Preview: Australia v India – 10th ODI

First Published : 25 Feb 2012, 11:51
Last Modified : 25 Feb 2012, 11:55

By: Akshay Manwani

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What

The tenth One-Day International of the tri-series competition featuring Australia, India and Sri Lanka. The ODI will see India clash against the hosts.

When

February 26, 2012. The game begins at 08:50 IST.

Where

Sydney Cricket Ground, Sydney. Although the wicket at Sydney doesn’t carry as much pace and bounce as some of the other wickets in Australia (Perth, Melbourne), India have fared poorly at this venue having won only four of the 15 matches they have played here. However, what should give them confidence is that their last ODI match at Sydney was the first final of the 2008 CB series competition, which India won by six wickets.

Australia, on the other hand, have a terrific record, having won 76 of the 117 matches played at the SCG. However, since November 2001, the hosts have won just two of the four matches played here.

The Teams

Australia appear better placed heading into this game not just because they are ahead of India in the points table. However, the few things that the hosts could address are a better showing from their openers and giving Clint McKay a place in the playing eleven. In the six matches played by the hosts in this competition, their opening batsmen have given starts of 15, 22, 14, 21, 70 and 5. David Warner, averaging only 20.16 runs in this series from six innings, must do a better job if Australia are to win the series. McKay, meanwhile, is Australia’s leading wicket-taker in the competition so far (nine wickets at an economy-rate of 4.81) and his absence the other night against Lanka, perhaps, proved costly for the hosts.

This is a crucial game for India and a loss here would make it extremely difficult for them to qualify for the finals. The visitors will be buoyed by the return of MS Dhoni, who was suspended for the previous match. With Dhoni back, the middle-order obviously gets bolstered, but India, too, like Australia, need more from their openers who have produced just one-half century stand in this series. The bowling at the death could also do with some improvement with India having conceded 101 and 91 runs in the last 10 overs of their last two matches against Australia and Sri Lanka respectively.

Key Players

Daniel Christian has provided the hosts with the ideal balance in their squad owing to his all-round form. Christian has bagged seven wickets and scored 131 runs in six innings, which makes him a dangerous adversary, both, as a batsman or as a bowler.   

Irfan Pathan has made quite an impression for India in the three matches he has played. His blustery 47 off just 34 balls in India’s last match against Sri Lanka almost took India past the finish line. Having also taken six wickets in the series, Pathan could well prove to be the ace up India’s sleeve in their remaining crucial games.

Trivia:

·         The last time Australia lost three league matches in a triangular series at home was way back in 2001-02 when New Zealand beat them twice and South Africa once.

·         India will be playing their 18th consecutive day-night game. The sequence started with the Cardiff ODI against England, followed by two home series against England and West Indies and all matches of the ongoing Commonwealth Bank Series.

Venue Stats:

Australia – played – 117, won - 76, lost – 37, tied – 0, no result – 4

India – played - 15, won - 4, lost – 11, tied – 0, no result – 0

Highest total in an innings: Australia 368/5 in 50.0 overs v Sri Lanka – February 12, 2006

Lowest total in an innings: India 63 in 25.5 overs v Australia - January 8, 1981

Best individual score in an innings: Andrew Symonds (Australia) – 151 v Sri Lanka – February 12, 2006

Best bowling figures in an innings: Greg Chappell (Australia) 9.5-5-15-5 v India - January 8, 1981

Average first innings score at the Sydney Cricket Ground in ODIs:

In day/night matches: 220

In all matches: 217

Result summary at the Sydney Cricket Ground in ODIs:

Head-to-head:

Last ODI meeting between Australia and India at Sydney:  Mar 02, 2008

Brief scores: India 242/4 beat Australia 239/8 by 6 wickets

Form guide in ODIs (most recent listed first):

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

India: Lost, Lost, Tied, Won, Won (2 wins, 2 losses, 1 tie)

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: Michael Clarke (c), Shane Watson, Daniel Christian, Xavier Doherty, Peter Forrest, Ryan Harris, Ben Hilfenhaus, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Brett Lee, Clint McKay, Matthew Wade (wk), David Warner

All stats are as on February 25, 2012