However, the board doesn't seem to have learnt the lessons, to say. The concern over paceman Ishant Sharma's fitness is a case in point. The lanky Delhi bowler, who is key member of the Indian bowling unit, had troubled the formidable Aussie line-up during the 2007-'08 visit and will be an important member of the team, if they aim to win their first-ever Test series Down Under.

The bowler pulled up after bowling just five overs in the first warm-up game against the CA Chairman's XI and there is no certainty about his fitness ahead of the Boxing Day Test.

Ishant Sharma, continues to be hampered by an ankle injury which is threatening to derail his preparations for the first Test. There are rumours Ishant Sharma's left ankle is requiring cortisone injections and could be so serious that it will see him sent home early.

If indeed Ishant's injury is serious enough to keep him out of the first Test and the series, then it will be a huge blow for M S Dhoni's men. Also, it means the BCCI didn't act after the injury-marred England trip wherein close to 10 players were laid low by fitness-related issues. If Ishant wasn't 100 per cent fit why did the board/selectors choose to send him to Australia is a moot point.

Already, the injury-forced exits of Praveen Kumar and Varun Aaron from the original squad meant the Indians would be heading to Australia without their first-choice bowlers. Now, the confusion over Ishant.

It is time the BCCI takes the issue of bowlers' fitness seriously and monitors them adequately. Also, the onus is on the players themselves to ensure that they are fully fit before making a return to competitive cricket.

With the first Test in the highly-anticipated India-Australia series only a week away, it has to be seen how the Ishant injury episode unravels.

C K Raman,

Tambaram