All-rounder power gives Australia edge in ODI series against India
Ahead of the three-game ODI series that begins at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Friday, hosts Australia start as favourites in the first match. This despite India enjoying a slightly beter record over the last 24 months in ODI, having won seven of the last 12 matches between the two sides. Moreover, skipper Aaron Finch’s men head into the white-ball series on the back of beating 50-over world champions England in September.
Apart from missing star opening batsman Rohit Sharma, India are also short on bowling options due to the absence of all-rounders, whereas Australia have plenty of all-rounders to choose from, which gives them options with both bat and ball.
The last time India played Down Under, on their tour in 2018-19, they won the series 2-1 going against the usual trend in Australia over the years which has seen Australia have a dominant record against them. In 51 matches they have played against Australia in Australia, India have won just 13 times including the two last time. They have lost 36 matches to Australia in their den.
For India, right-handed bat Mayank Agarwal, who is likely to replace Rohit, scored heavily in the first half of the recently-concluded Indian Premier League (IPL) while playing for Kings XI Punjab as opener. His form though tapered off in the second half of the tournament, nevertheless, kept geting good starts while finishing the tournament with 424 runs.
In all likelihood, he will open the innings with lethander Shikhar Dhawan, who too did very well in the IPL, scoring over 600 runs and finishing second to KL Rahul in the run-geters’ list.
The fact that India’s top-order was in form during the IPL could bode well for them. Skipper Virat Kohli too got some runs, so did Shreyas Iyer.
“Form in any format whether it is grade cricket or Test cricket, maters. It is nice to be geting runs and taking the field. Form is form,” added Finch who himself couldn’t make much of an impact in the IPL for Royal Challengers Bangalore, scoring at just over 22 with one half-century.
For Australia, David Warner scored runs for Sunrisers Hyderabad but Steve Smith did not do too well for Rajasthan Royals.
However, the presence of all-round options could be where Australia may score against the Men in Blue. They have multiple all-rounders while India have just Ravindra Jadeja. Hardik Pandya, who too is in the squad, hasn’t done any bowling recently, including in IPL.
Not having batsmen who can bowl or vice-versa, a lot will hinge on India’s main bowlers. If they wilt,
Apart from star bat Rohit Sharma’s absence, India are short on all-rounders, whereas Australia have plenty of genuine all-rounders to choose from, thus giving the hosts an edge over India going into the white-ball series
then Aussies will score runs by the ton.
The surface is likely to be bating friendly although Finch said that it is a bit unknown.
“I spoke to Justin Langer but he said that it was covered up. It is a bit unknown. We will get there and see tomorrow,” said Finch.
India haven’t played together since a tour of New Zealand in February, when they clinched the Twenty20 series but were whitewashed 3-0 in the ODIS.” But they can take solace from winning their last Test and ODI series in Australia two summers ago, although Smith and Warner were banned for ball-tampering.
“I think it’s important to start well in the whiteball series,” said KL Rahul, who has been elevated to vice-captain.
RETURN OF FANS AT STADIA: The first two matches in Sydney will be played at 50 per cent crowd capacity while the third ODI at Canberra will be played at 65 per cent crowd capacity.
“The last time we played in front of crowds in Australia was a very long time ago. There has been a huge amount of work going to allow that to happen -- from the public in various states there has been tremendous amount of work done to keep corona virus under control. We are really excited. We know how much of a great atmosphere would it be,” said Finch.
India will play three ODIS, three T20IS and four Tests against Australia.