The Doosra: Dileep Premachandran's blog with an Asian spin

India, who must take 20 Australia wickets on the best batting pitch in the southern hemisphere to have a chance of squaring the series, are faced with a difficult decision before the fourth Test, which starts early tomorrow. Do they persist with the same attack that won them the third Test in Perth or do they drop a batsman to accommodate a fifth bowler?

Wasim Jaffer, the opening batsman, appears certain to be dropped. Dinesh Karthik is standing by to replace him, but India must take the brave option and play a second specialist spinner, Harbhajan Singh, to go with the three pace bowlers who served them so well at the Waca. One of them, Irfan Pathan, who has scored a Test hundred, could bat at No 7, with Anil Kumble, who has also made a Test century, at No 8.

Another possibility would be for Pathan to open the innings after showing what a sound technique he has in Perth, where he made 46 as nightwatchman in the second innings. Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the wicket-keeper, could move up to No 6, with Rahul Dravid opening the batting again.

Given the amount of turn that Shane Warne obtained out of the rough on the final day of the Adelaide Test 13 months ago, when England collapsed to suffer one of their most infamous defeats, India will be keen to play two frontline spinners, although Virender Sehwag, the recalled opening batsman, did account for two crucial second-innings wickets at the Waca with his occasional off breaks.

Australia will make two changes from the Perth Test, with Matthew Hayden, who is fit again, returning in place of Chris Rogers at the top of the order and Brad Hogg, the left-arm wrist spinner, replacing Shaun Tait.

Australia: R T Ponting (captain), P A Jaques, M L Hayden, M E K Hussey, M J Clarke, A Symonds, A C Gilchrist, G B Hogg, B Lee, M G Johnson, S R Clark.

India (from): A Kumble (captain), V Sehwag, K D Karthik, R Dravid, S R Tendulkar, S C Ganguly, V V S Laxman, M S Dhoni, I S Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, R P Singh, Ishant Sharma.

Television: Live on Sky Sports 1 Thursday 24 January from 12.25am.