The return of two of India’s most explosive batsmen poses a threat to Australia’s efforts to build on impressive recent form when the two sides meet in the latest chapter of their escalating rivalry.
Riding on the one-day form that has seen them win 11 of their past 12 one-day international matches, world champions Australia have arrived determined to avenge their loss at home in last year’s tri-nation series to Mahendra Dhoni’s India side.
With the seven-match limited-overs series that begins today in the western city of Vadodara, Australia captain Ricky Ponting is confident of reproducing the form that saw his team win six of seven matches against England this year and then defend their Champions Trophy title.
PHOTO: AFP
“We’ve been playing consistently good one-day cricket, I expect that to continue over the next couple of weeks in India,” Ponting said.
Ponting’s team, however, is missing some key players — vice-captain Michael Clarke (back), in-form batsman Callum Ferguson, wicketkeeper Brad Haddin (finger) and seasoned pace bowler Nathan Bracken (knee) are all out.
Tim Paine, standing in for Haddin as wicketkeeper after Australia lost the Ashes Test series in England, has displayed good form with the bat, while all-rounder Shane Watson’s successive centuries in the Champions Trophy provided a big boost.
India were knocked out of the preliminary round in the Champions Trophy, but Ponting felt Dhoni’s side would be a different proposition on their home turf.
“We all know how well the Indians play in their own conditions,” Ponting said.
India’s struggling batting order has been strengthened by the return of Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh from injury, even though pace ace Zaheer Khan is yet to regain match-fitness.
Sehwag has recovered from the shoulder injury that sidelined the hard-hitting opener from the Twenty20 World Cup and Champions Trophy, while Yuvraj injured a finger during practice at the Champions Trophy.
“Confronting the Indian team in front of huge home crowds will be a big challenge,” said Australia coach Tim Nielsen, reminding his players not to “get too emotionally into it.”
Ponting said the intensity of the contests between these two teams — currently No. 1 and No. 2 in ICC’s one-day rankings — had seen it develop into a genuine rivalry.
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