NEW DELHI. Oct 9: India and Australia begin a one-off Test match here on Thursday baffled as to how the newly-laid wicket at the Ferozeshah Kotla would behave, reports AFP.

Both teams spent considerable time today gazing at the Srassless centre-strip that was ug up and relaid earlier in the summer and debating possible tactics.

"It appears like the usual easy-packed Kotla wicket." said India's new coach Madan Lal. who played regularly at the ground while representing Delhi during his playing career.

"But I am not sure if the surface will remain firm for more than two days."

Australian coach Geoff Marsh said his team expected the wicket to take slow turn, but he resisted naming his I 1 until just before the toss.

"Well wait till Thursday morning, but obviously spin will play a major role." said Marsh, who. like his Indian counterpart, will be in charge of a Test team for the flrst time.

Australia have iftchided three spinners, off-break bowler Mark Waugh, left-arm

wrist-spinner Brad Hogg and leggie Peter McIntyre, in their 12 for the match.

If Australia follow India's plan to include three spinners, seamer Jason Gillespie may be relegated to the reserves, leaving Glenn McGrath and Paul Reiffel to share the new ball.

The Indians kept their options open till Thursday to enable seamer Javagal Srinath to recover from a mild 'flu'.

"I think Srinath will be okay by tomorrow." Madan Lal said. "But we will wait till the morning to see if he is recovered fully."

If Srinath does not play, the Indians will either choose reserve seamer David Johnson or go into the game with a fourth spinner.

The winner of the match will receive the newly-instituted Border-Gavaskar Trophy, named after the two former captains Allan Bonier of Australia and Sunil Gavaskar of India.

Sachin Tendulkar, leading India for the first time in a Test match, said he was confident of keeping the trophy at home.

'We have the team to beat the Aussies, but everyone will have to chip in with something useful." the 23-year-old said.

"There is no point playing

three spinners If they don't have a suitable total on the board. We have to get the runs."

Left-hander Saurav Ganguly, who scored centuries In each of his flrst two Tests in England, gets a chance to make It three in a row In his first Test match on home soil.

Former Indian captain Mohammad Azharudain. also playing here, is the only batsman in Test history to achieve the feat. He scored three centuries in his first three Tests in 1984 against England.

TEAMS

AUSTRALIA (from): Mark Taylor (capt). Ian Healy, Michael Bevan. Brad Hogg. Jason Gillespie. Glenn McGrath. Peter McIntyre. Ricky Ponting, Paul Reiffel. Michael Slater. Mark Wsvjgh, Steve Waugh.

INDIA (from): Sachin Tendulkar leapt). Vikram Rathore. Nayan Mongia. Saurav Ganguly. Mohammad Azharuddin. Rahul Dravid. Venkat Laxman. Anil Kumble. Sunil Joshi. Narendra Hirwani. Ashish Kapoor. Javagal Srinath. Venkatesh Prasad. David Johsnon.

Umpires: Peter Willey (England) and Srinivas Venkataraghavan (India).