Bangalore: Preparation is the first step to success. more so in the case of a high-profile series such as he one that kicks off here on Thursday. The Australian and India skippers stressed on preparation time and again in the last couple of weeks that surprisingly saw more than just lip service being accorded to their plans. It's not as if Anil Kumble and Ricky Pointing only just discovered the merits of preparing well, it's just that time wasn't on their side on some previous occasions.

The stage is set once again for one of the most exciting contests in modern cricket, between ODI champions and Twenty20 champions. The teams start on an even footing because while Australia have few experienced batsmen, and also posses the ability to bounce back from impossible situations, they are a little in experience bowling department. India have an experience side, and two of the best spinners to exploit home conditions. Anil Kumble and Harbhajan Singh have got good records against Aussies and if they are in good form, the visitors will have a tough time handling them.

It has been ten years since Ricky Ponting first series in India to play a Test. Three tour, eight Tests and an average of 12.28. Ponting failed in 1998 against Anil Kumble and Venkatapathy Raju but the ambush by Harbhajan Singh in 2001 is what really haunts him. Only India win five test match against Australian since 2001 after England.