Australia face India in crucial World Cup warm-up

With the amount of cricket that Australia have played in recent times, a warm-up in the not-so-cool climes of Bangalore is probably the last thing they need before the start of the World Cup. Or so one may think.

However, this game, followed by their next one, will look to fulfill their objective of getting in those who had either not been a part of the ODI series against England or have come in as replacements for those injured, as they look to get into groove for their objective of defending their World Cup title yet again.

So when Australia take on the hosts India in their first warm-up game of the tournament at Bangalore, all eyes will be on their captain Ricky Ponting, who makes a much-vaunted return to the side. This comes after missing out on one Test match and seven ODIs back home against England and the skipper will be eager to test his little finger out – the cause of his absenteeism.

The other couple to watch out for will be Callum Ferguson and Jason Krejza, both of who make a surprising entry into the squad – an almost eleventh hour one, after the selectors decided to rule out Michael Hussey and Nathan Hauritz from the squad due to their fitness travails. While Ferguson has big shoes to fill, he may not directly slot into the playing eleven of the side once the real games begin given that Hussey will be swapped by the returning Ponting in the playing eleven.

On the other hand, the Hauritz-boots may not be that huge but if there is one part of the world where spinners, are relished as well allowed an opportunity to prosper, it has to be the sub-continent. Krejza joins an ever-swelling list of slow bowlers who represented the side this season. Fortunately for him, he will have fond memories of India where he had made his Test match debut three seasons ago and captured a 12-wicket haul against India – no mean achievement given that even the great Shane Warne has had some nasty nightmarish experiences here.

This is not to say that the game is of no great importance to the others. For Australia, David Hussey could be a key in the middle-order now that his brother is out of reckoning, while how Brett Lee copes up and leads an attack that has been yearning for a bowler of his calibre for a couple of years will be one to watch out for.

India have had a calmer build-up to the tournament despite all the shenanigans associated with the sport in the country and the fact that it will be their third home World Cup. Under MS Dhoni, the team has exhibited some good form leading up into the tournament, winning their first couple of games in South Africa against the hosts and having won almost every other ODI series that they have played in.

Where the Indians have fumbled a little has been their fitness – it is difficult to remember when was the last time that they had gone into an ODI without the troika of Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, which is precisely what had happened in South Africa.

The think-tank will hope for them to get their bearings right after their time away from the side, apart from expecting the pace bowlers to get a decent work-out before the start of the tournament.

It is obvious that when the number one and two sides in the world play against each, even in a game not accorded the ODI status, there could be chances of fireworks and friction alike.

The moot point, though, will be how well both sides adapt to the fact that the World Cup has actually begun for the two sides.