20 October,2010 10:32 AM IST | | Agencies
Back in their happy-hunting ground, an upbeat India will look to take the lead against a wounded and depleted Australia in the second ODI here today after the series-opener was washed out in Kochi.
The three-ODI series has now been reduced to a two-match affair after the first match in Kochi two days ago was abandoned before a ball could be bowled because of heavy rains.
Back-to-back losses in the recently-concluded two-Test series have dented the world champion Australia's pride and they would be looking to get back at the hosts at the Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy ADA-VDCA Cricket Stadium today.
Known for their fighting spirit, Australia have won every one-day series in India since 1998 and the pressure will clearly be on Michael Clarke who had a barren Test series that added fuel to criticism against him.
Clarke will lead a side light on experience after regular skipper Ricky Ponting, all-rounder Shane Watson and pacer Mitchell Johnson were rested from the series, while the fast bowling stocks were further thinned by injuries to Shaun Tait, Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle among others.
For Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men, it is all about carrying on the momentum on a ground where India have won all the two matches they have played. It was at the same venue that Dhoni had announced his arrival on the big stage with a 123-ball 148 against Pakistan in what was his fifth ODI on April 5, 2005.
Dhoni will lead a new-look Indian side in absence of Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, while the bowling department will see the absence of speedster Zaheer Khan and spinners Harbhajan Singh and Pragyan Ojha. But the team is bolstered by the return of an off-colour but determined Yuvraj Singh, who was dropped for the Asia Cup.
The stylish Punjab batsman, not in best of form, will look to find the rhythm at the same venue where he had scored an unbeaten 95 in India's win over Sri Lanka.
For India David Warner will be the danger man especially on the flat track of Vizag while the Aussie middle-order will be manned by Clarke who will be keen to score runs after forgettable outings in the Test series.
In Michael Hussey, the Aussies have the experience while Callum Ferguson will be the one to watch out for especially after his stupendous show in Champions League Twenty20.
Doug Bollinger will lead the bowling attack if he has recovered from the abdominal strain that ruled him out of the Bangalore Test.
Youngster Clint McKay is likely to partner him while Mitchell Starc may make his debut in case the senior-most bowler misses out. A batting paradise, the Vizag strip is seen as one of the best batting pitches of the country and has seen totals of more than 650 and 500 in the last two occasions.
