India all set to go in as favorites, Oz still struggling with injuries

India wouldn’t have had a more perfect situation to go into a match against Australia like this is going to be. Even though Australia has won a game, not by hard margin, India looks damn hard now to beat after the thumping victory at Nagpur. Australia, on the other hand is struggling with injuries as Tim Paine fractured his right finger at Nagpur. Furthermore, Mitchell Johnson, being not completely fit, did play at Nagpur and was thrown out of the park, nevertheless he will play, even though he is still nursing a pain due to a left-ankle strain. The main problem will be James Hopes and Brett Lee. Both these bowlers have shown unprecedented success in recent past while bowling in death. Their absence did strike Oz hard as they shelled away whopping 118-runs in last 10 overs and it will continue as it was, because, the James Hopes has been again ruled out of the third ODI and Brett Lee has been ruled out of the series with even the home test series agaisnst Windies in doubt for him. Graham Manou, the South Australian wicket-keeper has been sent in as a replacement keeper and will replace Paine. Manou, who has just played one international match in an Ashes test earlier this year is pre-dominantly a wicket-keeper and his domestic career stats speak that, 1407 runs in 88 innings @ 21.64 with 4 fifties.

Coming to the match conditions, the match will be a day-night encounter and played at the Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi. After a few Champions League games, most of the players are aware of the variness of the new Kotla track. It will be certainly low and less flat and hence, the Australians will have taken a breather for the same. Though the pitch will be certainly good for a one-day match, don’t expect a 354-run stand again by either of the sides. The game would be a low-scoring encounter and batsman will have to be judicious earlier in the innings. The temperatures will be pleasant ranging between 17ºC and 31ºC with no chances of rain.

India with their experience, momentum and home-advantage will try to take the advantage. With a wonderful batting performance, India will go into the game with the same line-up, unless some injury again strikes. And given the fact, most batsmen hitting the ball with the meaty parts, the team would love to see Tendulkar back in form. Tendulkar, who has not been looked great in touch in both one-dayers, would himself be raring to go into the game. The pacers on Indian side have improved and are looking back into the rhythm. Australia, on the other hand, will now open with Marsh instead of Paine and with the rest of side being retained likely. Hence, India looks real tough and Australia a bit glitchy.

But don’t expect Australians to gift away a single penny as the game begins. They have the experience of dominating the world-force for a very long time and hence have the potential to bounce back hard. India, on the other hand, would try to be on their game plans and if MSD is to believed, the team won’t focus on Oz injuries to a greater extent. Ricky Ponting is the only player who has played on Kotla tracks before and hence his performance would be a very important factor if Ozs need a win.

The match begins 1430 local time, tomorrow i.e. Saturday, the 31st October 2009.