Oz series a learning curve for youngsters, affirms Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Indian limited-overs cricket captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni on Monday said the domestic circuit was not producing enough finished product as it used to some time back.

Australia will field two debutants – pace duo Joel Paris and Scott Boland – on what they hope will be a fast and bouncy WACA wicket.

Take a closer look at the unfamiliar names expected to play a part in this five-match series.

“If you see the success of the Indian team, a lot of it is down to batsmen who could bat at different numbers”. He scored a polished 71 on ODI debut against Zimbabwe and comes into the Victoria Bitter ODI series on the back of a composed 58 from 59 balls in India’s warm-up match over the weekend. By the end of this tour, India will have faced Australia in 38 internationals since December 2011, 13 more than the next most common opposition for them. But I always feel that the bowlers get pretty excited, they weren’t much fun to face in the nets today.

In the recent times, there has been a question about the dwindling popularity of the ODI format amidst the rising interest in the T20s.

“I am sure they will adapt but if we can exploit that first up, I think that can go a long way to winning a match”. “We would like to encourage him as much as we can”.

“Barinder Sran! Serious spell of fast bowling on a flat track!”

The 34-year-old said the series against the “tough” Australian side would provide a lot of exposure to the youngsters. “So, we have to be at our best, some young guys have come in after the change of guard post the World Cup but the rivalry would be as strong”, Bailey said in a media interaction. Not bad for a man who in his late teens was a top-order batsman labelled “just another fat bloke” by his captain in club cricket.

“I imagine they’ll be licking their lips at the opportunity to get a bit of pace and bounce”.

“In India’s 15 on this tour, there are not many who can bat as well as bowl”, he said before saying that he will most likely go with a 3-2 combination as his bowling unit of choice.

In the seven previous bilateral ODI series between the two countries – all of which have been played in India – Australia holds a narrow advantage, with four wins to India’s three, although the latter has won the last two in 2010 and 2013. Coming to the crease with the hosts in trouble at 4-82 chasing 226, Gurkeerat steadied the innings and eventually finished the match with consecutive sixes in his first hit of the tournament. Where other batsmen would defend a certain delivery, he would play a big shot. However, a more-than-capable replacement in the form of Bhuvneshwar Kumar can soothe the anxiety adequately. “If you see (last year’s) World Cup also, he was someone who bowled really well for us, someone who can bowl with the new ball, in the middle over and also at the death”, Dhoni said.

But Dhoni played down any desire to play for revenge over the world champions. “You’ve got to embrace it”. With Suresh Raina having being left out of the squad that traveled to Australia, there is further uncertainty about India’s lineup.

Shikhar Dhawan kept his place but this will be a major test for the opener. – Indian legend Sachin Tendulkar, who pulled a nervous Dhawan aside ahead of his IPL debut for Mumbai in 2013.

“I have seen you at Ranji Trophy… you have the potential to become a great all-rounder for India”.