In the second ODI in Brisbane, on Friday, India will be hoping to bounce back from their loss in the first ODI, where despite Rohit Sharma’s unbeaten 171, Australia managed to win comfortably thanks to twin centuries from Steve Smith and George Bailey.
While the visitors are likely to field the same side that played in Perth, they will hope for an improvement in their bowling the middle overs, where their spin duo of Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja were ineffective and struggled to keep the runs down.
Although debutant Barinder Sran impressed with the new ball and the other two pacers, Umesh Yadav and Bhuvneshwar Kumar kept things quiet, their inability to get a breakthrough in the crucial part of the innings cost India dear as their spin duo were unable to extract any life out of a placid pitch.
Australia, however, will be looking to ensure the loss of David Warner (paternity leave) and Mitchell Marsh (rested) doesn’t affect as they look to build on an impressive run chase by claiming a 2-0 lead in the five-match series.
Although the Australian bowlers, aside from Josh Hazlewood, posed little threat, they still managed to curtail the run flow, but will be hoping for more wickets with the new ball and not rely on the batsmen to get them out of jail.
With the weather likely to play a big part in Brisbane, both teams will be looking to bat last and ensure that the Duckworth-Lewis calculations are in their favour, in what is likely to be another run-feast.
Broadcast Details
TV Channel: Star Sports 1, HD1 (English) and 3, HD3 (Hindi)
Online Stream: www.starsports.com
Date: January 15, Friday
Time: 08:50 IST | 13:20 AEST
Venue: The Gabba, Brisbane
For any other updates regarding the match, follow the Sportskeeda website.
Team News
Australia
David Warner’s unavailability for the next two ODIs has forced the call-up of the in-form Usman Khawaja, who is likely to take Warner’s place. Australia have already announced Mitchell Marsh will be rested for the second ODI, which makes it likely that John Hastings, takes his place, to maintain the balance of the side.
Although both ODI debutants Joel Paris and Scott Boland didn't set the stage on fire in the first ODI, they are likely to keep their place in the side, due to a lack of alternatives. Aside from those two changes, there is unlikely to be any other changes to the side that won the first match, which will mean Shaun Marsh is likely to remain on the bench, owing to Khawaja’s heroics in the ongoing Big Bash League for Sydney Thunder.
India
Although Ishant Sharma is available for the second ODI, India are unlikely to play him as it would mean replacing one of the two spinners, which would significantly weaken the batting. Given India’s pace trio of Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Barinder Sran all impressed in the first ODI, it is unlikely Ishant will replace any of them.
In the batting department, although Shikhar Dhawan’s form is a worry, the only other available opener is Ajinkya Rahane and any change will require a massive restructuring of the batting order. The likelihood of that happening is minimal, hence are likely to stay with the same top order, that did quite well in Perth.
Possible Line-ups
Australia XI
Usman Khawaja, Aaron Finch, Steven Smith (C), George Bailey, Glenn Maxwell, Matthew Wade (WK), James Faulkner, John Hastings, Scott Boland, Josh Hazlewood, Joel Paris.
India XI
Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, MS Dhoni (C & WK), Manish Pandey, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Barinder Sran.
Pitch & Conditions
Much like the WACA pitch, which was a batsman’s paradise, the Gabba is also likely to offer plenty of runs. But the bigger worry is the weather forecast. Although the morning is expected to be sunny, there is a high chance of rain in the evening, including a potential thunderstorm, which means Duckworth-Lewis calculations are likely to play a major part in the match. So expect the team winning toss to prefer batting second, to keep things under control and make use of a wet ball, which is unlikely to offer too much for the bowlers.
Recent Form
Australia: W-W-L-L-W (most recent first)
India: L-L-W-L-W
Key Stats
- Virat Kohli needs 78 runs to become the fastest to reach 7,000 ODI runs.
- India needs to win at least one game from their remaining four ODI matches to retain their No.2 spot in the ICC ODI rankings.
- Australia have gone 15 consecutive ODIs without defeat at home, since their loss to South Africa on November 16, 2014.
- Scott Boland was the third Australian bowler to concede more than 70 runs on his ODI debut. The last bowler to achieve that unwanted milestone before him was current Australian skipper Steven Smith, who took 2 for 78 on debut in 2010 and before that it was David Colley in 1972
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