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Visakhapatnam: With the abandonment due to rain in Kochi of the first of three One Day Internationals, the Indian and Australian squads have headed north to Visakhapatnam for Wednesday's second ODI with one eye on the weather.
The three-ODI series has now been reduced to a two-match affair after the first match in Kochi two days ago was abandoned before a ball could be bowled because of heavy rains.
Back-to-back losses in the recently-concluded two-Test series have dented the world champion Australia's pride and they would be looking to get back at the hosts at the Dr YS Rajasekhara Reddy ADA- VDCA Cricket Stadium on Wednesday.
Known for their fighting spirit, Australia have won every one-day series in India since 1998 and the pressure will clearly be on Michael Clarke who had a barren Test series that added fuel to criticism against him.
Clarke will lead a side light on experience after regular skipper Ricky Ponting, all-rounder Shane Watson and pacer Mitchell Johnson were rested from the series, while the fast bowling stocks were further thinned by injuries to Shaun Tait, Ryan Harris and Peter Siddle among others.
For Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men, it is all about carrying on the momentum on a ground where India have won all the two matches they have played.
It was at the same venue that Dhoni had announced his arrival on the big stage with a 123-ball 148 against Pakistan in what was his fifth ODI on April 5, 2005.
Playing hard and true, unlike typical Indian wickets, the Vizag strip saw a total of 654 runs scored with India winning comfortably.
India followed it with a win over Sri Lanka in the second ODI that the stadium hosted on February 17, 2007.
Dhoni did not get a chance to bat then as Yuvraj Singh guided the team home and the Team India skipper would look for another big knock when the match is played on Wednesday for the first time under lights.
Star players including Sachin Tendulkar and Ponting being rested, the series is seen as a battle of upcoming prospects in the two cricketing powerhouses ahead of the ICC World Cup early next year.
Dhoni will lead a new-look Indian side in absence of Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, while the bowling department will see the absence of speedster Zaheer Khan and spinners Harbhajan Singh and Pragyan Ojha.
But the team is bolstered by the return of an off-colour but determined Yuvraj Singh, who was dropped for the Asia Cup.
In R Ashwin, India have an in-form off-spinner who had a fantastic run in the Twenty20 version helping Chennai Super Kings win the Champions League. It will be a big test for him ahead of the World Cup.
Australia too will have a new-look side, with players like David Warner, John Hastings and Mitchell Starc keen to show an aptitude for Indian conditions.
Skipper Michael Clarke will be desperate to atone in part for Australia's tight, straight-sets loss to India in the recently-completed Test series.
The tourists' squad has been bolstered by eight reinforcements who didn't take part in the Tests including Cameron White, James Hopes, last season's Bradman Young Cricketer of the Year, John Hastings, Blues pace bowler Mitchell Starc and his hard-hitting Blues team-mate, David Warner.
The series also marks Redbacks batsman Callum Ferguson's return to ODI cricket since he ruptured knee ligaments in the Champions Trophy final in South Africa just over 12 months ago.
Doug Bollinger will lead the bowling attack if he has recovered from the abdominal strain that ruled him out of the Bangalore Test.
Youngster Clint McKay is likely to partner him while Mitchell Starc may make his debut in case the senior-most bowler misses out.
Teams from
India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt & wk), Murali Vijay, Shikhwar Dhawan, Saurabh Tiwary, Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Aashish Nehra, Munaf Patel, Praveen Kumar and Vinay Kumar
Australia: Michael Clarke (capt), Cameron White, Michael Hussey, Tim Paine (wk), Doug Bollinger, Callum Ferguson, John Hastings, Nathan Hauritz, James Hopes, Clint McKay, Shaun Marsh, Steven Smith, Michael Starc and David Warner.
Pitch and conditions
A batting paradise, the Vizag strip is seen as one of the best batting pitches of the country and has seen totals of more than 650 and 500 in the last two occasions. "The pitch is a batting beauty. We expect another run feast," the former India wicketkeeper said. Wednesday's forecast is for clear skies over the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam, though all parties will be hoping that thunderstorms forecast for the following day don't arrive early. But with the stadium hosting its first match under lights, dew may play a role towards the evening.
Match facts
Wednesday October 20, 2010 (day/night)
Start time 14:30 local (09:00 GMT)
