Australia (8/13 in Match Prices) are brimming with confidence ahead of the first T20 clash of the two-match series against India (5/4), although new captain George Bailey knows he must perform to silence any lingering doubts over his selection.

Bailey averaged 19 with the bat in the domestic Big Bash League but boasts a better record in previous years and says he will be out to prove it when Australia begin their preparations for the World T20 in Sri Lanka later this year.

Bailey averaged 19 with the bat in the domestic Big Bash League but boasts a better record in previous years and says he will be out to prove it when Australia begin their preparations for the World T20 in Sri Lanka later this year.

The Tasmanian is set to open the innings with in-form vice-captain David Warner (5/2 Top Batsman – Australia), who smashed a 69-ball century against India at the WACA earlier this month – the joint fourth fastest in Test cricket.

The Sydney Thunder star ultimately built his innings to a score of 180 from 159 balls, setting a new personal high score in test match cricket.

Australia have given Shaun Marsh (7/2) another chance after he finished the Test series with a meagre average of under three while 40-year-old Chinaman bowler Brad Hogg has been recalled after an impressive domestic season.

India also have a fresh look about them after the humiliating 4-0 Test whitewash with several changes to the squad for the limited overs leg of the tour.

Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Pragyan Ojha, Wriddhiman Saha, Ishant Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane drop out with Suresh Raina, Parthiv Patel, Manoj Tiwary, Ravindra Jadeja, Irfan Pathan, Rahul Sharma and Praveen Kumar bolstering the tourists’ ranks.

Virender Sehwag (3/1 in Top Batsman – India) and Gautam Gambhir (7/2) will open the batting with talented youngsters Virat Kohli (7/2), Rohit Sharma (9/2) and Raina (6/1) keen to make names for themselves in the new middle order.

Raina, who led the limited overs side in the West Indies last year, hands back the captaincy to MS Dhoni (7/1), but has promised a better performance from the side.