Join us for live scores and commentary of tonight’s Twenty20 international of Australia vs India, as a new-look Australia will look to continue wreaking misery on India.
Second Twenty20 live commentary here
The last time India played a T20 in Australia, they were blown away for 74 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on a pace-filled track.
Stadium Australia in Sydney could be another baptism by pace for the Indian batsmen if the Big Bash League results are to be believed.
Barring the first game in which Chris Gayle’s insanities with the bat made the opposition bowling look meek, scores of 140 and 117 (16 overs) were defended and another side was bowled out for 99.
Most of the damage in those games was done by the quicker bowlers. With India hit by pace in the Tests, the Indian fans will hope there is no encore performance of that MCG game.
There will be changes to the sides – both from what was on view in Tests and from their respective previous T20Is.
Australia have a new captain, George Bailey, who becomes the first from his country to lead the side on debut since Dave Gregory in the first ever international played in this sport.
Question-marks over his batting form have been raised – and rightly so – and that is the one space the fans will be watching closely.
The top-order, on the other hand, should take the pressure off him. Dave Warner was discovered in this format, Travis Birt was a standout in the Big Bash League and David Hussey’s all-round skills won him the man of the series in the same tournament.
Brett Lee, who finished with a healthy return of eight wickets at an economy of less than 6.5 and Clint McKay’s 11 scalps in the BBL should earn them the right to lead the bowling attack.
Mitchell Marsh and Daniel Christian will do the all-rounders’ duty for the side which should leave the management to decide on playing either an extra pace bowler (James Faulkner) or a spinner.
India will play the same set of openers as they did in the Tests, Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir, but the rest of the personnel and order will change dramatically.
One of Virat Kohli or Suresh Raina could bat three, with Rohit Sharma expected to get his first chance on the tour down the order.
Captain Dhoni aside – who will be a floater in the batting order – the Indians could play both their all-rounders. Ravindra Jadeja is almost certain to get a game in while it remains to be seen whether Irfan Pathan will play immediately on comeback.
Praveen Kumar and Umesh Yadav will lead the pace attack and if Pathan plays, the side may want to go in with R Ashwin as their fourth bowler.
The two teams have played each other four times and the record is an even 2-2. Both teams have won the one game they played at home and one other at a neutral venue.
On paper then, nothing to choose from between the two sides. Except that the feeling is that India will need to bat well to handle the searing pace on a quickish track.
We will bring you the coverage throughout first T20I from Sydney and hope to receive your opinions as the action unfolds.
Michael
Guest
In this game atleast the feilding has some life.The older palyers must make way for the youngsters but what to say of Rahul Sharma.
Michael
Guest
The Indians should start concentrading on their games instead of fight for a place to become captain of the team. It really sad to see how palyers like V. Sehvak is throughing away his game. It is really dishaeartening to see our team losing all th game. It is join effert to make the team win not an individual. What a captain can do under such bad batting performance. It better to stop playing abraod with the current poor batting condition.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
That is it from me tonight. The second and the last T20I match of the series will be played on Friday at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. I will be back with the live coverage of the game from 7.30 pm local time.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
It was a fabulous performance by Australia, batting, bowling and fielding. India competed well with them in the field but were lacklustre with their batting and bowling. 171 was never going to be an easy task but after the Powerplay overs, it looked like the Indians had a chance. Then, two things happened together - Gautam Gambhir got out and the spinners came on. The troika of Hogg, Hussey and Doherty stifled the scoring and the Indians were always behind the eight-ball. They also began to lose wickets regularly and in the end, fell well short of the target. Earlier, Matthew Wade scored a quick-fire 72 and Hussey made 42 to push the Australians to a near-invincible total.
Kapil dev
Guest
Very Good India
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Another excellent over to finish off the Indians, only six runs off that last over. Australia have won by 31 runs and taken a 1-0 lead in the two-match T20I series. This is their third successive loss in this format against Australia and follows a 4-0 drubbing in the Tests. George Bailey makes a winning start alright!
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
SIX! Smashed to mid-wicket. Moves on to 45. 38 needed off six balls.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
He is not able to get them away to the fence but he is swinging them hard alright. Dhoni's bat goes high in the air and falls safely. Yes, the bat. And all the fielders were safe, out of the harm's way.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Brett Lee to bowl now. Ashwin on strike. Dhoni's on 37.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Only five runs off the Doherty over means that the Indians needed a four off each of the next 12 balls. Yuvraj Singh had once hit six sixes in an over but he is not in the squad.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Xavier Doherty on now. A dot to start off, before Ashwin drives him to long-on for a single. 52 from 16 needed.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
SIX! Pulled away by Dhoni and it goes all the way. However, only nine off the over and the run-rate needed climbs to more than 17. Dhoni removes the helmet.
Nathan of Perth
Guest
Hoggie is a legend, gotta love him!
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Single to Dhoni now...60 needed off 21.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
James Faulkner starts off with a slower one. Beats Ashwin off an attempted scoop. Single off the next. 61 needed off 22.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
15 runs in the over and they need 4 more of such overs if they want to win it. 6/110 in 16.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Four! Blistering shot back to the bowler and it goes to the long-on for four. Too late or does India still have an outside chance? 6/108 in 15.3 overs.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
SIX! Yep, finally. A full-toss from Christian and it was pulled away by the Indian captain. 6/102 in 15.1.
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Four! I rub my eyes but it remains as a four. Smacked it over mid-wicket by R Ashwin. Hogg is not happy. 6/95 in 15 overs. Hogg ends his four over spell with figures of 1/21. Take a bow, you champion!
Suneer Chowdhary
Roar Guru
Brad Hogg back on. Did he ever bowl as well as he is now?