India will face ICC Cricket World Cup winners Australia in 5 match ODI series beginning on 12th January at Perth, Western Australia. India last played Australia in 2015 World Cup Semi Final in India was beaten convincingly. Indians are not in very good ODI form lately after losing a home series to South Africa and a series loss against Bangladesh, where as Australia are in top ODI form winning the World Cup at their home turf and wining an ODI series against England in England.
Also Read: Australia vs India 2016: ODI/T20 Series Schedule and Fixtures
Australia vs India 2016
Preview India
MS Dhoni and his men would be looking to continue their form from tour games into the main series. Dhoni after quitting Test Cricket would be fresh and raring to go. India would be relying on their batsman to score big runs. Rohit, Dhawan, Virat and Rahane would be crucial to India’s batting. Indian bowlers showed good form in the tour games played earlier. With Mohammed Shami injured and ruled out of the series the duo of Ashwin and Jadeja needs to bowl well in the middle overs to stop big hitting Australian batsman.
Team Selection
India has a settled top four with Dhoni coming at No. 5. With Raina not considered for the ODI format, India needs to find finisher. Manish Pandey and talented Gurkeerat Mann would be fighting for the No. 6 spot. Manish Pandey made his claim high after beautifully struck 50 in the second tour game. Barinder Saran looked impressive with new bowl in both the tour games and after the injury to Mohammed Shami he is likely to be handed his ODI cap on Tuesday.
Probable XI: Dhawan, Sharma, Kohli, Rahane, Dhoni, Gurkeerat/Pandey, Jadeja, Ashwin, Saran, Umesh, Ishant
Preview Australia
Australia has enjoyed success in all the formats in the last 12 months or so, winning the world cup at their home soil and successful tour of England in both Test and ODI format and home summer full of runs and wickets. Steve Smith would be high in confidence after winning ICC player of the year award and would be looking to lead from the front. Warner, Maxwell would be raring to go against Indian bowling attack. Young Australia pace battery would be looking to trouble India with Pace and Bounce. With no front- line spinner in the squad Australia has made their intentions clear that there would be lot of pace.
Team Selection
Australia batting is looking settled unit. Finch and Warner at the top of the order Smith, Bailey, Maxwell and Wade would fill the middle order spots. Mitchell March will fill the responsibility of All-rounder. An injury to Starc and retirement of Johnson has given chance to young bowlers like Boland and Paris to make the mark at international level. Smith would be looking to Hazelwood to make early inroads into India’s batting line up.
Probable XI: Finch, Warner, Smith, Bailey, Maxwell, Wade, M Marsh, Faulkner, Richardson, Hazlewood, Paris/ Boland
Match Facts
Venue: WACA, Perth
WACA is renowned to be one of the fastest pitches in the world, though it has slowed down over the years but it is still a hard pitch and will assist Pace bowling. Indians were presented with green track in the two tour games played earlier and most likely the conditions will be the same for the first ODI.
Date: 12th January, 2016, Tuesday
Time: 11:20 Local | 03:20 GMT
Coverage: Star Sports 1 and Star Sports HD
Tags: 1st ODI, Australia, India, ODI Series, Perth, Preview, Star Sports 1, Star Sports HD, WACA, Western Australia
