Big picture
India is participating in this tour. Victory in the final ODI and opening T20I means there is a bit of spring in their wake as they return to Sydney for the last two white ball games before the focus shifts firmly to the test series, although as these matches SCG takes place Test preparations will increase for others against Australia A across town at Drummoyne Oval.
It was a tremendous comeback for India in the opening match. From a position where they appeared to be struggling to put 140 before the late onslaught of Ravindra Jadeja, who has since been ruled out of the series with the concussion that led to Yuzvendra Chahal playing his decisive role with the ball.
In the chase, Australia was well placed at 72-for-1, but Steven Smith and Glenn Maxwell fell in consecutive overs and not for the first time was a lack of batting power on the order exposed, although the Indian bowlers did explode a pitch. which began to hold more. as the game progressed.
Given the condensed nature of this tour, there will be more player juggling. Australia have released Cameron Green to join Team A Australia, but Mitchell Swepson will remain with Group T20I following his quick recall following Ashton Agar’s injury. With Australia potentially losing up to six players, who would likely be the first choice players in their T20 XI, Captain Aaron Finch was awaiting the results of the scans on Saturday after sustaining a hip or glute injury in Canberra, this looks like a good chance for India to reclaim the series.
SEE ALSO: Natarajan’s triple in T20I debut (Indian subcontinent only)
Forms guide
Last five completed matches
Australia LWLLW
India WWT (won super over) T (won super over) W
In the spotlight
After two ODIs below average, Mitchell starc he was much more like his usual self in his two opening overs in the first T20I, finding a late swing, including the strong outwinger, that Shikhar Dhawan didn’t get anywhere near. His last two overs were 23, but it was his 144km / h short ball that Jadeja hit his helmet to suffer a concussion. However, he may not be 100% fit yet, so he may not play the remaining two T20Is.
SEE ALSO: Starc Uproots Dhawan Stump (Indian Subcontinent Only)
Given how he got to the side and dominated, all that was talked about was about Chahal, but Washington SundarBall performance was also vital in India’s victory. He pitched all four of his overs for 16, including 13 points, propelling the ball to the surface with Australia’s batters struggling to connect with direct or cross shots.
Team news
Finch remains hesitant, and if lost, it would require a captaincy change and Matthew Wade is likely to intervene. He would also need batting reinforcements and would likely see Wade open with D’Arcy Short, which could create a vacancy for Alex Carey to return in the middle order. Nathan Lyon has been drafted into the team and could challenge for Swepson’s place to offer a counterweight to Adam Zampa’s leg twist. Josh Hazlewood has played every white-ball game so far, so he might need a break.
Australia (possible) 1 Aaron Finch / D’Arcy Short, 2 Matthew Wade, 3 Steven Smith, 4 Glenn Maxwell, 5 Moises Henriques, 6 Alex Carey (week), 7 Sean Abbott, 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Mitchell Swepson / Nathan Lyon, 10 Adam Zampa, 11 Josh Hazlewood
Jadeja will need to be replaced early on this time around and Chahal’s performance makes him the natural choice, although he significantly weakens the hitting. Manish Pandey didn’t have his best day at No. 5 with 2 of 8 balls in Canberra. India may decide to rotate Mohammed Shami and Jasprit Bumrah.
India (probable) 1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 KL Rahul, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Sanju Samson, 5 Manish Pandey / Shreyas Iyer, 6 Hardik Pandya, 7 Washington Sundar, 8 Deepak Chahar, 9 T Natarajan, 10 Jasprit Bumrah / Mohammed Shami, 11 Yuzvendra chahal
Plot and conditions
The surfaces were flat, very flat, for the two ODIs, although some of the Indian bowlers have found their rhythm since those games. The forecast is for a warm, dry afternoon.
SEE ALSO: Henriques collects three key terrains (only in the Indian subcontinent)
Statistics and trivia
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In the series opener, Moisés Henriques pitched his full quota of four more in a T20 for the first time since February 2017.
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India is unbeaten in its last ten Q20I, a streak that includes a no result and two draws, which it then won in Super Overs against New Zealand
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Two years ago at the SCG, India chased 165 to level the series.
Quotes
“I think two legs is fine. You have seen the impact that the leg twist in the T20 format has had in basically all competitions; the BBL, the IPL, international cricket, there are a lot of legs that have a lot of impact. That ability to Turning the ball both ways puts doubts on the batter’s mind. That’s where I think leg players have that advantage in the T20 format. “
Mitchell swepson
“The launch (in the first T20I) was exciting, so I decided that I was not going to fly for them, and play fast bowling like the Australian spinners in the ODI.”
Yuzvendra chahal
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