Earlier this month, India retained the Border-Gavaskar Trophy after the final Test culminated in a colorless draw on the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. It was a collection that oscillated between a Test of fewer than three days to a Test that, in a parallel world, would have continued for greater than per week. So, the shift from the much-discussed, much-abused Test pitches and peering into the way forward for the “five-day” format to limited-overs cricket has been a welcome one.
Ahead of the collection decider on the refurbished M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai, to be performed on Wednesday, the three-match One-Day International (ODI) collection is locked at 1-1 and has lived as much as the vaunts that these video games have been a barely extra thorough examination of the general high quality of the 2 sides than the previous red-ball face-offs.
To commemorate India vs Australia returning to Chennai after six years, we carry you the perfect ‘in-house’ reminiscences of the Chepauk Stadium. Video credit score: Neeladri Bhattacharjee
| Video Credit:
NEELADRI BHATTACHARJEE
India secured a five-wicket win over Australia within the series-opening conflict in Mumbai earlier than Mitchell Starc ripped by means of India’s prime order with 5 wickets to put the platform for a crushing 10-wicket Australia win in Visakhapatnam.
Starc’s new-ball swing has been pivotal to the Aussie problem within the white-ball leg. He is now degree with Brett Lee because the Australian with probably the most five-fors in ODI cricket after consigning India to its heaviest defeat by way of balls remaining.
There can also be a silver lining to Australia’s batting, with Mitchell Marsh and Travis Head exhibiting that batting is simple when the ball has softened, and the fields have gone defensive.
While Marsh has been a revelation as an opener — 147 runs in two ODIs — it is going to be fascinating to see what occurs if David Warner comes again for the decider. Warner batted within the nets briefly on match eve however there’s no official phrase on his availability for the third ODI. Meanwhile, Travis Head’s proclivity for giant scores up prime would imply his place because the second opener is safe for now.
India’s batting complications may throw up a number of World Cup quandaries. One of probably the most vexing points has been the efficiency of the top-order on this collection. Shubman Gill has scores of 20 and 0 up to now and doesn’t appear like somebody, who, till earlier than this collection, couldn’t cease himself from scoring runs – Gill’s Test hundred in Ahmedabad coming shut on the heels of his three ODI centuries up to now this yr, together with a double, and a 126 not out in a T20I.
Rohit and Kohli threw away begins within the second ODI whereas the middle-order, besides KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja, lacked the urge for food for a combat. This Indian batting order could have star high quality, however within the final two video games, it has exuded vulnerability; name it struggling competitiveness quite than absolute dominance if you’ll. Their weak point in opposition to left-arm tempo has additionally been laid naked by Starc, whose menace may double if Chepauk sports activities a greenish tinge come match day. Muggy situations within the metropolis look like superb for swing and seam bowling too. It has been raining in Chennai within the evenings for the previous couple of days, however the climate is anticipated to carry on Wednesday.
India’s tempo bowling appears to be like settled, with Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj working with tempo, accuracy, and menace with the brand new ball. Siraj’s capability to combine seam-up deliveries with wobble-seam ones has added one other dimension to his bowling. But it’s how they function as soon as the ball grows previous and the batters hit by means of the road that might resolve how a lot Indian batters chase.
Although the pacers have held sway up to now, anticipate the Chennai situations to encourage flip. India could persist with three spinners whereas Australia may take into account Ashton Agar.
The final time India performed an ODI in Chennai (2019), it misplaced to the West Indies by eight wickets in a high-scoring recreation on a pitch that saved getting faster because the match progressed. Thirteen of the 22 ODIs in Chennai have been received by sides batting first however West Indies received that match chasing. Australia final performed right here in 2017 nevertheless it was a rain-curtailed recreation.
If Steve Smith’s males handle to win on Wednesday, it is going to be a becoming technique to bookend a tour that began on a bitter observe for the vacationer in Nagpur and New Delhi however has been on an upward trajectory ever since.
Source: sportstar.thehindu.com