India, Australia renew rivalry

Australian captain Steve Smith is confident after beating West Indies in the recent Test series in Australia.

India look to get their combination right as they renew their fierce rivalry against a confident Australia in the first of the five-match ODI series starting in Perth on Tuesday, marking the onset of a long limited-overs schedule stretching until the World T20.
The short limited overs series, including five ODIs and three T20 internationals, Down Under will initiate the Indian team's preparations for the marquee ICC World T20 scheduled in March-April.
The T20 games will be played after the five ODIs, and Dhoni's boys would like to carry the momentum in the shortest format.
While India won both their warm-up games - a T20 and 50-over match each - against the second string Western Australia XI, it is certainly not the best indicator of the kind of challenge they will face from Steve Smith's men.
India did not have a great 2015 when they came to the 50-over format as they lost back-to-back series to Bangladesh (away) and South Africa (at home).
Skipper Dhoni will like to turn the tables in the New Year but will rue the fact that one of his best pace weapons, Mohammed Shami, has been ruled out due to a hamstring injury even before the first ball has been bowled.
But there are certain aspects that might also relieve Dhoni. The fact that David Warner may not be available for better part of the series and with Mitchell Starc or the now retired Mitchell Johnson not there, the Aussie bowling attack comprising Josh Hazlewood, Joel Paris, Scott Boland and Jimmy Faulkner looks thin on experience.
As far as his own bowling attack is concerned, Dhoni has been fretting over the possible playing XI combinations.
His most experienced bowler Ishant Sharma did not play any of the two warm-up games, so it's not known whether he would be playing in the opening game.
With three pacers almost certain to play at the WACA, which is the bounciest of Australian pitches, there are high chances that left-arm pacer Barinder Sran could win his maiden India cap alongside Ishant and Umesh Yadav.
The lanky Sran looked impressive in both the practice matches with both pace and swing in his armoury. With a deceptive short ball, Sran could prove to be a handful, complementing Ishant and Umesh.
The two experienced spin-bowling all-rounders Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will make up the five-pronged bowling attack for India.
The batting unit looks more or less settled with Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan in the opening slots followed by vice captain Virat Kohli at No 3. Ajinkya Rahane is expected at No 4 and one might find the Indian captain batting at No 5.
In the middle-order, the No 6 slot will see a new face.
One among Manish Pandey or Gurkeerat Singh will be playing in slot that got vacated due to Suresh Raina's exclusion from the squad.
Manish Pandey, who made an impressive ODI debut against Zimbabwe last year, staked his claim with a 58 in the practice game, but Gurkeerat has been a consistent performer for Punjab and India A.
Dhoni always doesn't go by scores in warm-up games so it would not be surprising if he picks Gurkeerat ahead of Manish in the end.
It won't be easy to stem the flow of runs if Australia skipper Smith gets going. Warner, for whatever time he is available, would be a threat looming large on the bowlers. His sheer presence can be intimidating.
Aaron Finch and Glenn Maxwell can take apart any bowling on their day.
Then there is former captain George Bailey, a very competent player in this format and someone who can build an innings. James Faulkner's prowess as a batsman is well known to the Indians.
A day ahead of the game, Australia have already named the playing eleven. 23-year-old left-arm quick Paris and 26-year-old Boland have been handed their ODI debuts. - PTI
Mitchell Marsh and James Faulkner will make it a pace-heavy attack.