Gambhir slams Aussie pitches

Indian's second-ranked Test team arrived Down Under on a high and full of hope of winning their first ever Test series in Australia, but those hopes have been emphatically dashed by three crushing defeats.

A fourth would send them home with a humiliating whitewash, but they are determined to at least grab some sort of redemption with a win at Adelaide from the fourth Test, which starts on Tuesday.

In a series that has been full of needle throughout, the Indian opener has accused Australia of tailoring the wickets for their young fast bowlers, and says the home batsmen will only be tested when they travel to play India on their next tour.

"We're beginning to realize that when we go overseas, every country prepares wickets according to their own strengths," Gambhir said. "We need to prepare according to our advantage as well. There should not be a lot of talk when Australia, South Africa and England come home that we should not be preparing turners.

"So once these people come to India, I think that we should not be hesitant in making turners. That's when we will get to know whether they're mentally strong. The kind of chitchat they do when we go overseas and talk about our techniques, that's when they will be tested and see how good they are against spin bowling."

Sachin distraction

India's batsmen have failed all-round, while Sachin Tendulkar is still searching for his 100th international century, but Gambhir insists a win is all that matters in Adelaide.

"When you are playing for your country you don't think about individual records or what one individual has to do," Gambhir said.

"Zero-three is far more hurting than Sachin not scoring his hundred. If we can make it three-one, even if Sachin doesn't score a hundred, it's far more satisfying."

Added to India's woes is the fact captain MS Dhoni has been banned due to his team's slow over rate during their innings defeat in Perth, meaning opener Virender Sehwag will take up captaincy duties in his absence.

After such a walloping during the series, Gambhir knows that the passionate Indian cricket public will no doubt voice their disapproval upon their return to the sub-continent.

"Whatever backlash is happening in Indian, we have to accept it," Gambhir added. "There was a lot of expectation from us that we should have done well with the kind of batting we have. We have let the entire nation down."

Hussey

Australia's Mike Hussey has responded to talk of his retirement by saying he intends to be available for the tour of the West Indies in March, after averaging above 80 so far during the series with India.

Pre-series speculation suggested the 36-year-old, along with Ricky Ponting, would be cast aside after the series as Australian selectors look to bed in new younger batsmen ahead of a determined build-up to next year's Ashes.

"I'm looking forward to this test match." Hussey said. "I haven't looked beyond that at all at this stage."

"I've just really tried to set myself for this series. But my body feels good and I still feel like I'm playing well. I'm definitely thinking of continuing on. I'd love to go to the West Indies."

The Adelaide pitch should offer some spin later on in the Test, with Australia set to drop Mitchell Starc from their fast bowling quartet to make room for spinner Nathan Lyon.