Cummins left to do the heavy lifting

Australia's batting group has been grinding it out on scuffed up surfaces facing local spinners in its quest to be prepared for India's spinners, who often hog the limelight in home Tests. But their own bowling attack is beginning to appear frail with the number of absentees for the series opener at Nagpur growing by the day.

- Rasesh Mandani

The latest addition to the list was fast bowler Josh Hazlewood who all but confirmed that he wasn't a doubtful starter merely for the first Test but also the next one starting four days later in Delhi. Hazlewood's Achilles injury depletes Australia's pace attack further with left-arm Mitchell Starc preparing to be fit only for the second Test and all-rounder Cameron Green, even if he plays in Nagpur, not fit to bowl following finger surgery.

"Not sure about the first Test.

It's still a few days away but it's sneaking up pretty quickly. Second one is obviously straight after as well. So, we'll play it by ear over the next week and next few days and hopefully Tuesday goes well," Hazlewood offered his injury update before Australia's final training session at Alur in Bengaluru on Sunday.

With two of Australia's famed pace trio likely to miss the first Test, Victoria's Scott Boland is set to partner captain and spearhead Pat Cummins. Boland, the second Indigenous cricketer to play Tests for Australia, after Jason Gillespie, has had a late but phenomenal start to his career picking up 28 wickets in six Tests at an incredible average of 12.21.