Aussies shooting for two-zip

Australia gets the opportunity to take a stranglehold on the seven-match one-day series in India when it travels to Nagpur for game two on Wednesday night (Australian time).

Another victory would give Ricky Ponting's team a valuable 2-0 lead in the series following the team's thrilling four run win in game one in Vadodara on Sunday.

But the Australians are facing a selection dilemma given the likelihood of having to replace all-rounder James Hopes.

Hopes, who turned 31 last week, has been a key member of the one-day side in recent times having played 67 matches since his debut four and a half years ago, but he could only manage two overs in game one before limping off with a hamstring injury.

But the Aussies have plenty of options if Hopes is ruled out as expected with left-arm Victorian finger spinner Jon Holland a chance to make his debut or the Aussies could go with another pace option in Ben Hilfenhaus.

Another option is for Shaun Marsh to return to the side at the top of the order to partner the in-form Tim Paine with Shane Watson then dropping back down the middle order to fill Hopes' vacant all-rounder's position.

The Australians will head to Nagpur for game two with plenty of confidence, not only having survived a late Indian onslaught to win game one, but also given the fact the team has won both its previous one-day internationals in Nagpur - the most recent being two years ago.

But one thing appears certain and that is if the Aussies again bat first - as they did in game one - the team will need another big score if it is to again claim victory.

In game one the Aussies only just managed to defend 8-292 as India fell just four runs short.

And Nagpur is another high-scoring ground.

The last time the Aussies faced India there in mid October, 2007, Ricky Ponting's men batted first and made a massive 8-317.

Yet India fell just short in replying with 7-299.

A key to Australia's success in game one was the fact more of its top order batsmen were able to convert starts into valuable half-centuries with four batsmen in Paine, Ponting, Cameron White and Mike Hussey - who top-scored with a superb 73 off 54 balls - passing 50.

In contrast India, despite falling just four runs short, had just one batsman in Gautum Gambhir pass 50 as he top-scored with 68 and in the end this proved the difference in a tight game.

The spin of Nathan Hauritz and Holland, should he come in for the injured Hopes, could also prove crucial with Hauritz bowling well in game one with 1-34 off nine tidy overs.

But Australia will be all too aware that Nagpur can favour spin as evidenced by Brad Hogg's matchwinning figures of 4-49 the last time Australia played there two years ago making Hauritz a key player in Australia's bid to take a 2-0 lead in this year's series come Wednesday night.