Daijiworld Media Network

Sydney, Jan 26 : Covers are coming off and the groundstaff begin work. Toss has been delayed. Scratch the previous sentence, the drizzle decides to make a comeback. Looks like we are in for a long day.

Seems to have stopped drizzling for the moment and the umpires are having a look around. But it is very overcast. Looks like a start-stop kind of a day.

Just to remind all of you - If India lose today or the match gets washed out, their ODI against England on Friday, becomes a knock-out game. India will have to secure a bonus point win in case of a loss today.

The news coming from the ground is that it is drizzling in Sydney at the moment and very cloudy.

The bowlers have been wayward and miserably inconsistent. India have failed as a unit in both their matches. However, Ishant Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja's return to the side might give the visitors a glimmer of hope.

Australia have won the toss and have opted to field

MS Dhoni: 'We were also looking to bowl first. Good weather if it stops raining, it will be good to play cricket. It was very overcast earlier. The one good thing with us is that wherever we go the fans follow. It always helps with the support. Apart from Rohit everybody was available for selection. We have made a couple of changes. Ishant and Jadeja come in. Umesh and Bhuvi make way for them. Rohit has a sore hamstring. It is not that bad but we don't want to push him. No place for Vijay yet.'

George Bailey: 'We will bowl first. There is a little bit of rain about and Duckworth-Lewis might come into play later. It is a touch tacky underfoot. The ball might stick into the wicket a little bit. It was not much fun watching the other night (when asked about missing the previous game). Doherty and Hazlewood come in, so does Mitchell Marsh. We have to continue the momentum. This is just another piece in the puzzle.'

Teams:

India (Playing XI): Ajinkya Rahane, Shikhar Dhawan, Ambati Rayudu, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni(w/c), Stuart Binny, Ravindra Jadeja, Axar Patel, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma

Australia (Playing XI): Aaron Finch, David Warner, Steven Smith, George Bailey(c), Mitchell Marsh, Glenn Maxwell, James Faulkner, Brad Haddin(w), Mitchell Starc, Xavier Doherty, Josh Hazlewood

Hazlewood, Mitch Marsh, Bailey, Warner and Doherty come in for Australia. They replace White, Shaun Marsh, Cummins, Henriques, and Sandhu. India bring in Ishant and Jadeja in place of Umesh and Bhuvneshwar.

For India, it has been a sorry tale. Opting to bat first in both their games, the visitors stuttered in the initial overs. They were able to post a decent 267 against Australia in the first match, but it was no match for a flamboyant Australian batting attack. Against England, it was yet another story. Collective failure from the batsmen meant that India could only post a meagre 153 on board. There continues to be a big question mark over Shikhar Dhawan's form and Virat Kohli's batting position still seems uncertain. Even Rohit Sharma continues to remain out of the side due to a hamstring injury.

The hosts are in terrific touch. Their bowling attack is solid, with Mitchell Starc enjoying a dream run. He was ruthless in their first two games, and combined well with other bowlers in their last match to put up an admirable display of death bowling. Although their batting lacks the same consistency as their bowling, their depth has allowed them to play more freely. George Bailey, who missed the last game due to suspension, will take over the captaincy from Steve Smith. Shaun Marsh will make way for David Warner. Mitchell Johnson is fit but it remains to be seen whether Australia would rush him for a seemingly inconsequential game. The fact that Australia are already through offers them a good chance to experiment.

January 26 - a very very special day for both the teams. While India celebrate their 66th Republic day, the hosts will be celebrating Australia day, their official national day. A win in today's game will be of momentous significance for both the teams. Australia are already through to the final and will be looking forward to keep the momentum going. On the other hand, winless India find themselves in a do-or-die situation.

Match Preview:

Australia and India, pre-tournament favourites for the upcoming Cricket World Cup, have taken largely contrasting routes in the build-up to the big event. By virtue of their three wins, Australia sit pretty at the top of the table, having already booked their place for the final. The effects of a long tour has affected India adversely and they now find themselves facing, potentially two must-win games to make the tri-series final. Alternatively, if they lost the next one, they'll have to then beat England by a bonus point and ensure that they trump Eoin Morgan's men, even in the Net Run Rate battle. 26th of January marks a special day for both these Commonwealth countries. Australia celebrate the Australia Day and India, the Republic Day - An added motivation for both teams to put up a good show.

Australia:

Australia have enjoyed the perfect tune-up thus far. Their first two victories were set up by Mitchell Starc and their bursts with the new ball. Then, in their last game against England, Starc and James Faulkner came up with a fine exhibition of death bowling to restrict England to 303, when they looked set to get much more. The batting has remained solid, if not flamboyant. The depth in batting has allowed the top-order to bat with freedom.

For the India game, there are welcome returns to the squad. George Bailey will take over as captain missing the last game due to suspension. Mitchell Marsh has sufficiently recovered from an injury sustained during the Brisbane Test against India. David Warner and Shane Watson missed the Hobart ODI with hamstring injuries and It remains to be seen, if the think-tank would rush them for an inconsequential game. Mitchell Johnson, though fit, will make a return only for the final. However, Josh Hazlewood and Xavier Doherty are expected to play on Monday.

India:

The defending World Champions had a sorry day at the office against England. They were blown away by Steven Finn and James Anderson and there appear to be cracks creeping up into the famed batting line-up. There are question marks surrounding Shikhar Dhawan's place in the side and Virat Kohli's batting position. India's two aggressive batsman at the top of the order have failed to get started. Rohit Sharma, India's centurion against Australia in Melbourne, has been sidelined by a hamstring injury and will miss the encounter in Sydney.

India, however, will be boosted by Ishant Sharma's and Ravindra Jadeja's steady return to fitness. Stuart Binny, who shone in an otherwise forgettable day against England, may keep his place even if India opt to for a two-spinner attack. Jadeja's bowling readiness may help the team management make the choice among the three available spinners. A five day break after their twin defeats may augur well for a team that looks to regain its mental freshness.

Pitch and Conditions:

The wicket at Sydney is expected to be dry and is said to assist spin. However, there is a 60% chance for rain, late on Monday afternoon. That may influence the team composition.

Stats and Trivia:

Sachin Tendulkar scored a masterly 117 in 2008 to mastermind India's only victory over Australia in a One-Day International in Sydney.

Quotes:

'In Australia and New Zealand you can lose wickets quickly and with Kohli at No 3, he might be vulnerable.Coming in at No 4, he will have a better perspective of the innings going forward.'

- Viv Richards voiced his support on India's decision to move Virat Kohli to No. 4.