Can Dhoni inspire his young lads?
MELBOURNE: Stung by a prolonged losing streak in what has turned out to be a nightmarish tour, a hapless India will now look to avoid a Twenty20 whitewash when they lock horns with Australia in the second match here on Friday.
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 on Wednesday.
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 last night, Zaheer Khan's return would be crucial to India's chances.
The wicket at the MCG also might not suit spinners on Friday so overtly as it did in the ANZ Stadium last night.
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.
Dhoni believed it was the uneven surface which did his batsmen in and MCG might reflect their preparedness in a better light.
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.
News Posted: 3 February, 2012
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