Daijiworld Media Network
Adelaide, Feb 12 : Welcome to the 4th ODI of the CB series between Australia and India from Adelaide. Australia are sitting pretty at the top of the table after victories over India and Sri Lanka.
Australia were tested in the previous match against the Lankans at Perth where they hung onto victory. They would be looking to put on a better show today in Adelaide. India, on the other hand, got going with a victory over Sri Lanka and they will want to put one over the Australians to boost their morale.
Australia have won the toss and elected to bat
Pitch Report: Sanjay Manjrekar says that it is an excellent wicket to bat on. The grass is rolled in and it is dry grass. Wasim Akram reckons that if batsmen do not get runs here, they will not get runs anywhere. Teams that win the toss should bat first.
Interesting Stat: India have never beaten Australia in an ODI at Adelaide.
There are rumours floating around that Sachin Tendulkar might not play in today's ODI. Ravi Shastri is fuming as he calls this 'rotation' policy a joke. However, we will wait for official confirmation.
Dhoni: We would have batted first. Tendulkar is not playing. Gambhir comes back and Umesh Yadav replaces Praveen Kumar. Ravindra Jadeja has done well and Ashwin has to step up. The win against SL was scrappy but we learnt a lot.
Clarke: It is perfect conditions to bat. We have been playing very well but we still have lot of work to do. Michael Hussey is not playing and Peter Forrest comes in. He is been rested and Peter will bat at number four.
Peter Forrest: I had an idea that I would be playing when Michael Hussey did not turn up in Adelaide. I am trying to think that it is just a game. When there are superstars in both teams, it is not easy to focus. I am trying to be confident. This feeling is similar to my first day in school. It was a little bit strange walking into the dressing room but now I cannot wait to get out and perform.
Teams:
India (Playing XI): Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Suresh
Raina, MS Dhoni(w/c), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Zaheer Khan, Vinay Kumar, Umesh Yadav
Australia (Playing XI): David Warner, Matthew Wade(w), Ricky Ponting, Michael Clarke(c), Peter Forrest, David Hussey, Daniel Christian, Ryan Harris, Clint McKay, Mitchell Starc, Xavier Doherty
Match begins:
Warner and Ponting are at the crease. Warner is on strike. Zaheer will open the attack
It is a warm day at Adelaide and the track is full of runs. A good toss to win for Australia..
The first surprise, Ricky Ponting is opening
First Over:
0.1 Zaheer to Warner, 2 runs, runs straightaway for Warner, full and swinging away from outside off, Warner reaches out and drives it in the gap between cover and point for a couple
0.2 Zaheer to Warner, no run, good length delivery outside off and shaping away, defended back to the bowler
0.3 Zaheer to Warner, 1 run, catch dropped by Dhoni. This was a good length delivery outside off and nipping back in, Warner pushed forward, gets an inside edge to the left of Dhoni, he goes one handed and shells the catch
0.4 Zaheer to Ponting, no run, fuller length delivery outside off and shaping away, left alone
0.5 Zaheer to Ponting, no run, short of good length outside off, Ponting stays back and defends it towards the off-side
0.6 Zaheer to Ponting, 1 run, to gully