5th ODI: Stats apart, India needn't worry

It is not a match for which you should leave aside everything you are doing and remain glued to your television set. Neither is it a series decider by any means.

But with the Hero Honda Cup one-day series between India and Australia all square after four matches, the result of the fifth match, at the Rajiv Gandhi stadium in Hyderabad on Thursday, can hold greater significance in the overall outcome of the series, especially taking into consideration the characteristics of both teams involved.

The Indian team was, and still is, favourite to win the seven-match series. In fact, they should have pocketed it comfortably by now, considering the quality of the Australian side and the increasing number of injury worries they face after every game.

But it is Team India's 'Dr Jekyll Mr Hyde' personality that has ensured the series is still up for grabs. While the Dr Jekyll character ensured comprehensive wins at Nagpur and New Delhi, Mr Hyde ensured Baroda was lost after fans were given hope, and a good first half in Mohali was squandered thanks to a vapid second.

This split personality of the Indian team means that even the biggest of fans can never be certain of a result till it actually happens.

As regards the Australian team, it was well-described by Ajay Jadeja in one of the television programmes recently. That the Aussies are no longer the force they used to be -- despite their recent win the Champions Trophy -- is now well-known. But the former India all-rounder surprised many by saying the team from Down Under is slowly becoming like India in that whoever is playing well at that point makes it to their national side, and there's dearth of real talent.

Jadeja cited the example of Michael Hussey -- who had to play domestic cricket for a long time before finally making it big -- as one of the many talents who had difficulty in finding a foothold in a side packed with individual talents, that Australia was till a couple of years back.

All said, it was a well-made point, a pertinent observation.

And it is the respective characteristics of these two teams involved that collectively ensures that fans get to see a see-saw battle, even if it hardly justifies the term 'battle'.

This brings us back to the fifth one-dayer, one which is crucial in the sense that the side winning will have a slight advantage ahead of Guwahati, where an early start may put paid to plans of the teams.

The visitors are aware of this eventuality.

"Tomorrow is a crucial match, as being up 3-2 will be a nice position to be in for any team going in to Guwahati," admitted Tim Nielsen, Australia's coach.

The Aussies seem happy about the wicket -- the one on which New South Wales Blues beat Trinidad and Tobago in the inaugural Champions League final recently.

"It looks like a good batting wicket, with a bit of grass," observed Nielsen. "I expect it to slow down a bit as the day progresses. The team batting first will be under pressure to put together a big total."

The visitors, however, will miss the services of Peter Siddle and Moises Henriques, both being the latest additions to their ever-expanding injury list.

India, on the other hand, has no injury worries. Gautam Gambhir, who missed the Mohali game with injury, is back and looked comfortable at the nets. Ashish Nehra, though, seems to be in a bit of a bother.

"Gauti is fit," said an elated Mahendra Singh Dhoni. "Nehra does have problems but nothing that can be termed serious."

India's captain also appeared happy with the wicket.

"It seems a good wicket. Even in the Champions League final it seemed a good batting track," Dhoni added.

What may concern him though is the fact that India is yet to win a match on the ground, having lost the two games they played on it, to South Africa in 2005-06 and the Aussies in 2007.

And it is this statistic that could work in the visitors' favour.

"It is a good thing for us," admitted Nielsen, adding, "I hear even Deccan Chargers haven't won a game at their home ground.

Dhoni, however, preferred to look at the positive aspect, perfectly camouflaging his concerns.

"There are many other things to worry about than a few statistics," he said.

"In any case, you always start at some point."

If India does start winning on this ground on Thursday they will be just a win away from pocketing the series.