It's an uphill task, but India can still save the Test

India were put under the cosh by Ricky Ponting and Michael Clarke, as they both hit classy centuries which have given Australia just the platform that they need to put pressure on a beleaguered Indian line-up. India will take some comfort from the fact that this pitch does not seem to have the extra bounce that the pitches in the earlier Tests had, though young Umesh Yadav did get the odd ball to get up awkwardly. The Adelaide pitch is not only the best batting pitch in Australia, the heat and humidity there is also energy sapping and so bowlers with long run-ups can get tired quickly. It is therefore essential for India's batsmen to show just a bit of patience and not lose early wickets which works as a tonic for the bowlers. Virender Sehwag captaining the team because of the suspension of Mahendra Singh Dhoni was quick to realise that the moisture under the surface could be exploited by a spinner, and he brought Ravichandran Ashwin on and he got the out-of-form Shaun Marsh and Ed Cowan out quickly. Unfortunately with little support at the other end, Ashwin couldn't do much. Zaheer Khan bowled well, but seemed to be more intent on getting the ball to move away from the right-hander's, and that often means that he is bowling wide off the stumps. Canny swing There was a spell just before the second new ball was due where he got the ball to swing back in at Ponting, and it was only the experience of Ponting, as well as the fact that he was well set, that had him middle it. Ponting smiled after that in acknowledgement of Zaheer's canniness. Ishant Sharma's figures look economical, but he is still bowling a foot and half shorter than he should. He had Clarke drawn forward and pushing at a delivery which on another day would have stuck in V.V.S. Laxman's hands, but he didn't seem to have learnt from that and continued the short of length line. Yadav, on the other hand, was more expensive and that's mainly because he is a little inexperienced. Clarke took a blow from one such delivery and even Ponting was watchful against him. The short square boundaries also did not help, as the cuts and pulls went for fours despite fielders being near by. India are missing an allrounder, especially on days like this when two batsmen get stuck and the heat means that bowlers have to be rotated wisely. Sehwag did bowl a lot, but perhaps some of those overs could have been given to Ashwin who was bowing so well. It is going to be an uphill climb for India, but as Ponting indicated, it is wicket where it won't be easy to get 20 wickets and that is where India's chances of saving the Test lie.