Fatigue, Warner's form worry Australia ahead of series finale

Australia were supposed to be fodder for an impregnable Indian team basking in their home surrounds. Australia's batsmen were set to be strangled and tangled on lower and slower pitches they historically are clueless in countering. Their maligned spinners seemed capable of being little more than human bowling machines against vaunted Indian batsmen.

It all meant that another series whitewash in India, a site of some of their worst-ever performances, was inevitable. The inexperienced team had been written off and labelled by some as the worst Australia squad to set foot in India. Even ardent Australian fans knew it was mission impossible.

Astoundingly, on the eve of the crux series finale, Australia find themselves with a distinct chance of achieving their most fantastical dreams in what shapes as a fourth Test for the ages. The tourists have the momentum after blunting India's charge on the final day in Ranchi to ensure the series remains deadlocked.

India, the world's number one ranked Test team who haven't lost a home series in five years, remain under enormous pressure having to win the fourth Test to reclaim the Border-Gavaskar Trophy. A series loss for them, against all expectations, would be a major blow in Virat Kohli's early captaincy reign.

With the series finale imminent, here are several key questions hovering over the Australian team.

Are Australia jaded?

Much has been made of India's gruelling Test schedule, with fatigue being somewhat attributed to their modest performance during this series. However, it should not be forgotten that Australia have also been playing almost endless cricket since the middle of last year.

Since July 2016, Australia have played 12 Tests and a mishmash of limited-overs series. It is true that a number of Australia's current players are newbies but a core part of the team - Steve Smith, David Warner, Josh Hazlewood and Nathan Lyon - have been mainstays. Undoubtedly, they would be feeling the pinch.

Most pleasingly, Australia have been able to maintain concentration throughout the series even at junctures when they looked set to finally crumble under the insurmountable pressure. Impressively, Australia is building resoluteness and toughness that hasn't been seen for a while. Australia's best success in the past decade was largely when mercurial paceman Mitchell Johnson was fleetingly able to produce some of the most brutal bowling ever since.

Right now, on evidence from the opening three Tests, Australia are developing depth beyond just the occasional match-winner and there seems a healthy dose of gravitas being inserted into the lineup. Still the nagging questions remain: Are they worn down? Can they summon one last push when they need it to the most?

Australia may be tired but it's hard to see them rolling over in Dharamsala. With Australia set to enjoy a breather from the Test format, the players will leave nothing in the tank in what is essentially a grand finale.

Should Australia change their attack?

Australia's indefatigable attack has been unwavering but were battered and bruised after spending 210 overs in the field during India's mammoth first innings in Ranchi. Astonishingly, the four-pronged attack bowled 206 overs as Smith reluctantly decided against trying part-timers apart from Glenn Maxwell's four overs of spin.

Complicating matters, the HPCA Stadium has been dominated by fast bowlers in first-class cricket this season, meaning selectors will be seriously tempted to pick Jackson Bird, the often overlooked paceman.

Bird has rarely put a foot wrong when called into the Test team, as evidenced by 34 wickets from eight Tests at 27, and would take some load off Hazlewood and Pat Cummins, who both should still be feeling the effects from Ranchi.

It means Australia will have to drop one of their spinners - Nathan Lyon or Stephen O'Keefe. The left-armer O'Keefe is most likely in the gun, a particularly cruel blow after his memorable 12 for 70 in Pune to spearhead Australia to one of their greatest wins.

However, O'Keefe bowled 77 overs in Ranchi and has only taken six wickets since Pune, meaning he is almost certain to be the unlucky fall guy if Bird earns a recall.

If armed with three quicks, Australia would once again have their preferred template in another important psychological tonic for them.

Can David Warner finally fire?

Kohli aside, Warner has been the major disappointment this series. Despite making double figures in each innings, the destructive southpaw's highest score is a modest 38. Warner has been clueless in countering spin from the get go and looks to be in two minds whether to defend or attack.

The indecisiveness has been jarring from the normally redoubtable opener, whose innate counterattacking often has bowlers rattled. Warner's continual struggles in the subcontinent is tarnishing his reputation and a perception of being merely a home bully is starting to stick.

Incredibly, for a batting lineup that appeared to lack depth, Australia has been able to survive without a telling Warner contribution. However, you feel that can't keep continuing and Warner, who has unbelievably become the most tentative batsman in the lineup, needs to make a sizeable score when his team needs it the most.

There is much on the line for Warner during the fourth Test.

What is at stake for Australia?

Simply, a series victory would be one of Australia's best ever achievements - arguably their greatest. In modern times, Australia's 2-1 victory in the Caribbean in 1995 - which simultaneously ended the West Indies' long reign and kick-started their own period of dominance - is feted as the most cherished and historically significant.

However, it can be argued that victory in India would be more inconceivable than that lauded achievement. The Australian team circa 1995 had continuity and been on the cusp of being Test's best for several years. The core of that team is laced with legendary players - the Waugh brothers, Shane Warne and Mark Taylor - who were at their peaks while Glenn McGrath enjoyed a breakout series.

A series victory in India won't quite rival that seismic shift of power in international cricket; India may be World No. 1 but they aren't nearly a superpower like those inimitable West Indians.

And the jury would still be out on whether Australia can ascend into a legitimate powerhouse, given that this current team still doesn't quite feel as complete as their 1995 predecessors. Still, Australia have a chance to produce a major boil over, one of the biggest upsets in the history of the game against a team that has become a bitter rival.

From an Australian perspective, a series victory in India will be the sweetest of them all.