Confident India take on Australia in the first one-dayer

Buoyed by the thrilling 2-1 victory against Australia in the Test series, India take on Steve Waugh's team in the first one-day international at Banglaore on Sunday, holding a psychological advantage.

High in confidence and morale after stopping the awesome Australians' 16-Test winning streak, the Sourav Ganguly-led Indians are set to cash in on the new-found resurgence fuelled by V V S Laxman and Harbhajan Singh.

But the tourists, with their intention to steamroll the Indians having been shattered, are no pushovers and have the tremendous ability to absorb pressure and are expected to go all out to seize the initiative in the shorter-version of the game.

Enthralling cricket appears to be in store in Sunday's clash at the at M Chinnaswamy Stadium, where Laxman and Harbhajan, who topped India's batting and bowling averages in the just-concluded Test series, would obviously be cynosures.

Bangalore has been a happy hunting ground for India as they have beaten the Aussies twice when the sides have met here before. In fact, India have won seven of the ten one-day internationals played here.

Exuding confidence of performing well in the limited overs matches, Laxman, who emerged as India's highest run-getter in the series with an aggregate of 503 runs, said he was now looking forward to doing well in the one-dayers where he has not been very successful.

"Overall, everything has come together and things are in place for me to prove my worth in the one-day series also," the Hyderabad batsman said, pleased as he was for being promoted to number three in the batting order.

Noting that he has not been able to perform well against the Aussies in one-dayers last year, Laxman said in Chennai on Friday: "I have got another opportunity to prove myself now. I am confident that I will do better".

The Australian's, who arrived here this morning from Madras, also need to cope with their nemesis and chief tormentor, 20-year-old offspinner Harbhajan Singh, who bowled with guile and craft and the Aussie batsmen were clueless as to which way the ball was going to turn.

Having demolished the Australian batting, the Punjab cricketer, who took a record 32 wickets, said that he is now raring to have a go at them in the one-dayers.

"I am excited, and I think the selectors and the team management thought I will be able to carry on my good work in the one-day series," he said.

Meanwhile, the national selectors have already announced the Indian team for the first three one-dayers, recalling veteran all-rounder Robin Singh. Also included are Karnataka speedster Javagal Srinath, left-arm spinner Sunil Joshi, Ajit Agarkar and wicket-keeper Vijay Dahiya.

The curator of the Bangalore wicket, Kasturirangan, feels that the wicket is good to bat on and it promises a lot of runs.

Mail Cricket Editor