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[VIDEO] Australia vs India: 5th ODI cricket live scores, blog, highlights

26th January, 2015
Squads
Australia: Steve Smith,, Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty, James Faulkner, Aaron Finch, Brad Haddin (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Gurinder Sandhu, Mitchell Starc, Shaun Marsh, Cameron White, Moises Henriques

India: Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Ambati Rayudu, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, MS Dhoni, Stuart Binny, Akshar Patel, R Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav

Venue: Sydney
Date: Monday, January 26
Timing: 2:20pm (AEST)
George Bailey will lead the Tigers out today (AFP PHOTO/PUNIT PARANJPE)
Roar Guru
26th January, 2015
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5128 Reads

India need to avoid defeat when they take on Australia in the fifth ODI of the 2015 tri-series if they have to stay in reckoning for a place in the final but it will be a mountainous task for a team which is yet to win a game on tour so far. You ​can ​follow the live blog of this match 2.20pm (AEDT).​

It has been a struggle for India ever since they landed on the Aussie soil. They were expected to go down 4-0 in the Tests but staved off defeats in the final two Tests to lose 2-0 – a performance that earned plaudits for their batting.

On the other hand, they were expected to do a lot better in the ODIs, but defeats in each of their first two matches have left them in an unenviable position of having to almost win both their remaining games to make the final.

For the defending world champions and a team which is ranked second in the world, it’s a difficult position to be in at the moment.

What would have added to their misery is the manner in which they went down to England in their previous game.

On a pitch that afforded bounce to the English seam bowlers, the Indian batsmen capitulated to 153 all out and then, were pummelled out of the game in just 27.3 overs. Not the kind of result you would expect against a team which was, not so long ago, expected to roll over in this format of the game.

India will be without their centurion from the first game, Rohit Sharma, yet again because of injury which will allow Shikhar Dhawan another chance at the top of the order. He will know, however, his time is running out and it will be interesting to see if he changes his approach accordingly.

There are also reports Ishant Sharma might make a comeback but even if he does, one can expect him to take his time to get to full match fitness. On a slowish Sydney pitch, India could also opt to bring in a second spinner.

Australia are already through to the final but while they might still want to experiment, it’s difficult to see them go into the game without a full desire to win. Carrying their winning momentum is something they would want to do going into the final of this tri-series and therefore into the 2015 World Cup.

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George Bailey will return to the side too and despite his side’s extremely clinical showing over the previous three games, he will be aware of his run drought. Another failure here and if Michael Clarke returns to the team, Bailey could well be on his way out.

David Warner had been rested for a game after being asked to show better on-field behaviour by Cricket Australia and he returns a more dangerous player as he looks to focus on the job.

These two cricketers will replace Shaun Marsh and Cameron White.

On the bowling front, this will be Xavier Doherty’s best chance to get another game against India but who will he replace remains the question. Josh Hazlewood has also been tipped to return to the side.

With the Indian bowlers having struggled right through the tour, Australia will be gunning for a bat-first opportunity and look to score more than 300. And unless Virat Kohli can return to some of the form he showed in the Tests, India will be hard-pressed to get to that many.

You can follow the live score of this 5th ODI between Australia and India from ​2.20pm (AEDT) on Monday and post your comments ​in the section ​below.

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