India vs Australia – Fifth ODI: World Champions prepare for 5-0 whitewash against India at SCG

01/22/2016

An epic meltdown by the away side in the fourth ODI at the Manuka Oval in Canberra has put Australia on the cusp of a 5-0 whitewash against India in the fifth and final ODI of the series at the Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday.

After the 2015 ICC World Cup, in which the Men in Blue reached the semi-final, India has lost nine out of the 15 ODIs they have played. In the case of Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, the record looks even bleaker with only three wins in twelve games for the captain of the No. 2 side in the ICC ODI rankings. With the hosts likely to make a clean sweep of the series, India is almost certain to lose the No.2 position and will be ranked third come the next rankings.

For India, batsmen have dominated the series with a total of five centuries, but Ishant Sharma has also put in a creditable performance by scalping seven wickets to top the leader board. Apart from Ishant, none of the Indian bowlers have been able to match up with the performances of the Australian bowlers. In fact, if we exclude Ishant's 18-run last over in the fourth ODI, his economy rate at 6.33 would have been near the six-run per over mark. With batting from both sides looking ominous, the little things from the bowlers made the difference in the series.

Australia has been in cruise mode in the series, and it will require a brave man to predict a result against the World Champions, who have been on an unbelievable run at home winning the last 18 matches. They displayed their never-say-die attitude in the last match to snatch a victory from the jaws of defeat.

Sydney Cricket Ground has not been a good hunting place for the Indians losing 13 of the 15 matches played at the venue against the hosts. India also lost the 2015 ICC World Cup semi-final match against Australia at the same venue. Their one and only win against Australia at the SCG came in the first final of the Commonwealth Bank series in 2008, thanks to a century from Sachin Tendulkar.

SCG is also expected to produce another 300+ score with spinners playing a role later into the game. With severe thunderstorms predicted to arrive in Sydney during the weekend, Duckworth-Lewis may decide the fate of the final ODI.

Team News

India is expected to bring back off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin into the XI after missing out on the last two ODIs. Manish Pandey is also in line for a return with Ajinkya Rahane unlikely to play after injuring his hand in the last match.

On the other hand, Australia is likely to go in with the same XI that played against India at the Manuka Oval. With Warner and Finch is great form, Shaun Marsh will again miss out on a spot after scoring back-to-back half centuries in the series.

India XI (likely): Dhawan, Rohit, Kohli, Dhoni (c), Pandey, Jadeja, Rishi Dhawan/Gurkeerat, Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar, Ishant, Umesh

Australia XI (likely): Warner, Finch, Smith (c), Bailey, Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, Wade, Lyon, Faulkner, Hastings, Richardson

Match timings: 8.50 am IST, 11.20 am Local

TV listings: Star Sports 1, HD 1 (English), Star Sports 3, HD3 (Hindi)

Live Streaming: Hotstar.com