Preview: Australia v India – 1st T20I
First Published : 31 Jan 2012, 19:06
Last Modified : 31 Jan 2012, 19:06
What
The first of the two T20 Internationals between Australia and India
When
February 01, 2012. The game begins at 14:05 IST.
Where
Stadium Australia, Sydney. Although the venue has hosted T20 games for the Big Bash this season, it has never hosted a T20 international before. Built originally for the Sydney Olympics in 2000, the venue will book its place in cricket history when Australia face off against India on February 1.
The Teams
A new format could possibly bring about a change in India’s fortunes Down Under. However, the Australians, led by international debutant George Bailey, will undoubtedly come hard at the Indians.
Travis Birt and Mitchell Marsh have finished the recently concluded Big Bash tournament as the leading run-getters, while Aaron Finch and David Hussey were among the Top 10 run-scorers as well. Similarly, Brad Hogg, James Faulkner and Clint McKay finished among the Top 10 wicket-takers in the premier T20 event. Throw in David Warner, Australia’s leading run-getter in T20 internationals, and veteran pacer Brett Lee, and the hosts pose a formidable threat to the touring Indians.
The Indian fielding could sport a vastly improved look with the possible inclusion of Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Manoj Tiwary and Ravindra Jadeja in the playing eleven. Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir are likely to open the Indian innings while pacer Praveen Kumar returns to the Indian side after a long injury layoff that ruled him out of the Test series at the last minute. A 17-man squad means India captain MS Dhoni and the team management will find it hard to pick the playing eleven. But with one more T20I after this one, the Indians will have a chance to come back if they don’t get their balance right in the first outing.
Key Players
Brad Hogg is enjoying a second coming in international cricket after last playing an ODI for Australia in March 2008. He played his last T20I even before that, in January 2007. However, the left-arm chinaman bowler enjoyed a sensational 2011-12 Big Bash where he finished with the most efficient figures (economy-rate 5.61) for any bowler who had bowled more than 30 overs. He was also the joint third highest wicket-taker in the tournament with 13 scalps to his credit.
Ravindra Jadeja could well be the player who tilts the T20 contest in India’s favour. An athletic fielder, Jadeja’s limited overs performances have been solid in 2011. He even posted his first triple-century in first-class cricket in November 2011 in the Ranji Trophy, which points to significant improvement in his batting.
Trivia
- Suresh Raina is the only player to have scored a century in T20Is for India. He also has the highest average (32.39) among Indians who have played more than two matches.
- Brad Hogg will become the third 40-plus player to appear in a Twenty20 international. Only Sanath Jayasuriya (41 years 360 days) and S Dhaniram (41 years 116 days) have played in this format at an older age than Hogg.
Venue Stats
Average first innings score at Stadium Australia, Sydney:
Overall : 144*
In Big Bash 2011-12 : 128*
* Since there have been no international matches played at this venue, these are from domestic T20 games.
Result summary at Stadium Australia, Sydney in Big Bash matches:
|
Matches |
Won by side batting first |
Won by side batting second |
No Result |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Overall |
9 |
7 |
0 |
|
In Big Bash 2011-12 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
Head-to-head
|
Matches |
Played |
Aus won |
Ind won |
Tied |
No result |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Overall |
4 |
2 |
2 |
0 |
0 |
|
In Australia |
1 |
1 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Last meeting between India and Australia in a T20 international: May 7, 2010 – Bridgetown (ICC Twenty20 World Cup)
Brief scores: Australia (184/5) beat India (135) by 49 runs
Form guide in T20Is (most recent listed first)
Australia: Lost, Won, Lost, Lost, Won (2 wins, 3 losses)
India: Lost, Lost, Won, Won, Won (3 wins, 2 losses)
The Squads
India: MS Dhoni (c & wk), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Praveen Kumar, R Vinay Kumar, Manoj Tiwary, Rahul Sharma, Parthiv Patel, Zaheer Khan & Irfan Pathan
Australia: George Bailey (c), David Warner (vc), Travis Birt, Dan Christian, Xavier Doherty,
James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Hogg, David Hussey, Brett Lee, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Clint McKay & Matthew Wade
All stats are as on January 31, 2012
