A whole new ballgame

In the context of the last time these two teams met, it is bound to be an anti-climax. India and Australia last clashed in the final of the 2003 World Cup, but the one-day international at Gwalior will be an entirely different ballgame. Both sides are racked by injuries but Australia are distinctly worse off, and their bowling attack has an A-Team look about it. India, meanwhile, are at home, and will fancy their chances somewhat more than they might have done at Johannesburg in March. Australia are ripe for the taking, and with a tough tour to Australia in prospect, India need to build up their self-belief for the task ahead.

Sourav Ganguly might be absent, but the Indian batting line-up is formidable - especially in home conditions. Sachin Tendulkar appeared determined, in his last game, to bat through the innings, and that is an ominous sign for Australia. Virender Sehwag, and VVS Laxman were also in fine nick, carrying on from where they left off in the Test series against New Zealand. Rahul Dravid, Yuvraj Singh and Mohammad Kaif are all fine finishers, and Ajit Agarkar has never been a Bombay Duck in home ODIs.

Australia's batting is as solid as ever - the absence of the indisposed Darren Lehman gives Michael Clarke a notional opportunity, but does that really matter when your top six reads Hayden, Gilchrist, Ponting, Martyn, Bevan, Symonds? Ian Harvey, Andy Bichel and Brad Hogg can also bat a bit, and if the pitch turns out to be a batting paradise, there should be some fairly mighty biffing on view.

Australia's bowling will be the weak link that India will look to exploit. The McGrath-Gillespie-Lee-Warne quartet is absent, and even Stuart MacGill isn't available. Bichel, Hogg, Michael Kasprowicz, Brad Williams and Nathan Bracken make up an attack that lacks both experience and match practice, and if India's top order get off to a good start, there could be a heavy price to pay.

Ricky Ponting wasn't worried about his missing men, though. Speaking to reporters, he said, "We see the entire thing as a team effort. We don't win because of our bowlers or batsmen. We win because of our team effort. Even during the World Cup we didn't have a couple of key players. But we have always found someone to do the job."