Ind-Aus: Kochi ODI called off due to rain

Agencies

Kochi, 17 October 2010: The first One Day International of the three-match series between India and Australia called off due to persistent rain. Though, it was not raining at around 9 o’clock, but the wet outfield caused due to the unrelenting rain in the last few days, was enough to delay the start at the Nehru Stadium.

 

Groundsmen effort to make the outfield dry went in vain as the heavy rain lashed. In the recently concluded Test series between the two nations, India comprehensively beat the visitors 2-0.

 

With the World Cup is round the corner, Indian selectors decided to give a break to experienced Sachin Tendulkar, while dynamic Virender Sehwag and opener Gautam Gambhir were given time to recover from the injury.

 

 

Yuvraj Singh made a comeback in the Indian squad after his omission from the Test side, while opportunities were also been given to Shikhar Dhawan, Saurabh Tiwary, R Vinay Kumar. Australia, too, rested their captain Ricky Ponting, all-rounder Shane Watson and pacer Mitchell Johnson from the three ODIs.

 

Indian squad: M Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni (capt and wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Saurabh Tiwary, R Ashwin, R Vinay Kumar, Praveen Kumar, Ashish Nehra, Munaf Patel.

 

Australian Squad: David Warner, Tim Paine (wk), Michael Clarke (capt), John Hastings, Shaun Marsh, Callum Ferguson, Michael Hussey, Cameron White, Steve Smith, James Hopes, Nathan Hauritz, Clint McKay, Doug Bollinger, Mitchell Starc.