Indians have edge but must beware of Aussie revenge
LAST LEG With Khawaja, Handscomb and Lyon in squad, Aus batting approach should be interesting
As the Meat Loaf song of the seventies said; “Two out of three ain’t bad” and that will have to satisfy Virat Kohli. Having drawn the rain affected T20 tournament and won the Test series, Kohli and his team need to win the ODI section of the Australian tour to make that a true reflection of their visit.
Kohli will be encouraged by the Test performance of one his two star spinners in the ODI game, as Kuldeep Yadav flummoxed the Australian batsmen. It’ll be interesting to see who they pair with Kuldeep; his usual partner in ambushes, Yuzvendra Chahal, or the more versatile Ravindra Jadeja.
It also doesn’t hurt India that the series commences at the SCG, the scene of Kuldeep’s success and the ground where India triumphantly paraded before their fans with the Border-gavaskar trophy held aloft.
If India does win the three game ODI series, Kohli will also have another Test star in Cheteshwar Pujara to thank. Pujara wore out the Australian pace trio to the point where Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and Pat Cummins are all being rested from the ODI series.
AUSSIE BACKLASH
However, Kohli and Co will have to be wary of some of the Australian batsmen shunned for the Sri Lankan Test series. Shaun and Mitchell Marsh, Peter Handscomb and Aaron Finch are all in that category and they’ll be looking for revenge in the faint hope they can earn a recall for the Ashes series later in the year. Always beware the aggrieved player. Australia’s selection for this series suggests a different approach to the batting. Omitted from their previous 50-over squad are dashers Chris Lynn and D’arcy Short and the replacements Usman Khawaja and Handscomb are more in the traditional mould.
This could mean Australia are looking for a more measured start in order to maintain wickets for a late dash from power players Mitch Marsh, Marcus Stoinis and Glenn Maxwell. India will be looking to stymie this middle-order hitting with the judicious use of their spinners.
Consistently taking wickets in the middle overs is the best way of restricting teams from the mammoth totals that are frequently posted in modern 50-over cricket and India are well equipped to attack Australia’s Achilles heel.
DHONI VS PANT
The main Indian batsmen have now had ample experience of Australian pitches and any talk of being worried by the extra bounce is outdated. India are well equipped to set or chase a stiff target, although they may regret the men. Nathan Lyon has been included in the squad following his successful Test series and it will be a choice between him and the leg-spinner Adam Zampa.
At times Australia have been reluctant to play a frontline spinner in the ODI format but I doubt that will happen with the pace ‘big three’ missing.
India were pulling away like a fast finishing horse in the Test series and will start the ODI format with a distinct psychological advantage.
However, that can change quickly in the face of a blistering innings or a potent spell of bowling and India will need to be at their best to make Meat Loaf’s words come true.