Adelaide, January 22:

Australia and India are both set to gamble on recalled players in their fourth and final Test at the Adelaide Oval, starting here from Thursday.

Trailing 2-1 but determined to square the series, India seem almost certain to recall spinner Harbhajan Singh after relegating him to 12th man duties for the third Test. If India win in Adelaide, it will be the first time since the two sides met in 2003-04 that the Australians have failed to win a home series.

Harbhajan’s absence enabled India to play three fast bowlers in Perth and while the move worked as the Indians broke Australia’s 16-match winning streak, the seamers are less likely to have a major impact here.

India may drop struggling opener Wasim Jaffer and reshuffle its top order, enabling Mahendra Singh Dhoni to bat at six and Irfan Pathan at seven, or they could axe a fast bowler. Either way, Harbhajan is likely to partner captain Anil Kumble with the spin duties.

Australia will recall opener Matthew Hayden, who declared himself fit and will replace debutant Chris Rogers at the top of the order.

Australia are also likely to recall spinner Brad Hogg at the expense of Shaun Tait. Australia’s decision to dispense with a specialist spinner for the first time in 16 years in favour of a pace quartet backfired as they were forced to bowl part-time spinners to counter slow over rates.