Should the Aussies bring in Agar for Zampa and bench Cartwright?
Norma Godinho mulls over Steve Smith's options.
Getting team combinations right after going a match down in the opening game of a series can be a tough call for any side.
Australia dominated the early part of the first ODI in Chennai taking 5 quick Indian wickets for 87 runs before Hardik Pandya and M S Dhoni launched into leg-spinner Adam Zampa and boosted India's total.
What could have been a walk in the park for Steve Smith and his boys proved a stroll too far as the rain delay and the revised target cramped the Aussie chase. They lost the tie by 26 runs.
Zampa by his own admission bowled a wrong line to Pandya and was rightly taken to the cleaners. He bowled too full and Pandya took advantage of that error.
At the fag end of the Indian innings, Dhoni didn't spare James Faulkner.
But it is unlikely that Faulkner will be kept out of the Eden Gardens game especially after his late cameo (32 off 25 balls) in Chennai.
The tourists could also bench Hilton Cartwright.
The opener failed to fire in the warm-up game and was anything but comfortable against the new ball in Chennai. He was bowled by Jasprit Bumrah before consuming 8 balls for 1.
With Aaron Finch spotted at the indoor batting practice session on Tuesday, the mighty opener could be back in the playing eleven if he is match fit.
Smith may persist with Zampa who plays alongside him in the IPL's Pune Supergiants side.
The leggie gave away 66 runs in his 10 overs for one wicket. But getting a vote of confidence despite the thrashing may help up his game in Kolkata.
With the weather threatening to play spoilsport and disrupt Thursday's tie, the Aussies will do what it takes to level the series.
Tell us, Dear Reader, in the message board below, what combination Steve Smith should go with.
