On the face of it this is a dream contest. After all isn't it a clash between the two top ODI sides in the game? And then of course there is the grudge factor whenever and wherever India and Australia meet on the field. Which means, besides the cricket being of a really high order, one can expect the tension and needling that is inevitable in such contests. One only hopes that the players don't cross the line and venture into unacceptable behaviour and spoil what should be a real cracker of a seven- match series.

It would not be out of place to look back at the last ODI series played in India between the two countries exactly two years ago. On that occasion Australia were more comfortable winners than the final 4-2 margin suggests. But it is safe to say that the visitors were much stronger than the present squad.

Among those on duty were Adam Gilchrist, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds and Matthew Hayden all of whom are missing this time for one reason or the other. Perhaps that is