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January 11, 2013Start time 1200 IST (0630 GMT)
The Rajkot ODI between England and India would bring two contrasting line-ups into the picture. While the Indian side looks stronger on paper with constrasting form, the English side are more threatening than they look on paper. The Indian team is on a run of series losses around the world, while England have inflicted almost half of those losses and certainly stage fear in the minds of Indians. England are the No.1 ranked side at the moment and India have an outside chance of swapping positions with the visitors if they win the series 5-0 or 4-1.
India
The Indian cricket team is believed to be in a state of transition(!), with at least seven players featuring in the side for more than two years. India’s famed batting order has hit an all-time low ever since they won the 2011 World Cup, with Virat Kohli and MS Dhoni finding form alternately. While a lot of changes were expected in the Indian squad after their string of losses, only Virender Sehwag was dropped and Cheteshwar Pujara earned his maiden ODI call-up in his place, with the likes of Rohit Sharma and Ravindra Jadeja holding on to their places. The Indian top-order was consistently troubled by the Pakistani pace trio and the same could be expected from the English fast bowlers. Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina are definitely a knock away from regaining their form, while Gautam Gambhir could have his head under the hammer. Captain Dhoni looks to be the only bright spot in the batting line-up at the moment.
The Indian bowling and fielding looks to be India’s biggest hope to beat England, as Kohli, Raina and co. could save 30-40 runs on the field. The hosts would be very pleased with their bowling efforts against the Pakistanis last week as the pace trio of Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Shami Ahmed and Ishant Sharma really pushed up the spirits in the side. But England, unlike Pakistan, could handle pace better and it would be interesting to see India’s plans if their frontline bowlers get hit. Ravichandran Ashwin and Jadeja could trouble the Englishmen if they can get the ball to really spin.
The dangerous duo!
England
England were expected to be rattled by India’s spin attack when they visited the country for the Test match series in November/December. But the England batsmen appeared to have done their homework and made history, upsetting India’s plans. Alastair Cook, Kevin Pietersen and Ian Bell would be high on confidence and would definitely be ready to set their bats ablaze right from the word ‘go.’ And they also have the unpredictable Eoin Morgan, who like in the second T20 game, could single-handedly win matches. Samit Patel might look to get runs under his belt in what might prove to be a decisive series for him.
England’s pace attack almost looks second-string with the top three bowlers James Anderson, Graeme Swann and Stuart Broad being rested/injured. But so were Junaid Khan and Mohammad Irfan, and so the visitors’ plan would be to ‘bowl short or keep it swinging around the batsmen’s pads,’ which could easily pose threats to the Indian top-order. Steve Finn put the Indians in enough trouble in his only Test at Kolkata and would spearhead this new-look England bowlers. Stuart Meaker and Jade Dernbach had a good measure of the Indian batsmen in the T20I series, while James Tredwell would be keen on tasting success in the Indian conditions.
India will be looking forward to some big scores from Virat Kohli, who looked off-colour in the Pakistan series. It would be a test of character for the young man, since he has hit the first slump of his career. He struggled to get starts in the series and he is probably expected to deliver the goods tomorrow.
Kohli could hold the key to India’s fortunes
Bhuvneshwar seems to be the man spearheading the attack as he has been pretty lethal with the ball in his opening spell. He will face a stern test from the England top-order and he is also expected to break the myth of succeeding in alternate matches.
India would have already spent sleepless nights in making plans to dismiss the English duo of Alastair Cook and Kevin Pietersen in this series. While Captain Cook looked as efficient as a run-machine in the Test series, Kevin Pietersen could floor any attack on his day. These two could power England to herculean scores as the inexperienced Indian bowlers might have a tough time getting rid of the duo.
India
Gambhir, Rahane, Kohli, Yuvraj, Raina, Dhoni, Jadeja, Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar, Ishant, Shami Ahmed.
England
Cook, Kieswetter, Bell, Pietersen, Morgan, Samit Patel, Bresnan, Tredwell, Finn, Meaker, Dernbach.
The newly built SCA Stadium is hosting its first International match and from the Ranji matches, it is quite clear that the pitch will definitely witness a run fest. Ravindra Jadeja has the reputation of hitting two triple tons on this pitch and he is expected to be the crowd favourite.
With the match beginning at 12 noon, dew is not expected to play a major role and toss might not prove that crucial.
- India and England have played each other 81 times so far with India winning 43 matches and England 33.
- They have played 40 times in India, with the hosts winning twice the number of matches as their opponents.
- It has been 28 years since England won an ODI series in India and six years since they won an ODI.
India have really got nothing to do with stats, just like the Test series, and England would be the clear favourites to draw first blood.
