Australia, India attempt to stability preparation and relaxation as World Cup looms

Big Picture: Will Australia check out Short?

The World Cup is sort of right here, however not fairly. These two groups will meet to open their campaigns on October 8 in Chennai, however first there are three video games in six days that, whereas helpful for fine-tuning plans, and for quite a few key Australia gamers returning to motion, can even present a problem in making certain towards any additional last-minute harm alarms.

Australia have suffered a giant one in current days with Travis Head’s fractured hand prone to rule him out of the World Cup. India, in the meantime, have some issues over Axar Patel who isn’t accessible for the primary two matches of this collection.

India are coming off their Asia Cup success the place they skittled Sri Lanka for 50 within the ultimate and Australia arrive having seen a 2-0 collection lead overturned by South Africa right into a 3-2 defeat. In phrases of performances, type of gamers and confidence, there may be in all probability extra driving on these three video games for them relatively than India.

This can even be a chance for Shreyas Iyer and Suryakumar Yadav to have a while within the center. Iyer suffered a again spasm in the course of the Asia Cup whereas Suryakumar performed simply as soon as, making 26 off 34 balls within the defeat towards Bangladesh.

Form information

India WLWWW (final 5 matches, most up-to-date first)
Australia LLLWW

In the highlight: Ashwin’s probability and Cummins’ return

R Ashwin has not performed an ODI since January 2022 and when a alternative was wanted a couple of days in the past for the Asia Cup ultimate it was Washington who made the sprint over. Still, ought to Axar not make the World Cup squad, Ashwin’s expertise might but tilt the scales his manner. He and Ravindra Jadeja have actually given Australia some sleepless nights in Test cricket.

Pat Cummins was appointed Australia’s ODI captain final November, however has up to now captained them in simply two matches. He is coming into this collection off the again of a wrist harm sustained within the ultimate Ashes Test and can strengthen a tempo assault that was put underneath stress in South Africa. However, there may be additionally an fascinating choice debate that might happen round Cummins if – or when – Australia solely need to discipline two frontline quicks.

Team news: Ashwin vs Washington and Smith’s return

All three spin-bowling allrounders might play within the absence of the rested Pandya. The selectors might also take into account giving Mohammed Siraj a sport off after his Asia Cup heroics. Ishan Kishan may have the prospect to open alongside the in-form Shubman Gill.

India (potential): 1 Ishan Kishan, 2 Shubman Gill, 3 Shreyas Iyer, 4 Suryakumar Yadav, 5 KL Rahul (capt, wk), 6 Ravindra Jadeja, 7 Washington Sundar, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Mohammed Shami, 10 Mohammed Siraj/Shardul Thakur, 11 Jasprit Bumrah.

This sport might give the primary indication of how Australia plan to suit collectively Smith and Marnus Labuschagne, though they could look to squeeze in Short. Without Head, Maxwell or Ashton Agar, Tanveer Sangha might come into the combo. Starc is not accessible for this sport, which might open the door for Spencer Johnson to make his ODI debut after he picked up a hamstring harm in South Africa. Sean Abbott and Nathan Ellis each left Johannesburg with accidents.

Australia (potential): 1 David Warner, 2 Mitchell Marsh, 3 Steven Smith, 4 Marnus Labuschagne, 5 Alex Carey (wk), 6 Cameron Green, 7 Marcus Stoinis, 8 Pat Cummins (capt), 9 Spencer Johnson/Tanveer Sangha, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Josh Hazlewood.

Pitch and situations

It’s early within the Indian season, however Cummins mentioned he did not anticipate that to have an effect on the surfaces a lot. Mohali hasn’t staged an ODI for 4 years, however has produced some excessive scores within the IPL. The forecast is for a sizzling, dry day.

Stats and trivia

Quotes

“We’ll try and strike the balance between getting plenty of game time into everyone but also [have] an eye to the World Cup in a couple of weeks.”
Pat Cummins