Daijiworld Media Network

Canberra, Jan 20: In a little less than three years, the Manuka Oval at Canberra has played host to five One-Day Internationals. On Wednesday (January 20), it will see its sixth, as Australia face off against India for the fourth game of the five-match one-day series. Of the five games, the teams have crossed 250 eight times, 300 four times, and 400 once. If there were any doubts that the ongoing Australia-India series would finally start to veer towards the bowling side, those stats should clamp those doubts shut emphatically. If it hasn't, then this is the ground where a player (Chris Gayle) scored the first double hundred in the men's Cricket World Cup.

Although the match is primed to be another high-scorer, what will interest both teams in how the toss goes. Australia have won three back-to-back games while chasing down record scores at the WACA, the Gabba and the MCG. But history dictates that the team batting first at the Manuka Oval stands the best chance of victory. There has been no successful chase in Canberra since February 2008 when Sri Lanka beat India in a rain-marred game.

Australia are already 3-0 up, and the series trophy is in their bag. India, on the other hand, have flattered to deceive thus far. A five-nil drubbing beckons the 2011 World Champions, and they will want to ensure they do everything they can to stem the rot.

Match Details

Date and Time: January 20, 2016; 14:20 Local Time, 08:50 IST
Weather: 35 degrees with a slight chance of rain
Venue: Manuka Oval

Team Details:

Australia: Australia have the luxury of choosing two among three top-class openers for the game in Canberra. David Warner returned to camp following the birth of his second child, which leave the side having to choose between him, Aaron Finch and Shaun Marsh to open the batting. Finch and Warner, Australia's regular opening pair, were at the optional practice session on Tuesday and that could indicate that the pair would start.

Marsh has done well when given the chance with fifties in the two games in Warner's absence, and would be unlucky to miss out. He could still make the side if the selectors decide to rest another player in the middle order. George Bailey could most likely be the one to give way should they opt with Marsh.

Australia have rotated their bowlers quite effectively through the series and Wednesday could see the same policy continue. Offspinner Nathan Lyon has been included in the line-up, and the big boundaries and the success of slower bowlers in the stadium in the past could push him into the starting XI. Scott Boland has played three games with not much to show for his efforts could make way for the spinner.

India: The Indian practice session was an interesting one to watch on Tuesday. Ravindra Jadeja hardly bowled during the entire session and only had a few tweaks when the tail-enders were batting. R Ashwin and Axar Patel, on the other hand, bowled quite a bit. Barinder Sran, too, bowled significantly less compared to Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav and Bhuvenshwar Kumar. Sran was taken for plenty during the game in Melbourne and the pecking order in the nets could indicate the one in tomorrow's match, too.

Shikhar Dhawan, despite his flailing form, should still retain his place at the top, while Gurukeerat Singh Mann should be able to keep Manish Pandey on the sidelines with his decent show with the ball in the last game.

Quotes:

David Warner: It's always good when you get time off from the game, but you don't want to miss too much cricket, because at the end of the day you're giving an opportunity to someone else. That's fantastic, but then you've got to come back and you've got to be switched on and you've got to score runs as well.

Ravi Shastri: I think it's a huge learning curve. There is absolutely no shame in the way they have played inspite of the results. Because I know there is only one way to go after this tour of Australia and that's going up.

Teams:

Australia (From): Aaron Finch, David Warner, Steven Smith(c), George Bailey, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Matthew Wade(w), James Faulkner, Kane Richardson, Scott Boland, John Hastings, Shaun Marsh, Nathan Lyon

India (From): Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, MS Dhoni(w/c), Ravindra Jadeja, Rishi Dhawan, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Barinder Sran, Manish Pandey, Ravichandran Ashwin, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar