Star pair likely to stay out, Agarkar returns from injury

With their tails up after beating Australia in their own den for the first time in 12 years, captain Saurav Ganguly is demanding “complete intensity” from his team in what promises to be a pulsating day-night game at the Sydney Cricket Ground.

“We two are probably headed for the finals but we are really keen to do well against them in the final two league games. We feel it would count in the finals,” Ganguly said.

Ganguly, by the looks of it, is relishing the prospect of taking on Australia and his adrenalin level has not been down despite some very intense games against the world champions in the past couple of months.

Ganguly has had a close look at his reserve bench and has a fair idea of their capabilities. He liked what he saw from Irfan Pathan in the last few weeks and Laxmipathy Balaji is quickly growing in confidence. All-rounder Rohan Gavaskar, Hemang Badani and wicket-keeper Parthiv Patel, who failed to utilise a good chance yesterday, also have the potential though it is different with Railway players Murali Kartik and Sanjay Bangar. Ganguly is struggling to make up his mind on how best to use the two in this series.

The absence of Tendulkar and Sehwag would be welcome news to Australia and their bowlers who have been at the receiving end all through the summer. Brett Lee sure would not miss them, that is if he plays at all in front of his home crowd. Lee might still get another game despite being clobbered by the Indians since Australia would hate not to support an express fast bowler who was terrorising the batsmen world over on their behalf.

The hosts will miss the aggro of Matthew Hayden at the start of the innings as they have become used to relying on the burly Queenslander to give them slapdash starts. Hayden has been “rested” which probably is true to the word since the left-hander had made a brilliant hundred against the Indians in the last encounter at the Gabba. It gives an opportunity for Simon Katich to express himself in the one-day arena. (PTI)