India's decision to play three spinners on a lively track at the MCG backfired. So did its move to field with just two pacemen in the eleven.
The Australians cashed in. Michael Clarke's men romped home by 65 runs in the first game of the Commonweath Bank ODI tri-series here on Sunday.
There was pace, bounce and movement for the Australian pacemen under the lights — the ball often whistled past the outside edge. India, chasing 217, could make just 151.
The Australian pressure — discipline and incision in bowling and razor-sharp fielding — was relentless. And Matthew Wade, the wicket-keeper batsman who can do no wrong at the moment, was adjudged Man of the Match for his crucial 67.
The match was reduced to a 32-overs-a-side contest after rain cut into play at the conclusion of the 11th over of the Australian innings; the host was 35 for two at that point. When play resumed, India sought a third paceman who was not there.
Red hot Starc
The visitor, then, stumbled while in pursuit. Left-armer Mitchell Starc was red hot for Australia. Sachin Tendulkar sliced one into point's hands and southpaw Gautam Gambhir nicked a delivery that lifted and seamed into the 'keeper's gloves.
Virat Kohli (31) promised much while Rohit Sharma looked tentative. Lanky paceman Clint McKay removed them both in one over. Kohli was taken on the cut while Rohit edged a delivery with bounce and slight away movement.
Suresh Raina, targeted by the short ball, miscued a pull off seamer Daniel Christian. Ravindra Jadeja lasted longer before McKay snared him with a lifting delivery.
Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni (29) battled before being taken in the deep off left-armer spinner Xavier Doherty. Soon it was all over for India.
The Australian innings was powered by wicket-keeper Wade's strokeful 69-ball effort at the top of the order.
The left-handed Michael Hussey conjured a gem — a blazing 45 off 32 — and David Hussey delivered the meaty blows towards the end with a rollicking 30-ball 61.
The left-handed Wade's ability to pick the length and be ready with a response stood out — he cut, pulled and launched into his cover-drives.
Michael Hussey shortened the length of the bowlers by using the crease and found the gaps with a surgeon's precision.
David Hussey, a clean striker with a wonderful swing of the blade, dumped balls beyond ropes with ease.
He also disrupted the bowlers with his deliberate, initial movement to force them to change line. Then, he picked the gap between short fine-leg and square-leg.
India's ploy to play just two pacemen on a day when rain was forecast baffled one.
When a side has three spinners in a limited overs game in these conditions, at least one of them is bound to be underbowled.
If the Indian strategy was to bowl first then playing three spinners — even if a couple of them could wield the bat usefully — just did not make sense.
Paceman Vinay Kumar bowled with verve and control at the start. He angled one into David Warner who missed a swipe to be castled. Vinay then had Ricky Ponting miscuing a back-of-a-length delivery into short-cover's hand.
Praveen Kumar too managed to hold his own in the initial overs with trademark swing but India was without a third seamer. Australia found a way out of the mess.
Contradictory
There were contradictions in the Indian game-plan. Despite, Ashwin, Jadeja and Rahul Sharma being in the eleven, a part-time spinner in Rohit Sharma was introduced.
Rohit picked up a wicket when Michael Clarke turned over-ambitious but the ploy sent the wrong signals.
Rahul troubled the batsmen with his bounce. He spun a few deliveries past the batsmen and sent down the odd wrong 'un.
There was a moment of celebration for the leg-spinner when Wade played on to a quicker delivery outside off.
However, Ashwin was swept well by both Wade and Michael Hussey. And the off-spinner's length suffered as he attempted to send down the carrom ball. The right-handed David Hussey was severe with his pulls.
Jadeja was unable to find the right length. When the left-arm spinner tried to fire it down quicker, he served up full tosses.
David Hussey took full toll, whipping the bowlers for sixes, including a free hit off the last ball after Jadeja over-stepped.
India had got its strategy wrong.
Australia: M. Wade b Rahul 67 (69b, 4x4, 2x6), D. Warner b Vinay 6 (14b), R. Ponting c Raina b Vinay 2 (12b), M. Clarke c Rahul b Rohit 10 (21b), M. Hussey c Kohli b Vinay 45 (32b, 4x4), D. Hussey (not out) 61 (30b, 4x4, 3x6), D. Christian (not out) 17 (16b); Extras (lb-2, w-4, nb-2): 8, Total (for five wkts in 32 overs): 216.
Fall of wickets: 1-15 (Warner), 2-19 (Ponting), 3-49 (Clarke), 4-122 (Wade), 5-154 (M. Hussey).
India bowling: Praveen 7-0-35-0, Vinay 7-0-21-3, Kohli 1-0-4-0, Raina 1-0-4-0, Ashwin 5-0-48-0, Rohit 2-0-17-1, Rahul 6.2-0-44-1, Jadeja 2.4-0-41-0.
India: G. Gambhir c Wade b Starc 5 (8b), S. Tendulkar c Ponting b Starc 2 (6b), V. Kohli c Ponting b McKay 31 (34b, 3x4), Rohit c Wade b McKay 21 (21b, 2x4), S. Raina c D. Hussey b Christian 4 (9b), M.S. Dhoni c Warner b Doherty 29 (38b, 1x4), R. Jadeja c M. Hussey b McKay 19 (25b), R. Ashwin (run out) 5 (3b), Rahul b Doherty 1 (2b), Praveen c Harris b McKay 15 (17b, 2x4), Vinay (not out) 12 (15b, 1x4); Extras (lb-2, w-5): 7, Total (in 29.4 overs): 151.
Fall of wickets: 1-9 (Tendulkar), 2-13 (Gambhir), 3-64 (Kohli), 4-65 (Rohit), 5-77 (Raina), 6-114 (Jadeja), 7-120 (Ashwin), 8-123 (Rahul), 9-128 (Dhoni).
Australia bowling: Harris 5-0-28-0, Starc 6-0-33-2, Christian 5-0-21-1, McKay 4.4-0-20-4, Doherty 7-0-36-2, Clarke 2-0-11-0.
