Match Facts
Sunday, October 17, Kochi
Start time 9:00 am (0330 GMT)
The Big Picture
Michael Clarke will lead Australia in the ODIs, and he'll feel the pressure. There has been an intense debate in Australia about the future, including captaincy. There appear to be three camps: Ponting loyalists, Clarke aficionados and the anyone-but-Clarke club. His poor performance in the Tests this tour.This three-match series will give him another opportunity to silence them.
Michael Clarke had a poor Test series. Will the ODIs bring a change in his fortunes?
Watch out for...
Just when Callum Ferguson was establishing himself in the ODI line-up and looking ahead to securing a place in the Tests, he twisted his knee in the Champions Trophy final and had to sit out for a while. The Champions League, the Twenty20 tournament in South Africa, was his comeback and he starred with two half-centuries, finishing fifth on the tournament run tally.
Team news
Doug Bollinger is the senior-most fast bowler in the squad but is yet to fully recover from the abdominal strain that ruled him out of the Bangalore Test. He hasn't bowled since picking up the injury and it remains to be seen whether he will be fit for Sunday's match. Fast bowler Mitchell Starc could make his debut in case Bollinger misses out.
Pitch and conditions
The unrelenting rain has put the first ODI under threat. We have to wait and watch whether it will clear up in time to allow some play. The consistent rain has affected the pitch preparations and it will be interesting to see how it plays.
Australia (probable)
1 David Warner
2 Tim Paine (wk)
3 Michael Clarke (capt)
4 Shaun Marsh/Callum Ferguson
5 Michael Hussey
6 Cameron White
7 Steve Smith
8 James Hopes
9 Nathan Hauritz
10 Clint McKay
11 Doug Bollinger/Mitchell Starc.
NOTE: Rain Will Come
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