Completely outclassed in the humiliating 0-4 Test loss against the hosts, India had hoped for redemption in the limited over format but they again succumbed to a 31-run defeat in the first Twenty20.
The young legs did show some energy on the field but at the batting crease, they were no different to their Test seniors and skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni has to do something to inpsire his team on Friday.
In the bowling department too, the Indians failed to make early inroads in the Australian line-up and now that off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin’s card has been shown up to be blank by a rampant David Warner on Wednesday, Zaheer Khan’s return would be crucial to India’s chances.
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The wicket at the MCG also might not suit spinners on Friday so overtly as it did in the ANZ Stadium. It’s a batting wicket and the skills of the bowlers would be tested utmost.
Dhoni believed it was the uneven surface which did his batsmen in and MCG might reflect their preparedness in a better light.
As things stood though, Indians checked in at their hotel in Melbourne this morning and would stay indoors though there was a word that a few youngsters might visit the MCG later in the afternoon.
It’s better they do, for if Australia seizes an early momentum, they would be difficult to put down in the one-day internationals. The corresponding effect of despondency in Indian ranks would be palpable too.
Australia, on the other hand, have been simply ruthless so far as after mauling India in the Test series, the hosts notched up a convincing victory in Sydney and they would now look to complete a Twenty20 clean sweep against the visitors on Friday.
Australia would only go better once Daniel Christian, Mitchell Marsh and Clint McKay get an opportunity to show their wares and chances are they would in front of 90,000 strong fans who are likely to turn up at the MCG, home of Australian cricket.
Christian has been on the fringes of selection in the Test side this summer and is viewed as one of the upcoming stars of Australian cricket.
He was the top scorer in domestic one-day matches and was also the second highest wicket-taker. A powerful hitter, Christian didn’t get a chance to bat on Wednesday but picked up two for 35 with his fast deliveries.
Marsh, younger brother of Shaun, has set the domestic stage ablaze with his powerful hitting. Just 20, Marsh likes expressing his talent both with bat and ball and is one of the many multidimensional cricketers who are coming up through the ranks in Australian cricket.
McKay, a 194cm tall right-arm fast bowler, is renowned for his control and economy. The 28-year-old local boy is said to possess enough variety in his armoury.
The fast bowler is a handy lower order bat too and has already represented Australia in all three formats – Tests, ODIs and Twenty20 internationals.
The variety and the options Australia has in bowling is equally befuddling. George Bailey, the home captain, said as much when he said he has quite a few bowlers who could bowl in the death overs.
“It could be Lee, Doherty, Hogg or Faulkner – anyone,” said Bailey.
The hosts are well-served by explosive left-handed openers in David Warner and Matthew Wade and the two are likely to be top draw this whole summer.
Australia: George Bailey (capt), David Warner, Travis Birt, Daniel Christian, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, David Hussey, Brett Lee, Clint McKay, Mitchell Marsh, Shaun Marsh, Matthew Wade and Brad Hogg.
India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Parthiv Patel, Rahul Sharma, Zaheer Khan, Ravichandran Ashwin, Umesh Yadav, Praveen Kumar, Vinay Kumar, Irfan Pathan, Ravindra Jadeja and Manoj Tiwary.
Umpires: Bruce Oxenford and Paul Reiffel
Match referee: Andy Pycroft.
The match will start at 2.05 pm IST.
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