Australia Accommodation

Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Australia's ODI Top Three All Debutants - Melbourne One Day Match


Australia may have made a clean sweep of the recent Test series against Sri Lanka, but the one-dayers are almost certain to be close contests.

The first match of the five-game one-day series is at the MCG on Friday and you can be assured the Sri Lankans will put up a better fight than they displayed during the Test match at the same ground last month.

Australia triumphed by an innings and 201 runs on that occasion, but the Sri Lankans take the ODIs very seriously and should not be underestimated even though star batsmen Kumar Sangakkara is sidelined by injury.

Not only do Sri Lanka have the services of arguably the best limited overs paceman in the world in Lasith Malinga, but they also have an underrated array of spinners with which to test the Australians.

Malinga's form during the current KFC T20 Big Bash League has been first class and if he can replicate that in the one-dayers then he is sure to have the Australian openers on their toes.

We saw glimpses of Rangana Herath's best during the Test series, but he won't be the only spinner that Sri Lanka will unleash on the Australian team.

Keep a close eye on the unorthodox Ajantha Mendis as he bowls both leggies and offies with aplomb, while all-rounder Jeevan Mendis - who bowls some good leg breaks himself - is another Sri Lankan to watch.

Australia's squad for Melbourne looks rather inexperienced, with the names of Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey, Shane Watson and Michael Clarke all missing through injury or retirement.
Clarke's absence paves the way for regular Twenty20 captain George Bailey to skipper the Australian side and he will need to rely on a group of players that are mainly yet to prove themselves in one-day cricket at international level.

There is no David Warner at the top of the order - he is being rested from the opening two matches of the series - with the in-form, but inexperienced trio of Aaron Finch, Phil Hughes and Usman Khawaja likely to spearhead Australia's top order.

Brad Haddin and David Hussey will add that bit of experience to the batting line-up, so there are certainly enough class players in the Australian side to make up for the absence of Clarke, Warner and Co.

It will be interesting to see if Australia opt for two left-arm quicks in their final XI for the opening match, with Mitchell Starc and Mitchell Johnson both having performed admirably in the recent Test series.

Clint McKay and Ben Cutting are the other pace options Bailey has at his disposal, while Tasmanian Xavier Doherty looks certain to feature as he is the only specialist spinner in the squad.

Only one of Steve Smith and Glenn Maxwell look likely to play, with the duo battling it out for the same spot seemingly and the Victorian in the box seat given the match is at the MCG.

Expect both sides to include plenty of bowling options in the final XI given the new one-day rules that Australia will see for the first time this summer.

Australia squad: George Bailey (c), Ben Cutting, Xavier Doherty, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin, Phil Hughes, David Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Usman Khawaja, Glenn Maxwell, Clint Mckay, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc

Sri Lanka squad: Mahela Jayawardene (c), Angelo Mathews (vc), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Upul Tharanga, Dinesh Chandimal, Lahiru Thirimanne, Thisara Perera, Kushal Janith Perera, Jeevan Mendis, Nuwan Kulasekara, Ajantha Mendis, Lasith Malinga, Akila Dananjaya, Suranga Lakmal, Rangana Herath, Shaminda Eranga.

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