Australian team arrives for ODI series

Mumbai:

The Australian team, fresh from their Champions Trophy triumph, arrived at the Shivaji Chhatrapati International Airport here this afternoon for their high-profile seven-match ODI series against India.

The team, led by Ricky Ponting, was escorted to its hotel in suburban Bandra under tight security provided by the Mumbai police.

Six members of the 15-strong squad are already in the country and taking part in the Champions League Twenty20. The six players who are already in India, are Doug Bollinger, Nathan Hauritz, Brett Lee (New South Wales Blues), Peter Siddle, Jon Holland and Cameroon White (Victoria Bushrangers).

The visitors are scheduled to have practice sessions at the Mumbai Cricket Association's Bandra-Kurla Complex on Wednesday and on October 22 before leaving for Vadodara on the October 23rd afternoon for the first match of the rubber, a day encounter, at the Reliance Stadium on October 25.

The other matches are scheduled at Nagpur (October 28), Delhi (October 31), Mohali (November 2), Hyderabad (November 5), Guwahati (November 8) and Mumbai (November 11). The sixth one in Assam is to be a day/night contest.

Australian Squad:

Ricky Ponting (Captain), Michael Hussey (Vice-Captain), Doug Bollinger, Nathan Hauritz, Jon Holland, Ben Hilfenhaus, James Hopes, Mitchell Johnson, Brett Lee, Shaun Marsh, Tim Paine, Peter Siddle, Adam Voges, Shane Watson, Cameron White.