Watch India (Ind) vs Australia (Aus) 6th ODI live streaming from Nehru Stadium, Guwahati on 8th Oct 2009 at 09:00:00 local time (IST). Three days ago it was being asked whether Australia would be able to make this series a contest after losing Moises Henriques to injury, the latest in a long line of losses. The squad had already lost Brett Lee (elbow), James Hopes (hamstring), Tim Paine (finger) and Peter Siddle (side strain), and was without first-choice players Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin, Nathan Bracken and Callum Ferguson when the series began. Now they are one game away from an unassailable 3-2 lead after stealing a thriller in Hyderabad.
"When you take all those things into consideration, the way we are continuing to improve our cricket is fantastic," said Ricky Ponting after that game. The assertion is difficult to disprove. In Mohali, Australia made 250 and bowled and fielded better than India had to level it 2-2. In Hyderabad, on Thursday, they inflicted a painful three-run loss on India who, lifted by Sachin Tendulkar's 45th ODI century, threatened to chase down 351. They may be depleted, but Australia's bowlers and fielders have put pressure on the Indian batsmen - like Adam Voges' stunning take to send back MS Dhoni - resulting in six run-outs and dismissals at crucial junctures.
Knowing Dhoni's captaincy they won't be thinking about Wednesday's game in Mumbai, but India know they're up against it here. India have not lost a bilateral series since the last time Australia toured in 2007. Since 2006, they've lost just two bilateral series out of 14. That is an outstanding record and improving that against the No. 1 side is a massive incentive.
India only once won a bilateral series against Australia, having gone winless since 1986. Tomorrow presents an opportunity to reverse that trend.
