Canberra: Two high-scoring games at Sydney saw Australia take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series, but there are still Cricket World Cup Super League points up for grabs in the final ODI on Wednesday (December 2). David Warner and Pat Cummins’ absence will give India hope as they head into the final ODI of the series at the Manuka Oval on Wednesday.
The Aussies have never lost an international game at the venue in six attempts, including four ODIs, and will be favourites to seal a 3-0 series win and affirm their position at the top of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Super League table.
The last time India played in Canberra, Australia triggered a stunning collapse of 9-46 to win the game from nowhere!
— cricket.com.au (@cricketcomau) December 1, 2020
The third #AUSvIND ODI at Manuka Oval starts at 2.20pm AEDT tomorrow pic.twitter.com/NiciPRoMMK
India are yet to start their account in the tournament and will hope to get their first points in the Super League table with Wednesday’s clash. They have lost five ODIs on the trot, a sequence that goes back to the beginning of the series in New Zealand at the start of the year. The visitors will likely make team changes for the final ODI.
Shubman Gill could get a game at the expense of Mayank Agarwal as India experiment with options at the top of the batting order in Rohit Sharma’s absence. Hardik Pandya starting to bowl, even in a restricted manner, has given India slightly better options in terms of balancing their team.
But it’s the bowling attack that could see more changes. Yuzvendra Chahal could be benched to give Kuldeep Yadav a run in the side. Jasprit Bumrah might also be rested considering the workload coming up with one of Shardul Thakur or T Natarajan slotting into the starting XI.
📽️ "The Australians set an attacking field, which really helps me score more runs."
— ICC (@ICC) December 1, 2020
Shreyas Iyer is determined to challenge the 🇦🇺 bowlers.
How will he fare in the third #AUSvIND ODI? pic.twitter.com/4MQa8uEDg6
Meanwhile, Australia will have two forced changes with Warner injured and Cummins rested for the remainder of the limited-overs leg. Marnus Labuschagne has put his hand up to open the batting in Warner’s absence, but it’s likely that the Aussies would go to Matthew Wade who has donned the role before. Sean Abbott could replace Pat Cummins in the bowling department.
India have conceded opening stands of 156 and 142 in the first two ODIs on this tour with Aaron Finch and Warner making merry. But it isn’t just the openers who have thrived. In the last game at Sydney, each of Australia’s top-five batters made 50-plus scores, only the second time in ODI history that has happened.
India’s bowlers have struggled to pick up wickets at regular intervals and have ended up conceding two of their highest totals against Australia in the format in the first two games of the series.
Australia captain Aaron Finch said, “You have to understand his (Mitchell Starc) standards are a lot higher than what you expect from most other people because of how dominant he’s been over the last eight to nine years, especially in the white-ball formats. He’s been super.”
India batsman Shreyas Iyer said, “I thrive under pressure. It really motivates me to go against them. They set attacking fields which really helps me to score runs, so I take advantage of that and I see to it that I make the best use of it.”
The Squads:
India: Virat Kohli (C), Shikhar Dhawan, Shubman Gill, KL Rahul (WK/VC), Sanju Samson (WK), Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Mayank Agarwal, Ravindra Jadeja, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Navdeep Saini, Shardul Thakur, T Natarajan.
Australia: Aaron Finch (C), D’arcy Short, Steve Smith, Marnus Labuschagne, Glenn Maxwell, Alex Carey (WK), Mitchell Starc, Adam Zampa, Josh Hazlewood, Sean Abbott, Ashton Agar, Cameron Green, Moises Henriques, Andrew Tye, Daniel Sams, Matthew Wade (WK).
