NEW DELHI: Australian captain George Bailey won the toss and decided to bat against India in the first one-day international at Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Pune on Sunday.
India have enjoyed exceptional results in one-day format this year. Except losing a three-match series to Pakistan at the start of 2013, the world champion side has had tremendous success, winning series after series.
The hosts had whitewashed Australia 4-0 in the February-March Test series and avenging that loss would be a Herculean task for the visitors, who have come without inspiring skipper Michael Clarke even as their batsmen gave a good account of themselves in the one-off Twenty20 in Rajkot.
Australia did beat England in ODIs post their Ashes debacle but India are a tough nut to crack in home conditions. And the visitors have got a fair idea about the task ahead after failing to defend a 200-plus total in Rajkot.
The Australian attack was subdued by the Indian batsmen, specially the comeback-man Yuvraj Singh, who took the game away from them with his blitzy 35-ball 77.
Even though the matches commence one hour earlier than is the custom in India, the team bowling second would obviously have to factor in the dew fall which makes the ball skid off the track and trouble the spinners from having a firmer grip.
