Little at stake in dead rubber

Australia aim to make it four in a row while India will be hoping to save face with a win

With the series already decided, both Australia and India may be looking to experiment ahead of their fourth game of the five-match series in Canberra on Wednesday.

Australia took an unassailable 3-0 lead by once again chasing down India’s steep target with room to spare at Melbourne.

The visitors may be keen for star off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin to return but have found precious few answers to a rampant Australian batting line-up that has comfortably handled everything thrown at them.





Australia already have the series in the bag despite conceding 309, 308 and 295 in the three games so far. While the pitch has offered precious little in terms of support for the bowlers, both Steven Smith and MS Dhoni will be hoping for more from pacers and spinners alike.

The hosts’ attack has looked toothless without the main strike duo of Mitchell Johnson and Mitchell Starc, with the former having retired and the latter out through injury.

The Indian bowling attack, meanwhile, seems to be a far cry from the one that dominated South Africa at home in the Tests recently, albeit on altogether different tracks and conditions.



Another high scoring match is to be expected considering the form of the respective teams.

More to come from Maxwell, warns Warner

Glenn Maxwell’s impressive performance in the third ODI was just a glimpse of the enormous talent he possesses, said opening batsman David Warner on Tuesday.

Maxwell has earned the nickname ‘Big Show’ for his exciting but sometimes irresponsible shot-making and is often criticised for throwing away his wicket while going for boundaries too early in his innings.



On Sunday, however, he revived Australia’s run chase with a mature knock of 96 and by the time he was dismissed after an 83-ball blitz the scores were tied.

“I think we’re yet to see his real talent,” said Warner, who has returned to the squad for the fourth ODI after missing the second and third matches for the birth of his second child. “I think we saw a glimpse of it the other night — a mature innings.”

While Warner enjoyed his short break from the game, he is rearing to go ahead of the fourth game. “You’ve got to come back, you’ve got to be switched on and you’ve got to score runs as well,” he added, with Warner’s replacement Shaun Marsh scoring half-centuries in both matches. “It’s a fickle game. If you’re out of form it could cost you a spot for a year or two.” 

Published in The Express Tribune, January 20^th, 2016.

Like Sports on Facebook, follow @ETribuneSports on Twitter to stay informed and join in the conversation.