Starc less Australia expect exciting series against 'aggressive' India

Perth: Australia coach Darren Lehmann expects the upcoming limited-over series against India to be an exciting one given the "aggressive" brand of cricket that Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men have been playing of late.

The five-ODI and three-T20 series begins here on January 12 and Australia, who have enjoyed big wins against a lacklustre West Indies side in a just-concluded Test series, are keen to get going in the one-dayers against the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led Indian side.

"They are a good one-day side as they made the semis of the World Cup. They are a quality side so from our point of view we have got to start well and play well against them. We haven't played in Perth for a while, so that is exciting for us and I feel it's a fast bouncy track," Lehmann told reporters at the WACA.

"They are playing an aggressive brand of cricket as well, so I don't really see that changing in the next five games," he added.

Australia will be missing the experience of the retired Mitchell Johnson and an injured Mitchell Starc but Lehmann believes the youngsters are up for the challenge.

"It will be a good challenge for them. We play top cricket and India play the same way, so it will be an exciting series," he said.

Lehmann insisted that the side will not have much problem changing gears from the longer format to the limited-overs games.

"The blokes change pretty quickly and we have changed our squad around a fair bit and it is nice to see the guys play a bit of T20 and white ball cricket, nice bit of transition for us," he said.

Talking about the seniors, Lehmann said that skipper Steven Smith and David Warner are very keen to lock horns against India.

"Yes, Warner and Smith will certainly play. Of course David is going to and fro with the baby but that will be later and he is keen to play. Yes, if something happens earlier, we have an extra batter to take his place," said the former batsman.