In contemporary cricket, it does not get bigger than an Australia vs India ODI match. Ranked one and two respectively, both sides are looking to send an early warning to all the participating nations in the World Cup. While winning the tri-nation trophy would be commendable, this is the training ground for the all-important World Cup next month. (Live Scorecard | Live Updates)
08.45 (IST): It will also be interesting to see how this man goes on his debut.
08.40 (IST): Tom Moody sums up the start of the game very well. Can Indian bowlers rise to the occasion and match their batsmen? We will have to wait and watch.
08.40 (IST): Australia XI: Aaron Finch, David Warner, Shane Watson, Steve Smith, George Bailey, Glenn Maxwell, Brad Haddin, James Faulkner, Mitchell Starc, Pat Cummins, Gurinder Sandhu
08.34 (IST): India XI: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav
08.25 (IST): TOSS TIME! India opt to bat vs Australia. Axar Patel gets a game. Australia hand Gurinder Sandhu a debut in place of Xavier Doherty.
File photo of Australia's ODI captain George Bailey playing a shot as India captain MS Dhoni watches on.
© BCCI
Mahendra Singh Dhoni will return to the field after retiring from Tests Down Under. An able general with a deadly track record, he has his eyes set firmly on defending the World Cup. In India's first� match of the tri-nation series, he would look to perfect the balance, plans and tactics. Not known for their Test skills overseas, the Indian outfit is completely different in the limited-overs format.
The team though will miss the services of all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and pacer Ishant Sharma in the first match. Stuart Binny - the surprise pick for the World Cup - may get a chance to play and prove his skills. (The real reason for Stuart Binny's World Cup selection )
While Binny will have to justify his inclusion at the cost of veterans Yuvraj Singh, Harbhajan Singh and Virender Sehwag, coach Duncan Fletcher is looking for perfection from the entire squad. While he has backed his pace battery and praised Dhoni for his leadership, Fletcher would look at a winning start in the tri-nation series as auspicious.
To expect Australia to make things easy though would be a grave mistake. The hosts have already shown that they mean business - winning the first ODI against England by three wickets. David Warner slammed a century in the match and has already promised to be 'arrogant' in the World Cup. If he gets going, Australia can carve out a sizeable lead over the Indians - in terms of ODI rankings - ahead of the World Cup.
Mitchell Starc can also be a handful in the pace department. Indian batsmen would be well-advised not to jump the gun and go out to prove a point after losing the Test series 2-0.
India have won their last five ODIs while the Aussies are on a four-ODI winning streak. Statistics and past records would matter little when the two giants of ODI cricket go head-on against each other.
0 comments:
Post a Comment