AUSTRALIA will have to regroup quickly if it is to wrest back the momentum from India when the teams clash in the third match of their seven-game one-day international series in Delhi tomorrow.

The tourists had drawn first blood last weekend when they prevailed by just four runs in Jaipur but that victory also came at a cost with James Hopes and Brett Lee both ruled out of Wednesday’s second encounter in Nagpur by injury.

And India well and truly atoned for its opening-match defeat by smashing its way to 7-354 and then bowling Australia out for 255 in reply, with the heavy loss compounded further when wicketkeeper Tim Paine broke a finger forcing him home for treatment.

With incumbent Brad Haddin recovered from the broken finger he suffered in England during the Ashes but to remain at home and play for New South Wales in its upcoming clash with Western Australia, selectors have turned to South Australian Graham Manou.

Having deputised for Haddin in one Test during the Ashes series after he first suffered his injury, Manou headed to Delhi yesterday and is expected to be rushed straight into the line-up for the game at Feroz Shah Kotla.

Manou’s addition to the 11, most likely at No.7, is likely to also result in the promotion of Shaun Marsh to the top of the order to open with Shane Watson after the Western Australian left-hander batted in the middle order when recalled in place of Hopes on Wednesday.

Queensland all-rounder Hopes will also miss again with the hamstring injury he sustained in the opening match while fast bowler Brett Lee is also no certainty to return after picking up an elbow strain in the same game.

Having recovered from what looked to be the hopeless position of 7-201 chasing 293 for victory in game one, India maintained that momentum after Australian skipper Ricky Ponting’s decision to bowl first backfired.

Ponting had expected evening dew to make things tougher for the team bowling second but having posted their highest-ever score against Australia thanks to captain MS Dhoni’s unbeaten 124 from 107 balls India then did what was needed with the ball as those conditions failed to materialise.

This will be the first clash between India and Australia in Delhi since April, 1998 when the visitors prevailed by four wickets, while the home side had won the previous two battles there by three wickets and 56 runs in 1986 and 1987 respectively.

Overall Australia hold a superior win-loss record having won 20 of the 40 matches the teams have contested in India, with the hosts winning 15 times and no result possible in the other five matches since their opening battle there 25 years ago.

With the world No.1 ranking that Australia regained when they successfully defended the ICC Champions Trophy in South Africa in September on the line in this series – provided India can prevail 5-2 overall – claiming the overall lead with four games remaining is important for either side.

But with the Indians backed by raucous home crowds at each of the seven venues the Australians will be keen to be the ones who put their noses in front to try and take the fans out of the equation later in the series.

To do so though they’ll need to get more out of their attack, with Ponting looking for more support for lion-hearted quick Peter Siddle, while a better start from the top order will also be vital after just 45 runs had been posted by the time the third wicket fell on Wednesday. (CA)