India’s new year campaign is all set to start from tomorrow with five match ODI series in Australia. The series Down under will be, needless to say, an uphill task for India. The first ODI will be played at bouncy WACA, Perth pitch. Indian skipper MS Dhoni on the eve of the match revealed that India will go with three seamers and two spinners combination. At the same time, Australia has picked all fast bowlers for at WACA. India have lost the World Cup semi-final to Australia at Sydney. With bowling spearhead, Mitchell Starc is out from cricket due to injury Australian selectors selected Joel Paris and Scott Boland, who are set to make debut in this ODI series.
Here are five Australian players who can give nightmare to India.
Josh Hazlewood
With Mitchell Starc injured for an uncertain time, young Josh Hazlewood will lead the bowling department of Australia. He has been in sensational form since his debut against Australia in India 2014-2015 Test series against India.His seam and swing can trouble India in the series. Hazlewood has become an integral part of the Australian team since Johnson retired from all formats of the game. He is not as fast as Johnson and Starc, but his cunning swing will trouble Indian batsmen. Hazlewood so far played only two matches against India.
James Faulkner
All-rounder James Faulkner has an astonishing record against India. In 9 matches he scored 260 at an average of 86.66. In the world cup semi-final against India, he has taken 3 for 59 at Sydney Cricket Ground. Slower is the key weapon of Faulkner. He has taken the crucial wicket of Suresh Raina in the semifinal. As a batsman, he hit a hundred against India in 2013 ODI series at Bangalore. In the World Cup, he was adjudged man of the match as he broke the middle order of New Zealand. He is a resourceful bowler. He doesn’t have lighting pace, but his change of pace often fool batsmen. In the final he took the wicket of Ross Taylor, Grant Elliott and Corey Anderson. India should have to be careful of his bowling.
Steve Smith
Australia captain is the tormentor of Indian bowling. He has played four matches against India and scored 152 runs in two innings at an average of 76, his best against any Test playing country.
In the World Cup semifinal, Smith changed the course of the match with 105 runs gusty innings. He played the World Cup semifinal as vice-captain, but this time, he will play as a captain. However, since that semifinal he had not scored any hundred, his highest is 70 against England. But, in the recently concluded Test series at home he hit two hundred and two fifty. When young Indian bowling department will face Steve Smith, it will have to see how they tackle him.
Glenn Maxwell
He will be the heart of Australian batting line up. He is a clean hitter of the ball. He is very aggressive. His outrageous shot often deprives him of hundred, but his quickfire innings give Australia useful runs and upper hand over the opponent. He has a standard performance against India with 291 in 9 matches at an average of 36.37. He loves playing mind game during play. Alongside that, he is also a great athlete.
Joel Paris
A lanky young fast bowler has replaced injured Mitchell Starc will be the bowler to watch out for. 23 years Paris was called for the India series after his two back to back magnificent season for West Australia in the Matador Cup campaigns in 2014-15 and 2015-16. His ability to swing the ball made him a key weapon for Western Australia, who won the tournament in 2014-15 in Part thanks to his tally 13 wickets at 12.92. The following summer he picked up 10 Matador Cup wickets at 22.40 and showed his talent with the red ball as well, with 14 wickets in his first two Sheffield Shield appearances.