Australia may be dreaming of a comeback at Feroz Shah Kotla but the numbers suggest India will continue to smile in Delhi.

By Rajarshi Gupta

The Kotla has been witness to some majestic cricketing glories over the years, since the first Test between India and the West Indies in the winter of 1948.

Out of the 29 Tests India have played over the last 60 years, the hosts have won 10, lost 6 and drawn 13, notching up a winning percentage of 34.48.

Australia, on the other hand have played just five Tests in the historic ground, managing to win just one alongwith two losses and two draws. Far from impressive and certainly no ground for the Aussies to roll the drums.

Ricky Ponting's woes don't just end here. This is where the alarm bells reach a crescendo. India have over the last 15 years maintained an unbeaten streak, rattling off seven consecutive wins.

Zimbabwe have been at the receiving end thrice, Pakistan twice, while Sri Lanka and Australia have been hammered once each during this period.

What would also worry the Aussies is that they were trounced by the hosts by seven wickets in 1996, the last time the two teams played at the Kotla.

A lot of water has passed under the bridge since. India have threatened to knock Australia off the ladder in the longer version of the game and the rivalry has reached new heights, often brinking on the verge of an international spectacle.

India have won two of the last four Tests against Australia, in Perth and in Mohali. The other two have yielded draws.

Perth and Mohali dished out the kind of wickets any Australian attack would have loved to feast on. That is where India ruptured some pride, when their pace battery knocked the stuffing out of Aussie batsmen with bounce, pace, movement and the latest weapon in the artillery, reverse swing.

Delhi, by no means would be a paradise for the speedsters. The wicket will turn like it has always, the way it did when Indian skipper Anil Kumble bagged 10 for 74 in the last innings of the February Test against Pakistan to send them spinning to a massive 212 run loss.

The wicket will turn like it did when India thumped Pakistan by six wickets last November. Kumble has in the six Tests in Kotla bagged 55 wickets at an average of 15.42. Thrown in four five wicket hauls, two ten wicket bags and that tenner on a chilly February afternoon and you could almost see the Aussie running for cover.

What could Australia possibly do to avoid further humiliation on a Kotla wicket that is sure as the morning sun to assist spin, when they fell apart on pitches of their own liking in Perth and to an extent in Mohali?

Very little. Australia do not even boast of quality spinners to counter the Indian challenge. There is talk of off spinner Jason Krejza being included in the side. Now, that seems like a move! Remeber what Sachin Tendulkar and Co. did to a certain gentleman called Shane Warne on square turners in India?

Both Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly have made merry at the Kotla as well. Ganguly, would step out to play the penultimate Test of an illustrious career on a ground where he has amassed 545 runs from six matches at an average of 60.56, with three half centuries and one ton.

Tendulkar, who is basking in glory after crossing the 12,00 run mark has also had a nice time in the Indian capital, churning out 528 runs from seven Tests. Rahul Dravid, going through a bit of a lean patch, could look for some inspiration as well, with his 528 runs from six Tests.

All looks set for an Indian curry at the onset of winter. Australia might find it a little too spicy to digest!