NEW DELHI (AP) - Australia will consider calling up inexperienced bowlers for the must-win final test against India in Nagpur, after the visitors failed again to dismiss the hosts on Sunday’s last day of the third test.

Australia only managed 12 wickets as India declared twice in the drawn third test, posting 208-5 to follow its 613-7 in the first innings.

Australia must win the fourth and final test if it is to retain the Border-Gavaskar Trophy, and Australia captain Ricky Ponting said the inexperienced bowlers in the tour squad may be selected.

"We’ve proven in this game that our batting’s certainly up to scratch in these conditions," Ponting said. "The challenge ahead is to take 20 wickets in Nagpur.

"We’ve got to look long and hard at the guys on the sidelines - Doug Bollinger, Peter Siddle, and Jason Krejza - and see if we think they can add anything to our bowling group."

Right-armer Siddle took four wickets in the second test in Mohali while Bollinger is an uncapped left-arm paceman.

Ponting said off-spinner Krejza would be looked at closely after missing out on selection in Delhi, with leg-spinner Cameron White preferred.

"Jason was named in the 12 and, believe me, he came very close to playing in this test, so with a bit more work this week he’d certainly come into consideration," Ponting said.

White, who has played three tests, was punished by India’s experienced batsmen in the first innings, but captured the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar on the final day to return match figures of 1-96 off 23 overs.

Australia started well in the morning session Sunday by removing Gautam Gambhir and Rahul Dravid, but it was a familiar story after lunch when the Indian batsmen controlled proceedings.

In the first test in Bangalore Australia failed to bowl India out on the final day and the lack of penetration has been a regular headache for the visitors, who are adapting to life after the recent retirement of two of the greatest bowlers of all time: Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.

Ponting said his pacemen had improved since their displays in the first two games, particularly spearhead Brett Lee.

"Our whole approach in the second innings was a whole lot better with our fast bowlers and that certainly paid dividends for us early on," he said. "But it’s probably a little bit late to be doing it in the second innings when there’s 600 on the board.

"We need to be utilizing what we did in the second innings early on in the first innings and unsettling their batsmen as much as we can."

Ponting was pleased with Lee’s performance - despite him picking up mediocre match figures of 3-167 from 47 overs.

"Brett Lee’s intensity through this game, and his pace, was a lot better," he said. "He hit the crease a lot harder so there are a lot of good signs for him."

Lee managed just four wickets in the opening two matches in his first test tour of India.