Preview: Australia v India – 7th ODI

First Published : 18 Feb 2012, 11:26
Last Modified : 18 Feb 2012, 11:37

By: Akshay Manwani

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What

The seventh ODI of the tri-series competition featuring Australia, India and Sri Lanka. India clash against the hosts, trounced by Sri Lanka in their last encounter.

When

February 19, 2012. The game begins at 08:50 IST.

Where

Woolloongabba, Brisbane. The last time these two teams clashed at the Gabba, India wrapped up the 2008 ODI tri-series with a nine-run victory. However, Australia have gone undefeated at this venue since then, having won four of the five matches played here with one game, against New Zealand in February 2009, having been rained out. 

The Teams

With Sri Lanka having beaten Australia at Sydney to bag the bonus point, the tri-series event is wide open with all three teams having played four games each. Australia could find themselves struggling in the latter half of the competition as injuries are preventing them from fielding their ideal playing eleven. Michael Clarke and Mitchell Marsh are both out of the reckoning for this game with the latter practically ruled out of the competition. Also, with David Warner (71 runs from four innings), Matthew Wade (99 runs from four innings) and Michael Hussey (81 runs from three innings) struggling, a batting revival is in order.

India go into this encounter in a healthy position as regards the points table and squad fitness. However, in the last three games where the visitors have been undefeated, they have frittered away a good start while chasing and forced the match to go down to the wire. A convincing win at Brisbane, orchestrated by the top order, would give skipper Dhoni immense confidence in his side’s ability to go the distance in this competition.

Key Players

In four innings in this tri-series, Ricky Ponting has notched up scores of 2, 6, 1 and 2. Moreover, Ponting has only one half-century in his last 10 ODI innings. Now with Michael Clarke struggling with injury, the legend finds himself grappling with the additional responsibility of leading the Australian side. Never a quitter, expect Ponting to come out fighting. 

Although R Ashwin (5-0-48-0) went for a few runs in the rain-curtailed game against Australia in the tri-series opener, the tall offspinner has bounced back to concede just 109 runs in his next 28 overs (economy-rate 3.89) in the competition. Ashwin has also grabbed five wickets in the last three matches and his crucial, match-winning innings (30*) lower down the order in the second match against Sri Lanka gave India their first win of the competition.

Trivia

Australia: In the three ODIs he has played against India, David Hussey’s scores have been: 38*, 61* and 72 – 171 runs at an average of 171.00 and a strike-rate of 129.55.

India: The visitors have remained undefeated in their last three consecutive matches, which equals their longest unbeaten streak in a tri-series on Australian soil. In the 2004 VB Series, India won three consecutive games under Sourav Ganguly. In the 2008 edition of the CB Series, India had two unbeaten sequences of three matches. India were led by MS Dhoni on that occasion.

Venue Stats

Australia – played – 35, won - 18, lost – 13, tied – 0, no result – 4

India – played - 12, won - 4, lost – 6, tied – 0, no result – 2

Highest total in an innings: Australia 324/7 in 50.0 overs v West Indies – February 14, 2010

Lowest total in an innings: Pakistan 71 in 23.4 overs v West Indies - January 9, 1993

Best individual score in an innings: David Gower (England) – 158 v New Zealand – January 15, 1983

Best bowling figures in an innings: Chris Woakes (England) 10.0-0-45-6 v Australia – January 30, 2011

Average first innings score at the Gabba in ODIs

In day/night matches: 237

In all matches: 224

Result summary at the Gabba in ODIs

Head-to-head

Last ODI meeting between Australia and India at Brisbane:  March 4, 2008

Brief scores: India (258-9) beat Australia (249) by nine runs

Form guide in ODIs (most recent listed first):

Australia: Lost, Lost, Won, Won, Won (3 wins, 2 losses)

India: Tied, Won, Won, Lost, Won (3 wins, 1 tie, 1 loss)

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, Sachin Tendulkar, Zaheer Khan & Irfan Pathan

Australia: Ricky Ponting (c), David Warner, Daniel Christian, Xavier Doherty, Peter Forrest, Ben Hilfenhaus, Jon Holland, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Brett Lee, Clint McKay, Mitchell Starc,  Matthew Wade (wk)  & George Bailey (standby)

All stats are as on February 18, 2012