fitness and claimed two wickets for the match, both in the first innings.

Ryan Harris, making his Test return after major knee surgery, slogged through a total of 40 overs in Adelaide and could also be left out to mitigate against injury. 

WHO NEEDS RUNS

With Tasmania's Ed Cowan amassing four hundreds in Sheffield Shield this season, Chris Rogers is under pressure to keep his spot as opening batsman.

However Darren Lehmann praised his work ethic and backed him to come good.

"He [Rogers] is a great foil for David Warner, and we love that as a selection panel. However, like everyone, you need to make some runs. He knows that he needs to make some runs there's no hiding from the fact, but he's put on some really good partnerships in the last 18 months and been a great foil behind the scenes - a lot of things you guys [media] don't see. So, we're really pleased with where he's at, [but] we'd obviously like him to make some more runs," Lehmann said at the weekend.

You get the sense selectors want to extend Rogers' Test career until next winter's Ashes series in England, where Rogers has been most prolific. 


_{Tasmania's Ed Cowan has made four Sheffield Shield hundreds this season and has increased his array of scoring shots. Photo: Getty}

WILL TEMPERS FLARE AGAIN?

Incidents during the fourth day of the Adelaide Test resulted in fines for David Warner, Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli.

Warner and Dhawan clashed after the former was bowled by a Varun Aaron no-ball.

Those involved were given a firm lecture to accompany their fines. Whether that's enough to quell the aggression remains to be seen. 


_{Australia's David Warner and India's Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli were fined by the ICC. Photo: Getty}