AAP
Australia will field a patched-up side for Thursday's third Test, depleted by the shock suspensions of four players for failing to complete a homework assignment on time.
Vice-captain Shane Watson, in-form paceman James Pattinson, back-up quick Mitchell Johnson and reserve batsman Usman Khawaja have all been banned from selection for the third Test in Mohali.
Australia have only a 13-man squad remaining, including wicketkeeper Matthew Wade who struggled at training on Wednesday after suffering an ankle injury a few days earlier.
Former Test wicketkeeper Brad Haddin trained with the squad in the nets on Wednesday after being flown over as cover for Wade and Haddin appears set to take over behind the stumps.
If Wade is ruled unfit, Australia's only decision would be who is the drinks waiter, with allrounder Glenn Maxwell one possible candidate after an expensive debut with the ball in the second Test in Hyderabad.
Australia trail two-nil in the four-match series but skipper Michael Clarke is confident his side can show some fight and give themselves a chance of retaining the Border-Gavaskar Trophy with wins in the final two matches.
Watson, who has gone home to Sydney for the birth of his first child, has complained that his ban is harsh and says he's considering his future in the game.
But Clarke has denied there's a rift between the skipper and his deputy and says he's hopeful that Watson will return for the fourth Test in Delhi starting on March 22.
Clarke says he wants to stay out of the debate over Watson after Cricket Australia's high-performance chief said the 31-year-old was a good team man sometimes.
"I know those two will be in communication. For me the focus is this team and trying to have success in these two Test matches," Clarke said.
"Watto has made it clear to everybody that that (quitting Test cricket) is something he's thinking about while he's home.
"From my point of view he's vice-captain of this team and he's a big part of this team.
"Hopefully all goes to plan there, (wife) Lee has the baby in the next few days and Watto is back here playing the fourth Test as our vice-captain.
"That's the best-case scenario from my point of view and from the team's point of view. The rest is really up to Shane."
Possible Australia team for third Test against India starting at 1500 AEDT on Thursday: Michael Clarke (capt), Ed Cowan, David Warner, Phil Hughes, Steve Smith, Brad Haddin, Moises Henriques, Peter Siddle, Mitchell Starc, Nathan Lyon, Xavier Doherty.
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