Australia lose Hussey, Bollinger for 3rd ODI in Goa

Still looking for their 1st win in the ongoing tour of India, the useless Australian team lost two more key players in Fast bowler Doug Bollinger and batsman Mike Hussey for the deciding 3rd and final ODI on Sunday.

While Bollinger has been forced out due to a stomach muscle strain, Hussey will have to be available for a Sheffield Shield match for Western Australia as part of the Ashes preparations.

“Bollinger reported some minor abdomen discomfort in an area unrelated to the original injury that ruled him out of the 2nd Test and 2nd ODI of the tour," Cricket Australia said in a statement.

"We do not think the new issue is serious, however it will prevent him from achieving the workloads necessary for him to be available for selection in the third one-day match in Goa," added CA physiotherapist Kevin Sims.

National Selection Panel Chairman Andrew Hilditch said, "As part of the ongoing individual work load management ahead of a an exciting Australian Summer and the ICC Cricket World Cup in the subcontinent, Mike Hussey will not play in the 3rd ODI game in India and will return home to Australia."

Kohli, Raina power India to win 2nd ODI Match

Virat Kohli shrugged off cramp to hit 118, his 3rd ODI century, and guide India to a five-wicket win over Australia in Visak. India lead the three-match ODI series 1-0 after the opener was washed out. Australia were slow for much of their innings, but ignited late on as Michael Clarke (111) and Cameron White (89) put on 84 from the last 5 overs. That left India to chase 290, and they got there with seven balls left thanks largely to the efforts of Kohli. He scored his runs from 121 balls, and built India's chase with partnerships of 137 with Yuvraj Singh (58) and 84 from 58 balls with Suresh Raina (71 not out from 47).

After finally departing when clubbing debutant John Hastings to long-on, Kohli watched from the stands as captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni was bowled by Hastings for a duck. But Saurabh Tiwary, playing his first one-day international, provided a level head at one end as Raina kicked on to take India past the winning line without further alarm. The home side won the toss on a slow wicket, handing debuts to Tiwary, 20, and opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan, 24. With seamer Vinay Kumar and off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwan playing only their second matches it was a very inexperienced side. Australia matched them in that department, as first one-day international caps were dished out to Hastings, 24, and fellow New South Welshman Mitchell Starc, 20, leaving Clint McKay as the only frontline seamer with experience at this level.

Australia batting was not at full strength either, and openers Tim Paine and Shaun Marsh were slow to get out of the blocks, both departing before the end of the eighth over which came with Australia's total on 16. Clarke, skippering while Ricky Ponting rests ahead of the Ashes, was initially very cautious. Impetus came instead from Mike Hussey (69 from 77 balls), before Clarke and White took toll over the closing overs. India's chase was more even-paced, though the openers also failed to provide a platform. McKay took three wickets to keep Australia in the game, but once Yuvraj and Kohli began to find their range the momentum was with India all the way through to the end. Australia looked a beaten team well before the finish which was scarcely imaginable when White was smashing the Indian bowling to all parts, hitting six sixes and six fours. "White's innings was unbelievable and I thought 290 was enough, but India chased well," said a rueful Clarke afterwards.


Man of the Match: Virat Kohli

I'm not under pressure: Stand-in Skipper Michael Clarke

Under-pressure Michael Clarke today said he deserved the censure after a string of poor shows in their 0-2 Test series loss and the stand-in captain said that it's time to look forward and return to winning ways.

Stand-in Captain Clarke scored just 35 runs from four innings in the 2 Test series, said, "My performance in the Test series wasn't good enough so I deserved that criticism and I am very disappointed about that."

But he said he was not under-fire to perform in the 50 over matches as they play the 2nd ODI against India today. The 1st ODI was washed out after a heavy rain in Kochi.

"I am not at all under pressure. Everybody is entitled to voice their opinion. I can't change that. I'm training very hard as possibly as I can. I'm really excited about these two one-day games. My main priority is to win the two ODIs. We are really excited about the bright weather, hope it continues tomorrow."

Asked about the condition of their frontline pacer Doug Bollinger, Clarke said they were yet to decide on him.

"He is going well, though he has not done enough bowling. It's an important day for him today, he will have to bowl at the nets. The physio is happy with his improvement. But we want to make sure he bowls 10 overs for us tomorrow, otherwise I don't think it's worth a risk."

Doug Bollinger had to pull out of the 2nd Test in Bengaluru because of an abdominal strain.

Sachin, Sehwag and Zaheer rested for Australia ODI Series

India will be without Virender Sehwag in the upcoming ODI series against Australia due to an injury while Sachin Tendulkar, Harbhajan Singh, Pragyan Ojha and Zaheer Khan have been rested.

The selectors have filled the openers by calling Murali Vijay, which has a new face in batsman Shikhar Dhawan, has also been a regular opener for the Mumbai Indians in the IPL and earlier this week, he had scored a century in the Challenger series.

In the absence of main openers, Dhawan is most likely to open for India along with Murali Vijay, who jagged up his maiden Test Century against Australia at the Chinnaswamy stadium, Bangalore.

Vinay Kumar makes a comeback and would be part of the pace battery which includes the experienced trio of Ashish Nehra, Munaf Patel and Praveen Kumar.

With Harbhajan Singh and Pragyan Ojha also missing, R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are likely to spearhead the spin department. Ashwin played an important role for the Chennai Super Kings team during their victorious outing in the Champions League tournament held recently in South Africa.

ODI Squad: MS Dhoni (capt & wk), Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Saurabh Tiwary, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Praveen Kumar, Ashish Nehra, Munaf Patel and Vinay Kumar

Ponting, Watson and Johnson rested for ODI Series against India

Australian skipper Ricky Ponting, fast bowler Mitchell Johnson & all-rounder Shane Watson have all been rested for the 3 match ODI series against India. The National Selection Panel declared a 14 man squad for the ODI series.

NSP Chairman Andrew Hilditch said: "Player workload management is particularly important over the course of the next seven months as we prepare a squad to defend the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011 in India and the subcontinent and to win the Ashes back from England.

"Each individual player has a program developed in teamwork between the players, the coaching and conditioning staff and the NSP, which will get each player to the end of April 2011 in the best possible physical condition and, we hope, with plenty of Australian success on the field.

"With that in mind, Ricky Ponting will not take part in this 3 match ODI series. The NSP has decided as part of the ongoing management of Ponting's workload he should not take part in this series. The demands of nonstop Test matches in tough Indian conditions have been taken into consideration.

"Mitchell Johnson will also have his workload managed and not take part in the series. As Mitchell is now the leader of our bowling attack, and with numerous injuries to our fast bowling stocks at present, it is essential we manage his workload so he can get through the domestic summer and the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

"Shane Watson also will not take part in the series. The NSP considers it essential that he has a break to ensure that can fulfil his vital role during our domestic summer and of course the ICC World Cup.

The 14-man squad: Michael Clarke (c), Cameron White (vc), Doug Bollinger, Callum Ferguson, Nathan Hauritz, James Hopes, Mike Hussey, Shaun Marsh, Clint McKay, Tim Paine, James Pattinson, Steve Smith, Mitchell Starc and David Warner.