KOCHI, March 31: Mohammed Azharuddin will lead India out against Australia at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium in the opener of the triangular one-day cricket series here tomorrow with a spring in his step.The victories in Dhaka and in the recent Test series, have all but obliterated the sequence of reverses the team suffered last year. "We have to be consistent. To reach the final of the series, we will have to win at least three matches. It is not going to be all that easy," said Azharuddin after the team workout, here this morning.
The Indians, like the Aussies, have made changes in the team that played the Test series. However, the injury to Robin Singh has been a severe setback. Robin, who had the webbing of his hand split, trying to stop a Sidhu drive at nets this morning, needed to undergo a micro surgery. He is ruled out at least for a couple of matches.
"We are trying to get a replacement for Robin. We have already spoken to Ajit Wadekar who is here and he will soon be getting in touch with theother selectors," said cricket manager Anshuman Gaekwad.
It will mean the Indian team management will have to rework the final combination for tomorrow. "The playing eleven will be announced only on the morning of the match," said Azharuddin, and when probed further on whether they were waiting for the selectors to decide the team, both captain and Gaekwad evaded a reply.
On the plus side, the top order batsmen, Navjot Singh Sidhu, Sachin Tendulkar, Azharuddin, have all been in tremendous form. Vinod Kambli is expected to fill the breach left by the suspension of Saurav Ganguly and gets another chance to resurrect his international career.
Ajay Jadeja is back and is reported to be fighting fit. If the Wills Trophy performances are any indication, then Jadeja appears to be in good nick.
While there is scope for improvement, there is no room for complacency. The Indian bowling, spearheaded by Javagal Srinath and Anil Kumble, need to maintain concentration and if backed by efficient fielding, an areathat Azharuddin believed needed improvement, the Aussies will find it doubly difficult.
AZHAR SET FOR MARK: Indian skipper Mohammed Azharuddin will be on the top of the World tomorrow. He will surpass Allan Border's record for the most number of appearances in one-day internationals (ODI). The match against Australia at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here will be Azhar's 274th ODI. Border had appeared in 273 matches.
The ever-positive, aggressive Aussies hoped to do well in the series. Skipper Steve Waugh looked at peace with himself having decided on the playing eleven immediately after their rigorous practice session today. They will rest off-spinner Gavin Robertson and medium pacer Adam Dale.
With most of the key characters that constituted the Test side making way for one-day "specialists", the Aussies will be fielding a relatively inexperienced experience.
The inexperience is obvious in their bowling. Steve Waugh is their highest wicket taker in ODIs and he does not bowl much nowadays. Warnehas been sorted out by the Indian batsmen and the rest of the bowlers have less than 100 wickets in ODIs.
Steve Waugh conceded that the bowling was a bit inexperienced, but then, Michael Kasprowicz has found his bearings, Damien Fleming has done well against India. It is an opportunity for the others to prove themselves.
Batting is Aussies' strength. They have the experience of Steve and Mark Waugh, the canny Michael Bevan, the hard-hitting Tom Moody, who has 60 first class centuries to his credit, Adam Gilchrist and the exciting Damien Martyn.
Teams: India (from): Mohd Azharuddin (capt), Sachin Tendulkar, Navjot Sidhu, Ajay Jadeja, Hrishikesh Kanitkar, Vinod Kambli, VVS Laxman, Ajit Agarkar, Nayan Mongia, Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, Rahul Sanghvi, Debashish Mohanty. Manager: Anshuman Gaekwad.
Australia: Steve Waugh (capt), Mark Waugh, Michael Bevan, Ricky Ponting, Tom Moody, Adam Gilchrist, Shane Warne, Micheal Kasprowicz, Damien Fleming, Darren Lehmann and Damien Martyn.Manager: Geoff Marsh.
Umpires: SK Bansal and AV Jayaprakash. Third umpire: CK N Raghavan. Match referee: Peter van der Merwe
Copyright © 1998 Indian Express Newspapers (Bombay) Ltd.
