Sydney, Dec 14(ANI): The presence of an out of form Sachin Tendulkar in the India Test team for Australia's series next year could work in favour of the touring team for the first time ever, according to senior cricket writer, Malcom Conn.

"Now that Ricky Ponting has retired, Tendulkar stands alone as the remaining member of the great modern batting triumvirate that also included Brian Lara. And most judges believe that Tendulkar was the best of the three," Conn wrote in his column for News.com.au.

"But he will be 40 in April, shortly after Australia's four-Test tour of India. Having won just five of their past 18 Tests, including 4-0 away thrashings by England and Australia, India are in turmoil because they held onto their old blokes for too long," he further wrote.

Conn added: "Past glories do not bring future success. More worryingly, he had scored more than 25 just once in his previous 14 innings, the 76 he made against England in the last Test, which India lost heavily to go 2-1 down in the series."

"Whatever may fade physically and mentally in aging batsmen, it shows up with a lack of consistency. They may still be capable the big innings, the grand century, and Tendulkar may yet find that in this current Test," he wrote.

"But the Tendulkar I saw bully and belt Australia so majestically numerous times over the past two decades is no longer. There are mixed emotions about the possibility of watching Tendulkar play against Australia in India early next year," he further added.

"Given his recent numbers and India's chaos, it could work in Australia's favour for the first time," he concluded. (ANI)