First ODI match was called of due to rain in Bangalore with no results but Australia looks promising at Bangalore and looks to threaten the World Twenty20 champions. However, here in Kochi – the venue of the second ODI, there is something more that the teams would have to fight against first before taking on each other to win the match. It is rain which has been playing spoilsport over the past few weeks. There were heavy showers on Monday afternoon as well and there is a possibility that there might be just no match at all. Australia acting captain Adam Gilchrist said “both teams are keen to win the first match whether it is tomorrow or next one”. Chances are very high that we may see five match ODI series instead of seven match series after first two matches is being washed out. If there is any play tomorrow, then former skipper Saurav Ganguly have to sit out due to hamstring strain. Ricky Ponting is still unsure of playing and the final XI would be decided only before the match, according to Gilchrist. The pitch curator at Kochi suggested the team winning the toss should go for Bowling but both team captains don’t want to prepare any strategy until play get under way. This is the same ground where Sachin Tendulkar picks up 5 wicket against the Australian ten year back, so this wicket might offer spin for both. In this case India may opt out to play with both spinners Harbhajan & Ramesh Powar. "Though, the groundstaff is working hard to make things work, till now it is more on the negative side," said S S Sareen, the match observer. However the chances of play are very less. Match will begin from 09.00 AM (Indian Time which will be Day/Night Encounter) Likely Playing XI for Both teams: Indian Squad: Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (C/WK), Robin Uthappa, Irfan Pathan, S.Sreesanth, Zaheer Khan, Harbhajan Singh, R.P. Singh Australian Squad: Adam Gilchrist (C/WK), Mathew Hayden, Brad Hodge, Michael Clarke, Andrew Symonds, Brad Haddin, Brad Hogg, JR Hopes, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Stuark Clark. |
