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Australia out to inflict more pain

02/11/2012 04:24:38 AM

Australia continues to fire in their sizzling summer of cricket and will look to keep the momentum going against the team responsible for their current swagger, India, when the two countries meet on Sunday in the Commonwealth Bank Series at Adelaide Oval.

After routing India 4-0 in their Test series Australia's confidence has ballooned, inflated more so after defying expectations and predictions of a long, arduous summer filled with the failings of what little remains of the golden generation and those inexperienced few asked to step up in place.

The last of the golden generation fired with Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey and Ben Hilfenhaus recapturing their best, and the inexperienced few of David Warner, Ed Cowan and James Pattinson overachieved, showing glimpses of what Australia has to look forward to in the future.

Australia will now return to the Adelaide Oval for the first time since the series whitewash over India was completed in late January.

Following breakout performances in the Test series, national selectors have cast a recent watchful eye on Australia's domestic talent and rewarded a number of in-form cricketers, tasked with shaping the one-day side for the Commonwealth Bank Series with India and Sri Lanka.

Wicketkeeper Matthew Wade, all-rounder Dan Christian and fast bowler Mitchell Starc are the prime examples, who so far have blended exceptionally well with regular one-day internationals Ponting, skipper Michael Clarke and the Hussey twins in Australia's opening two victories of the tri-series.

Despite scoring only one against Sri Lanka in the thrilling five-win victory at the WACA ground on Friday, Victorian stumpsman Wade has tormented India in the short formats and for a third consecutive game will be their biggest threat.

Wade backed up his destructive efforts of 72 and 32 in the T20 double-header against India with a quick-fire 67 off 69 balls in the first-one day encounter in Melbourne.

He could be joined in the side by Test prospect Peter Forrest who after just missing out on selection for Friday's gripping win could be in line to make his ODI debut on Sunday after a glowing review from coach Mickey Arthur earlier this week.

India will also have to be wary of a spirited Australian bowling attack keen to continue to prove doubters wrong.

After being labelled 'weak' by Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene, Australia's bowlers returned fire and responded with a match-winning performance.

Starc, Christian and Tasmanian spinner Xavier Doherty took multiple wickets and were at their devastating best in a display one-day captain Clarke credited for halting the Sri Lankans just short of Australia's modest total of 231.

Unlike the Australians, India's summer has been in disarray and continues to throw up problematic issues for the cricketing powerhouse.

The latest comes in the form of the highly-publicised rotation policy used by captain MS Dhoni to accommodate the talented Rohit Sharma in the middle-order.

Sharma, who was in red-hot form following his starring performances against the West Indies in late 2011, has scored just 21 and 10 against Australia and Sri Lanka respectively in the initial two fixtures of the tri-series.

Shaky performances with the bat suggest the 24-year-old may be feeling the pressure to perform with his spot in the side being at the expense of top-order batsman Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir so far.

It remains to be seen whether Sachin Tendulkar, still in pursuit of his 100th century, will be the next

 
Photograph Copyright : Getty Images
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