AGENCIES
BRISBANE
India's maligned spinners look set to be the scapegoats ahead of the second one-day international against Australia at the Gabba.
India opener Rohit Sharma admitted they would consider a four-pronged pace attack on a "flat" Gabba deck on Friday as they looked to bounce back from Tuesday's high-scoring five-wicket ODI loss in Perth.
Captain MS Dhoni did not hide his disappointment with spinners R Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja after they conceded a total of 129 runs in 18 overs as Australia chased down a 310-run target with four balls to spare. Dhoni is expected to consider injecting quick Ishant Sharma after he received the all clear from a finger injury on Thursday. Uncapped all-rounder Rishi Dhawan is another option to bolster an Indian attack hit hard by the loss of Mohammed Shami (hamstring) for the ODI series.
"Playing in Brisbane where there is extra bounce will help our fast bowlers more than the spinners," said Sharma, who hit an unbeaten 171 in the Perth ODI loss.
Dhoni praised Australia's Steve Smith (149) and George Bailey (112) after their 242-run third wicket stand that set up the stunning win in Perth. But he also lamented his spinners' "very bad day" which allowed Smith and Bailey to kick away in their innings' middle overs.
"We need to learn how to take wickets in the middle, how to build the pressure in the middle overs," Sharma said on Thursday. "If wickets fall in the middle then it affects the momentum of the opposition team... That is what we need to do this game because we batted well, we bowled well with the new ball, but were halted in the middle because we didn't take wickets."
India did appear to have unearthed a promising quick in left-armer Barinder Sran, who was the 14th Indian to take three wickets on ODI debut. No Indian bowler has ever taken more than three scalps on limited-overs debut.
The Duckworth-Lewis method looks set to come into play with afternoon showers forecast for the second ODI. Meanwhile, Sharma would not bite on Thursday when reminded of Dhoni's view on India's refusal to use the DRS system.
Dhoni hinted at a DRS conspiracy against India after the opening ODI in Perth, saying 50-50 calls went against them. Replays showed Bailey should have been given caught behind first ball in Perth but without the DRS he went on to score a match-turning ton.
"What I say here is going to be immaterial because it's not my decision," Sharma said. "I think whatever is best for the team, I am sure the BCCI (Indian cricket board) and the captain will do it."
