'Top order key in India-Oz clash'

• Australia ended their 39-year-old drought of a series win in India back in 2004 when the McGraths and Gillespies with able support from the legendary Shane Warne rocked the Indian batting order. The Aussies did retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy earlier this year but with the absence of Glenn McGrath and Warne, their bowlers did have a tough time even while dealing with India’s lower order batsmen. However, John Buchanan, under whose coaching the Aussies triumphed four years ago in India, feels that the performance of the top order batsmen of both teams could well turn out to be the difference in the upcoming series that kicks off on October 9 in Bengaluru.
• "No doubt, it’s going to be a tough series. Both India and Australia have a good bowling attack. But I think the result depends more on how the top order batsmen of both sides fare since it’s they who have to take the bulk of the responsibility," Buchanan said at the Eden Gardens on Friday.
• Questions relating the controversy surrounding Andrew Symonds were obvious and the former Aussie coach was quick enough to come up with a ‘safe’ reply. "I am some miles away to comment on what’s happening with him (Symonds). All I can say is that within a week or two, we might come to know whether he would be part of the Australian squad."
• Currently in the city for a talent-scouting programme, the Kolkata Knight Riders coach is of the view that a proper balance in the team is yet to be attained. "Of course, there’s a good mix in the side, but what we require most at the moment is a quality spinner (preferably a leg-break bowler) for better results in the next IPL," he expressed.
• Mystery spinner Ajantha Mendis, who was expected to lead the Knight Riders’ spin department from the next edition of the IPL, might well be missed as Srilanka are scheduled to tour England in May 2009. "I am not very sure of the fixtures but international matches should always have the first priority," he said.
• Nevertheless, he was all praise for Bengal players Laxmiratan Shukla and Ashok Dinda, the young medium pacer who has been called up as a replacement for Shantakumaran Sreesanth (who’s still nursing an injury) in the India A squad for the second Test against Australia A at Hyderabad. Buchanan also informed that all the selected aspirants from Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad and Kolkata would be taken to Brisbane for a two-week training in two batches. The first batch leaves on September 21, while the other leaves during Christmas and New Year period