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I, in fact, would love a ball, some 10 minutes before the lunch break on day one, to pitch on leg stump and knock off-stump out. A proper ripper. That will just set the stage up perfectly for the rest of the Test. It could be R Ashwin ripping one past an Aussie left-hander or Nathan Lyon doing the same to an Indian batter. That doesn’t matter.

We call it “slow seam” in India. We play on pitches around the world where the ball seams around from start to finish every day. So, what’s wrong if the ball starts turning from the very first session? When you travel across the ocean, and come to the northern hemisphere, you need to know that the grass is brown. You just have to accept it and get on with it.

On that note, I also believe that for all the stars who will be on show from both sides, the two guys who will decide this series for me are Ashwin and Lyon.

If Ashwin has a terrific time with ball and bat, then India will romp home. If Lyon has a great time on these pitches, then Australia will leave these shores with the series trophy.