Only KFC Twenty20 International: Australia vs India at MCG
This game signals the start of the one-day series for the Australian summer with the test series being over. Australia takes on India in a Twenty20 game at the MCG, a game which India intends to treat as a practice match.
There's a couple of changes to the Australian squad, Ponting is out which means that Michael Clarke will lead the side again. Clarke first captained the side against New Zealand late last year in Perth. Ben Hilfenhaus is into the squad as Shaun Tait has decided to take an indefinite break from all forms of cricket. There is one newcomer though, by the name of Hussey. No, not Michael Hussey, but his younger brother David who was in superb Twenty20 form in the domestic KFC Big Bash competition which took place over the New Year break. Michael and David don't play in the same team often, the last time they did was an Australia "A" game three years ago. David moved interstate to Victoria to further his first-class career after limited opportunities at WA. He is also a favourite to make his debut in this game.
India have a massive 17-man squad and more than half weren't part of the test squad. As mentioned before, India have decided to treat this game as a practice hit-out rather than a full blown affair. With such a massive squad, and their little concern about the result, it is unknown what type of team will be on the park for tonight's game.
These two teams have met twice before, with India winning both times. India are the reigning Twenty20 World Championship winners and they'll be looking to stay true to that title. Australia will be hoping to get an edge before the one-dayers start on Sunday.
Should be a good game this one. The recent verbal stoushes between the two sides coupled with the various issues of late should see this game become an entertaining one, both teams will be fighing tooth and nail for victory.
Australian XII: *Michael Clarke, +Adam Gilchrist, Brad Hodge, Andrew Symonds, Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Adam Voges, James Hopes, Brett Lee, Ashley Noffke, Nathan Bracken, Ben Hilfenhaus (one to be omitted)
India XVII: Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Robin Uthappa, Gautam Gambhir, Dinesh Karthik, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Manoj Tiwary, *+Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Piyush Chawla, Praveen Kumar, Irfan Pathan, Munaf Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, S Sreesanth (six to be omitted)
Umpires: Bruce Oxenford and Simon Taufel
3rd Umpire: Bob Parry
Weather:
(All Temperatures in Degrees Celcius)
Fine, mostly sunny.
Expected Maximum: 26
Expected Minimum: 16
Game starts at 5:35pm AWDT (7:35pm local time, 8:35am GMT).
This game signals the start of the one-day series for the Australian summer with the test series being over. Australia takes on India in a Twenty20 game at the MCG, a game which India intends to treat as a practice match.
There's a couple of changes to the Australian squad, Ponting is out which means that Michael Clarke will lead the side again. Clarke first captained the side against New Zealand late last year in Perth. Ben Hilfenhaus is into the squad as Shaun Tait has decided to take an indefinite break from all forms of cricket. There is one newcomer though, by the name of Hussey. No, not Michael Hussey, but his younger brother David who was in superb Twenty20 form in the domestic KFC Big Bash competition which took place over the New Year break. Michael and David don't play in the same team often, the last time they did was an Australia "A" game three years ago. David moved interstate to Victoria to further his first-class career after limited opportunities at WA. He is also a favourite to make his debut in this game.
India have a massive 17-man squad and more than half weren't part of the test squad. As mentioned before, India have decided to treat this game as a practice hit-out rather than a full blown affair. With such a massive squad, and their little concern about the result, it is unknown what type of team will be on the park for tonight's game.
These two teams have met twice before, with India winning both times. India are the reigning Twenty20 World Championship winners and they'll be looking to stay true to that title. Australia will be hoping to get an edge before the one-dayers start on Sunday.
Should be a good game this one. The recent verbal stoushes between the two sides coupled with the various issues of late should see this game become an entertaining one, both teams will be fighing tooth and nail for victory.
Australian XII: *Michael Clarke, +Adam Gilchrist, Brad Hodge, Andrew Symonds, Michael Hussey, David Hussey, Adam Voges, James Hopes, Brett Lee, Ashley Noffke, Nathan Bracken, Ben Hilfenhaus (one to be omitted)
India XVII: Sachin Tendulkar, Virender Sehwag, Robin Uthappa, Gautam Gambhir, Dinesh Karthik, Yuvraj Singh, Rohit Sharma, Manoj Tiwary, *+Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Piyush Chawla, Praveen Kumar, Irfan Pathan, Munaf Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Ishant Sharma, S Sreesanth (six to be omitted)
Umpires: Bruce Oxenford and Simon Taufel
3rd Umpire: Bob Parry
Weather:
(All Temperatures in Degrees Celcius)
Fine, mostly sunny.
Expected Maximum: 26
Expected Minimum: 16
Game starts at 5:35pm AWDT (7:35pm local time, 8:35am GMT).
