In some ways the selectors had the easy job.

Cricket Australia's national selection panel avoided dark horses and named Brett Lee, Andy Bichel, Stuart MacGill, Brad Williams and Nathan Bracken as its bowlers for the Boxing Day Test against India, with one to carry the drinks.

Unfortunately, the invitation to play for Australia didn't come with instructions on how to claim 20 wickets against the best batting line-up in the world.

Selection chairman Trevor Hohns acknowledged it was a tough assignment, especially with Australia 1-0 down in the series.

"These are the best batsmen our attack has come up against in the past 12 months," Hohns said.

Asked if he thought the Indian batsmen, led by in-form duo Rahul Dravid and VVS Laxman, were the best in the world, Hohns replied: "My word they are and we have to accept that.

"If these bowlers are what we consider to be our best bowling attack, we then have to come up with ways to getting these guys out - particularly those two (Laxman and Dravid)."

Asked if he had any plans on how to do that, Hohns suggested it was a problem for Australian captain Steve Waugh and coach John Buchanan.

With India having posted scores of 409 and 523 batting second in each Test so far without Sachin Tendulkar firing a shot, Australia risks being batted out of the series unless it can find a way through the Indian top six.

In the past that hasn't been a problem for Australian attacks but with Glenn McGrath and Jason Gillespie injured and Shane Warne serving the 10th month of his drug ban, Hohns conceded Australia was up against it.

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