Melbourne, Dec 26 : Australian skipper Michael Clarke, who has had a good start as the team leader, faces his biggest test during Test series against India.

Australia has chosen to tackle India in the Boxing Day Test without an all- rounder, which means the team would rely on its formidable batting line-up.

Clarke successfully led the Australian side, which beat Sri Lanka, and drew the series against South Africa and New Zealand.

Clarke’s achievements are praiseworthy especially when his team has, at times, collapsed during the course of the game, only to make a stunning comeback, the Herald Sun reports.

Australian cricket fans had never expected the team to return from Sri Lanka and South Africa without dropping a series, but Clarke has embarked on his captaincy stint with great conviction, and devised a strategy of having a different competent bowler during each session of the Test to take on the opponents, the paper said.

He is a part of the selection panel that chose this team so there is no indication that he is dissatisfied with the squad hand-picked for the series.

Clarke’s side would certainly feel that they have hit a bull’s eye if they succeed in wrapping up India’s top order but it would be only the first shot of the month- long battle, the paper added.

Australia’s bowling attack would be instrumental in helping the team clinch victory against India.

But Australia’s defeat in the series would be attributed to playing injured or fatigued fast bowlers for too long, the paper said.

It will not be surprising if no fast bowler from either side plays all four Tests in the month –long-series, which certainly requires greater degree of fitness than Twenty 20 or One day international format of the game, it concluded. (ANI)