By IANS
Brisbane : Flannels make way for coloured pyjamas as India will try to win, for the first time, the annual triangular one-day series in Australia that gets underway with a day-night game against the hosts here Sunday.
The triangular series was launched 29 seasons ago by the Australia cricket board. India first took part in 1980-81, failing to reach the finals against Australia and New Zealand. India has never won the title.
But the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led India are perhaps best equipped Indian team to clinch the Commonwealth Bank tri-series in which Sri Lanka is the third team. Each team plays four matches against the other and the best two qualify for the best-of-three finals to be played March 2, 4 and 7 in Sydney, Brisbane and Adelaide.
Australia, the reigning one-day champions, are on a roll after winning 2-1 the four-Test series against India and steamrolling India in the one-off Twenty20 International in Melbourne Friday.
But India are confident too, after their 3-2 win over Pakistan at home in November. Sri Lanka have had mixed results lately in this 50-overs-per-side format. Although the Mahela Jayawardene-Sri Lankans defeated a weak Bangladesh at home, they lost 2-3 to England on home turf in December.
But none of the three teams can be discounted in one-day cricket. Each one is capable of winning the trophy either March 4, when the second final is played at the Gabba here, or, if the third final is required, March 7 in Adelaide.
India may not have Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid in the squad but young, energetic and talented players have the potential to put up a challenge to their rivals. In-form Virender Sehwag and the comeback man Gautam Gambhir are expected to lend solidity to wherever they are played, as openers or in the middle order.
Sachin Tendulkar, having amassed over 11,000 runs in Tests and one-dayers, is also in fine form. He showed this in the Test series and will provide invaluable support with his bat as well as strategy making.
Sri Lanka have always been a dangerous side in one-day cricket. The 1996 World Cup winners have the right balance with Jayawardene, veteran Sanath Jayasuriya and wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara lending meat to batting and pacer Chaminda Vaas and off-spinner Muttiah Muralitharan leading the bowling attack.
Australia, on the other hand, will have full compliment to choose from, though fast bowler Shaun Tait has taken a break from all forms of game due to physical and emotional exhaustion. His absence will, however, make no difference to the marauding Australians because they will be keen to bag their 19th annual home triangular title.
There have been five different champions in this triangular contest since its inception. Australia have been most prolific having won 18 titles since Kerry Packer ended his rebel World Series to pave the way for the tournament.
Teams:
India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain/wicket-keeper), Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Sachin Tendulkar, Yuvraj Singh, Robin Uthappa, Dinesh Karthik, Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Manoj Tiwary, Harbhajan Singh, Praveen Kumar, Munaf Patel, Piyush Chawla, Ishant Sharma and Sreesanth
Australia: Ricky Ponting (captain), Adam Gilchrist (vice-captain), Nathan Bracken, Stuart Clark, Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Matthew Hayden, Brad Hogg, James Hopes, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee and Andrew Symonds
Sri Lanka: Mahela Jayawardene, Kumar Sangakkara, Ishara Amerasinghe, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Sanath Jayasuriya, Chamara Kapugedera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Farveez Maharoof, Lasith Malinga, Muttiah Muralitharan, Dilruwan Perera, Chamara Silva, Upul Tharanga, Chaminda Vaas and Chanaka Welegedara