The short ball from Dwarshuis comes high off the bat of Abhishek, but it lands safely in no-man’s land.
Australia are yet to crack through after the first three overs, but Mitch Marsh decides a change of pace is in order, with Nathan Ellis given the ball for the next over.
India 0/20
India are 0/3 after the first over...let’s not mention the dropped catch from Xavier Bartlett.
Speaking of which, Bartlett now finds himself with the ball as he’s tasked with taking the second over in this T20.
Let’s see if he can make up for his earlier error.
India 0/3
Here we go.
It’s Shubman Gill and Abhishek Sharma at one and two for India, with Sharma to face the first delivery from returning bowler Ben Dwarshuis.
It’s a lovely first ball from Dwarshuis and the second is a beauty, with Sharma sending it straight up in the air...he’s there for the taking.
This should be an easy take for the Aussie fielders, but Xavier Bartlett and Marcus Stoinos before Bartlett goes in and drops the ball.
Uh oh. Big miss.
India 0/1
Australian batter Matt Short said he, and his team, must improve ahead of next year’s World Cup.
“There’s always ways to improve. Probably, looking at the World Cup, looking at India and Sri Lanka, is probably my game against spin. Probably needs a little bit of work,” Short said ahead of tonight’s clash.
Room to improve: Matt Short in action.Credit: AP
“Especially if you look at our squad and the power hitters we’ve got through the middle, Tim Davis and Glenn Maxwell and Mitchie Owen, Marcus Stoinis, you know, guys who have had that experience in India before and have that real power game against spin. So, yeah, it’s obviously a challenge and playing for Australia is not easy. So, yeah, we’ll have to wait and see.”
While this five-match series is important, with Australia winning game two by four wickets, before India levelled the series in Hobart with a five-wicket victory, Short understands conditions will be different in India and Sri Lanka.
“Conditions are going to be a lot different. But India have brought out a pretty strong side, probably the strongest side. So, it’s been nice to kind of get our match-ups against them and see how they go about it. You know, they’re obviously number one for a reason. They bat really low,” Short said.
“They’ve got world-class bowlers. So, it’s been awesome to face up against India here in Australia. But, the conditions and game plans are going to change when we get over to India.”
In the lead-up to this pivotal clash, India’s bowling coach Morne Morkel was forced to explain why left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh, the team’s highest wicket-taker in T20 internationals, was rested for the opening two games of the series.
Key figure: India’s Arshdeep Singh was brilliant in Hobart.Credit: AP
Morkel said the tourists were experimenting with different bowling options, ahead of next year’s World Cup.
After missing the first two T20Is, Arshdeep was brilliant in India’s critical win in Hobart, claiming three wickets in his four-over spell.
“Arshdeep is experienced. He understands that there is also a bigger picture where we are trying different combinations. He is a world-class bowler, and has taken the most wickets for us in the power play, so we know how valuable he is to the team. But for us on the day, on this tour, it is also to have a look at other combinations, and he understands that,” Morkel said.
Glenn Maxwell and Ben Dwarshuis return to the Australian side tonight, with Mitchell Owen and Matt Kuhnemann left out. India are unchanged.
Australia: Matt Short, Mitchell Marsh (c), Josh Philippe, Josh Inglis (wk), Glenn Maxwell, Tim David, Marcus Stoinis, Ben Dwarshuis, Xavier Bartlett, Nathan Ellis, Adam Zampa.
Glenn Maxwell is back tonight.Credit: Getty Images
India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.
Skippers Mitch Marsh and Suryakumar Yadav are at the toss, with Marsh winning and deciding to send India in to bat first tonight.
Here’s what the Australian T20 skipper had to say about that decision.
“We don’t play a lot here. It’s obviously great to be on the Gold Coast, a wonderful place, so we’ll try and get as much information about the surface as we can.”
Mitchell Marsh of Australia and Suryakumar Yadav of India during the coin toss.Credit: Getty Images
Hello, and welcome to tonight’s coverage of the fourth T20 international between Australia and India, with the series split 1-1 (there was no result in the series opener in Canberra because of rain).
This clash comes to you from the Gold Coast Stadium. There have only been two previous men’s internationals at this venue.
Game on: Captains Mitch Marsh and Suryakumar Yadav.Credit: Getty Images
While Josh Inglis is the only remaining Australian in the T20 squad also selected in the Ashes squad, Australia are still determined to claim this series, heading into next year’s World Cup in India and Sri Lanka through February and March.
These are the last T20 internationals before the selectors name their World Cup squad, although BBL form could also play a part.
First ball is 7.15pm, with teams to be firmed up at the toss. Enjoy.
