India would look to settle scores in one-dayers  Melbourne, Jan 8: After having proved a point in the Test series, India would look to carry their good form in the one-dayers and also settle some scores with Australia when the two sides meet in the tri-series opener here tomorrow. Australia had defeated India in the 2003 World Cup final and then in a tri-series final at home. Last year, the Indians have been outclassed in three of the four matches the two sides contested. But the momentum has shifted dramatically in India's favour in the last few weeks and Australia, struggling with the form of their bowlers, have an added worry on the count of Ricky Ponting. The Australian captain is down with a virus bug in the stomach which has led to selectors delaying the announcement of the 12 for the game. However, Ponting remained upbeat about his prospects on playing tomorrow. "I feel a bit better today than I was yesterday. I just had the whole day in bed yesterday," he said. "I have had a pretty lazy day so far today, probably I will not do too much training but just try and recover as well as I can and make sure I am right for tomorrow morning." Ponting's absence, if it so happens, will leave a big hole at the top of the order but Australia have enough one-day specialists to plug the gap in the abbreviated form of game. Andrew Symonds, Michael Clark and Michael Bevan provide great depth to Australian batting and are capable of playing long innings, as well as shore up the bowling with their varied styles. Australia's bowling is gearing up for another bout with the Indian batsmen who have been in marauding form this summer. The top order is proven one with Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly providing the thrust and Rahul Dravid holding the innings in the middle. The presence of V V S Laxman adds another dimension to the formidable line-up as he has time and again proved his stranglehold on Australian bowling. Laxman was a disappointment in the one-day series last time around but the difference this time is his form as well as the fact that he is batting in the middle-order and not as an opener. India's bowling line-up is far from settled but it seems three medium-pacers and a spinner is what Ganguly is looking as a bowling unit. "It (bowling attack) depends on what kind of track we see tomorrow. If we find grass, we would not think about the two-spinner option," Ganguly said. "We were beaten by them (Australia) in the World Cup, we lost to them in the triangular at home last year. But that is past and we need to carry on the good work of Test series," he said. For achieving his goals, Ganguly may repose faith in Ajit Agarkar, Irfan Pathan and Ashish Nehra while Anil Kumble picks himself on account of brilliant bowling in the Test series. Kumble, who was ignored both in the World Cup and the triangular series final, is again expected to bowl with purpose and resolve. Two of the four one-day specialists flown in for the series -- Yuvraj Singh and Hemang Badani -- are also likely to figure in the starting line-up. Australia's bowling attack is far from decided but Brett Lee, despite his poor Test form, is certain to retain his slot. Andrew Bichel too should come in as well as Ian Harvey who has gained reputation as a one-day specialist. Both sides look tired from the exertions of the Test series but Ponting asserted they would lift themselves for the triangular series, also involving Zimbabwe. "The one-day specialists inject a little bit new life into it and I would certainly be asking them to do that here as well," Ponting said. "But there will be no excuses for Test players. We have had a couple of days to recover as well as we can and get up for the start of this one-day series." All the three teams in contention in this tri-series will play each other four times with the top two teams making it to the best-of-three-finals. (Agencies) Published: Thursday, January 08, 2004 Back to Index