Will inexperience hurt Australia against India?

Chandigarh:

With the likes of Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne and more recently Matthew Hayden and Brett Lee out of the side, Australia have been in the process of rebuilding. As a result of which, not only has their Test ranking has slipped to number four but the team is very short on experience as well. Will that work against them during this series as well?

With 52 Tests under his belt and 29 out of those as an opener, Simon Katich is well versed with the art of dealing with the new ball. In Shane Watson he will have an able partner but one who doesn't have any experience in opening the innings in India, and that begs the question, will the two Aussie openers be able to fill Matthew Hayden and Justin Langer's shoes?

"Not Justin Langer. His is pretty small. He's just around 5 ft, but Matty Hayden has got a big chest apart from that he is small from every where else," Katich said jokingly.

The batters could still afford to share a joke or two but it's the bowling that's hurting.

Team's most experienced bowler Mitchell Johnson has been struggling of late and averaged only 3 wickets per Test the last time Australia toured India in 2008.

"I want to put that tour behind me. I want to improve upon and take that leadership role and try to show the younger guys. The young guys that we have in our side are very good listeners. I think they are very keen to learn from the leaders in the group," Johnson said.

And learn they would have too considering Australia's likely first XI will have four players in Marcus North, Tim Paine, Doug Bollinger and Ben Hilfenhaus - who haven't played a Test in India and a specialist spinner who's played just one Test that too way back in 2004.