Explosive contest in store

Australia and India lock horns once more on Friday, this time in the exciting Twenty20 format at the MCG, with both sides looking to hit top form ahead of the forthcoming triangular one-day series with Sri Lanka.

India should be full of confidence going into this one. Not only did the squad finish the Test series with their heads held high, they have also beaten the Aussies in both their Twenty20 meetings, one in the semi-finals of the World Twenty20, as India went on to become champions.

Bet365 make Australia 2/5 and India 7/4 but quite frankly I make thie a 50-50 contest, for several reasons.

Firstly, India have nine new arrivals in the squad, while the likes of Test captain Anil Kumble, Rahul Dravid and Sourav Ganguly have all gone home. MS Dhoni leads the side, as he did in the World Twenty20, while Sreesanth will relish his return.

India's World Twenty20 win was a team effort, but helped immensely by the form of Yuvraj Singh, who destroyed every attack he faced. His woeful Test series effort will have knocked his confidence but don't be surprised if he regains his form soon. He msises Friday's game, though, so we'll have to wait just a little longer for that.

In his absence, Virender Sehwag could be the man to go ballistic for India at the top of the order. While Sachin Tendulkar is obviously capable of greatness - as the Test series showed - his price of 3/1 to be top India runscorer is perhaps too short in this format, while Sehwag's price of 4/1 is more generous.

Dhoni himself is also dangerous in this format, at 13/2, while Irfan Pathan could also do well, at 10/1.

Australia taking it seriously
Everyone knows that Australia don't like losing. While India have admitted that this match will really just be a warm-up for the one-day series, other than Matt Hayden, Australia have rested only Mitchell Johnson from their squad, which shows their intent.

Ricky Ponting is doubtful with a back problem and David Hussey, brother of Michael, could join his sibling in the side. Otherwise, they are at absolute full strength, so you'd have to fancy their chances.

Adam Gilchrist, who is retiring from international cricket, is joint favourite to top-score for the Aussies at 7/2, and that is not a bad price since the wicket-keeper plays Test cricket in pretty much the same way as most people play Twenty20, so he should go well.

Ponting is still joint favourite at 7/2 despite his back problems while Michael Clarke and Andrew Symonds are both 5/1. Brad Hodge and Michael Hussey are both 11/2 while David Hussey is 6/1.

Anything can happen in Twenty20 cricket, as everyone knows, but I fancy good performances from Sehwag and Gilchrist, so keep an eye out for the match sixes market. This is basically a 50-50 market, but you can get 27/20 that India hit more, so take the price and hope Sehwag cuts loose.