Debuts for Paris, Boland in series opener
The last time Australia and India met in an international match, the stakes were enormous. A place in the World Cup final was the prize. Steven Smith's 105 at the SCG set up an Australian victory that ended India's hold on the World Cup, and propelled Australia into a final against New Zealand, in which they would ultimately triumph. That was less than 10 months ago, but much has changed in Australia's one-day setup since then. Gone from that team are Michael Clarke, Mitchell Johnson and Brad Haddin, all retired, Mitchell Starc, who is injured, and Shane Watson, who has been dropped. Smith is now the captain, and his side won its only ODI series since the World Cup, against England after the Ashes.
India's 2015 was far less satisfying. After being knocked out of the World Cup, they found themselves on the wrong end of a 2-1 result in a bilateral series against Bangladesh, and also lost at home to South Africa. Their only ODI series win since the World Cup was against Zimbabwe. Their line-up has undergone far less change than Australia's, though from the XI that lost the World Cup semi-final they will be missing the injured Mohit Sharma and Mohammed Shami, as well as Suresh Raina, who was axed after a disappointing series against South Africa. It is against this backdrop that they could blood three new players in this series - the uncapped Barinder Sran, Gurkeerat Singh and Rishi Dhawan. Australia will have two debutants in the opening ODI in Perth, the fast bowlers Joel Paris and Scott Boland.
www.espncricinfo.com/australia-v-india-2...nt/story/960325.html
