Carlton Mid Triseries 2015: Australia vs England vs India preview

Carlton Mid Triseries 2015: Australia vs England vs India preview: After an intriguing test series, the focus now shifts to the 50 over format with the tri-series featuring hosts Australia and visiting teams India and England.

This tri-series is a very important one for all the three sides as it is the last opportunity for the teams to play 50 over cricket before the ICC World cup 2015 begins right after the conclusion of the series. It is also the first and last chance for the teams to test out their combinations for the World cup squad.

Australia:

Australia are on a high after beating India in a tightly fought test series, which saw the emergence of a new leader in their ranks in form of Steven Smith. But the ODI format is a totally different thing for the Kangaroos. Despite them not announcing their squad yet, it can be safely said that, they will be led by George Bailey in absence of Michael Clarke.

The series will also see returns of players like James Faulkner, Xavier Doherty, Glen Maxwell, Aaron Finch and many other limited over specialists who were not part of the test outfit. The series will provide Australia with a chance to get some momentum going on before the World Cup and also testing various combinations of the playing XI.

Probable Squad:
Michael Clarke (c), George Bailey (vc), Brad Haddin (wk), David Warner, Aaron Finch, Shane Watson, Steven Smith, Glenn Maxwell, Mitchell Marsh, James Faulkner, Mitchell Johnson, Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood, Pat Cummins, Xavier Doherty.

England:

The series will provide the English team an opportunity to regain some of the lost sheen before the all-important World cup 2015 in Australia and New Zealand. Recently, England were beaten in the ODI series by Sri Lanka which led to the sacking of Alastair Cook from not only the captaincy, but also form the World Cup 2015 squad.

England are now led by Eoin Morgan and feature new faces like James Taylor, Gary Balance and sees the returns of Stuart Board and all-rounder Ravi Bopara. England will be eager to perform exceedingly well in order to stake their claim for the crown at the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015.

English bowling department will be handled by the experienced James Anderson, Steven Finn, James Tredwell. England are also looking forward to building up a strong foundation with their new looking team after a turbulent time that started with the sacking of Kevin Pietersen last Ashes, the media circus that followed. Questions were also raised on Alastair Cook’s form in the ODI format with the bat. The ODI drubbing they received at the hands of India and Sri Lanka didn’t do any good to Cook’s chances to be included in the World Cup squad.

Now the onus is on Eoin Morgan who himself has been struggling with the bat, to emerge as an influential leader and lead England to victory in the tri-series and the World Cup 2015.

Squad :
Eoin Morgan (c), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Gary Balance, Ian Bell, Ravi Bopara, Stuart Broad, Jos Buttler (wk), Steven Finn, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Joe Root, James Taylor, James Tredwell,
Chris Woakes

India:

MS Dhoni returns to lead India in the format which he master’s. The Indian ODI team is coming off wonderful series victories over England, West Indies and Sri Lanka. India has more or less settled team and they would just try to get the best possible combination for the World cup preparation.

India has been in Australia for past 2 months playing the Border Gavaskar trophy and now they have to get into the ODI mind-set. India will use this series to get a better opening combination for the World Cup. The combination of Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma has been successful in conditions that suited India, but they have failed in conditions like South Africa and New Zealand. India would like to try Ajinkya Rahane in place of either Dhawan or Rohit in Australia. He has been in terrific form and has played as opener in domestic cricket.

The other thing to try out will be the spin combination to go along with R. Ashwin. India can either use Ravindra Jadeja or Akshar Patel, both of whom can play the role of an all-rounder. The fast bowling unit will also be tested in view with the upcoming World cup. MS Dhoni will definitely use the ODIs in the tri-series to stake his claim to successfully defend the ICC World Cup.

Squad:
MS Dhoni (c/wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Stuart Binny, Shikhar Dhawan, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli, Dhawal Kulkarni, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Akshar Patel, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Ishant Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav

(Tri-Series fixture here.)