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It's Indian batsmen vs Aussie bowlers in 2nd warm-up tie

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Press Trust of India Cardiff
Last Updated : Jun 03 2013 | 8:32 PM IST
India's young batsmen will face some Australian chin-music when they two teams square off in the second and final warm-up game on a newly-laid pitch at the Swalec Stadium here tomorrow.
In a series of warm-up matches planned by the ICC, both teams come off comprehensive wins as India prepare for their Champions Trophy opener against South Africa on June 6.
The sun has been beating down at Cardiff and the groundmen are happy that their "new" strip should have a bit for both batsmen and bowlers.
Australia have a little edge going into Tuesday's day-match having beaten the West Indies in a warm-up game here on June 1.
Chasing 257 for a win, Australian batsmen knocked off the winning runs losing just four wickets with more than 10 overs to spare.
India are also coming off a resounding win against Sri Lanka in Birmingham on Saturday. Twin tons by middle-order generals Virat Kohli and Dinesh Karthik helped India overhaul a victory target of 334 by five wickets, but India's top-order batsmen will still have to prove their mettle against better attacks.

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Australia surely have the quality bowlers who can use the conditions well at Cardiff. Mitchell Starc (4 for 29) and Clint McKay (3 for 45) picked seven West Indian wickets between them and the pace duo is just the tip of an Australian iceberg that has genuine pacers like Mitchell Johnson and James Faulkner, who have done well in recently concluded IPL.
In many ways, tomorrow's fixture will enable India figure out their batting line-up before the crucial opener against South Africa.
Even if Dhoni insists that Shikhar Dhawan and Murali Vijay are the ones who should open, equations could change after tomorrow's game. Both Dhawan and Vijay had long sessions at the nets today morning under the watchful eyes of coach Duncan Fletcher.

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First Published: Jun 03 2013 | 8:32 PM IST

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