Wary Australia look to gather momentum

Despite a resounding 128-run victory against Sri Lanka on Friday, Australia are wary of India, their next opponents in the CB Series, at the MCG tomorrow. The reason for that caution is India's proven ability in the past to regroup and adapt to conditions much better than any other team has done in Australia. Recently, India recovered from a 2-0 slump in the Test series to bounce back in Perth with a handsome victory and then fight hard to draw in the final Test in Adelaide. The seeds of respect had been sown four years back after India drew the four-Test rubber 1-1.

Brett Lee, at the peak of his bowling prowess - he was the highest wicket-taker during the Tests and is the joint leader in the CB Series with Nathan Bracken on six - feels India can never be taken lightly, even if the momentum is with Australia. "Tomorrow is a very big match for us. India are tough opponents," he said. "If we can go there and play some really good cricket, hopefully pick up a win, then the momentum will be sky-high going into Perth against Sri Lanka."

Virender Sehwag, who was not part of the Indian team that lost the Boxing Day Test at this venue, felt Lee's caution was justified. "India are the only team to beat them [Australia] and they know that. If we beat Australia it is good for the final."

India have plenty of work to do before they get there, but despite having played two unfinished games after rain played spoilsport in Brisbane, there's a feeling of comfort in the camp. There was a concern earlier that the players who had joined the squad for the ODIs would struggle to get used to the conditions, but Sehwag felt that having practised for a few days in Melbourne everyone had finally found their feet.

"In Brisbane it was lack of practice. Now we've had four days of nets, so we are looking better day by day," he said, hoping that the MCG pitch would be the same as the one on which Queensland lost to Victoria. On a slow surface, Brad Hodge scored a patient unbeaten 119 from 134 deliveries to take Victoria home, and Sehwag felt the lack of pace would make it easier for the batsmen to hang around.

Lee agreed that the pitch was likely to lack pace, but said the Australian bowling attack was varied and consistent enough to deliver in any conditions. "Collectively as a bowling group we have done well," he said. "The guys are chipping in and it's not like one person is putting his hand up."

While it is tough to argue with the strength of the Australian bowling attack that floored Sri Lanka for just 125 in 31.3 overs on Friday, Sehwag chose to focus on India's plans to counter them. "The Sri Lankans bowled well but their batsmen failed. If we have to challenge the Australians we need to not lose wickets early on, because the Aussies find it difficult if the wickets don't fall and we should play on that."

The Indians put together a handy opening stand in their game, against Sri Lanka, with Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag adding 68, but they were set back by a mid-innings collapse which saw them slump to 4 for 83. The one major worry for them has been the form of Yuvraj Singh, who made 2 in that game and has managed just 30 runs in eight innings in Australia. One-day cricket has been his forte, though - he averages 50.44 in his last ten ODIs before the Australian tour - and Sunday offers him another opportunity to regain lost form.

Both teams are likely to field unchanged line-ups. India might be tempted to pick another specialist spinner in Piyush Chawla if Sreesanth, who has a fever, is ruled out.

Teams
Australia: (probable) 1 Matthew Hayden, 2 Adam Gilchrist (wk), 3 Ricky Ponting (capt), 4 Michael Clarke, 5 Andrew Symonds, 6 Michael Hussey, 7 James Hopes, 8 Brett Lee, 9 Brad Hogg, 10 Mitchell Johnson, 11 Nathan Bracken.

India: (probable) 1 Virender Sehwag, 2 Sachin Tendulkar, 3 Gautam Gambhir, 4 Yuvraj Singh, 5 Rohit Sharma, 6 Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt, wk), 7 Robin Uthappa, 8 Irfan Pathan, 9 Harbhajan Singh, 10 Sreesanth, 11 Ishant Sharma.