India v England First ODI Thread

[msp83]

First topic message reminder :

The first of the 5 match ODI series between India and England will be played at Rajkot tomorrow at the Saurashtra Cricket Association stadium.
England will be on a high after their test series win last month. They are the top ranked ODI side in the world and had a fine 2012 in a format where they struggled in the past.
With Kevin Pietersen back after all those issues, the batting is further strengthened. Ian Bell who struggled big during the test series has found some form in the warm up matches and captain Alastair Cook is in the form of his life and has a special place in his heart for Indian bowling.
As far as the playing side goes, Cook, Bell, Pietersen and Morgan pick themselves. Craig Kieswetter should be the favorite to start the series with the gloves, but Jos Buttler's explosive batting might see him being picked. Samit Patel's handy 2nd string and the fact that he's a spinner might see him being picked at 7. In the bowling department, Steven Finn picks himself, and as Graeme Swann is rested, James Tredwell should be the first choice spinner. Jade Dernbach's experience and his decent showing in the warm ups might see him being picked over Stuart Meaker.
As far as India are concerned, they'll be going into the series under a lot of pressure having lost the home test series as well as a home ODI series against Pakistan. The process of change started with the axing of Zaheer Khan from the test side and his continued non-selection in the limited over squads. Now for this series, the underperforming opener Virender Sehwag found himself axed and Cheteshwar Pujara's selection is not just recognition of his performances, but also a notice to struggling opener gautam Gambhir. Gambhir might get to start series though, and Ajinkya Rahane should now get a run in the side. The middle order picks itself with Kohli, Yuvraj,Dhoni, Raina and Ravindra Jadeja as the all-rounder. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, R Ashwin, Ishant Sharma and the youngster Shami Ahmed should form the bowling unit.
This is the first international game at the SCA stadium. When the domestic Challenger Trophy was played, the BCCI had to ask for an explanation as to why did the batsmen had it all very easy out there on the track.
The 12 PM start should ensure the dew factor won't have too much of a say.

[mystiroakey]

2 wickets down- england take the upper hand...

was suprised to see india favs on sky bet before the 2nd wicket!!

I guess failing to defend 290 odd vs Delhi may have influenced the odds.

well i am happy because i took england at 2.1.. at the time india were 1.67..

the odds have completly mirrored themselves now..

[Guest]

Great name too...he could set up his own show company:

"Tread well with Tredwell shoes"

[Gerry SA]

Ajinkya Rahane has got to be up there as one of the biggest hype jobs in Indian cricket.

We keep hearing he's a run machine etc but all he seems capable at international level is nice looking 20s 30s and 40s. After 14 ODIs he averages below 30, hardly the superstar we are led to believe he is.

Most incredibly someone like Pujara, has the 2nd highest List A average off all time, can't get a game...

[msp83]

Went away for 15 minutes, Gautam Gambhir scored his 50 and went on to throw it away with another poor stroke. But well bowled from Tredwell again.
Yuvraj playing his shots, but he hasn't looked entirely convincing in my view. Kohli had a poor series against Pakistan, he needs to find his touch here if India have to have any chance here.

[mystiroakey]

Yuraj and kohli are the worrying pair for me!! and there are in. This game could be a thriller.. India have stayed in touch of englands scoring.,

[seanmichaels]

England need to give Finn a quick burst around the wicket at Yuvraj.

[msp83]

England are very much in charge now, The runs were not coming easily, and now the big wicket of Kohli. Bresnan gets the wicket.
Hope MSD promotes himself up the order.

[alfie]

India start was good but Tredwell and Root pegged them back rather well...and now Bresnan has struck a big blow with the wicket of Kohli.
I'm not assuming anything with Yuvraj in and Dhoni to come , but I'd rather have England's position right now.
Like the way Cook is manipulating his attack...wonder when (if ?) Patel will be introduced ...

[msp83]

Yuvraj top edges Bresnan for 6. What are those bloody bats made of??? Bats these days come with edges from which you can middle the ball!.

[mystiroakey]

root looks like a half decent bowl option!

great figures!!

yes its a bit early to say but do we have our new collingwood!!

[msp83]

Root has done a fabulous job for his captain here. Nothing too fancied, but keeping it on a good line and crucially he he stuck to a good length as well. The weaklink is proving to be their strength.

[alfie]

Recall a few negative comments about Root saying he was working on his bowling a few weeks back...seems to be paying off ! Got him in this ODI side apparently as an all rounder , and now seven overs for just 28...
Quite impressive in all aspects , so far in his brief International career

[msp83]

Dernbach continues to struggle, giving away easy runs here.

[mystiroakey]

dernbach is getting smashed.. Cook dont put him back on!

[VTR]

Dernbach! Can be good but just too inconsistent for my liking. Surely he needs to be dropped for good fairly soon. The Ravi Bopara of bowling.

[mystiroakey]

so key wicket is clearly Yurvaj...

Playing fine stuff..

Come on England...

[msp83]

50 for Yuvraj Singh.

[alfie]

Yuvraj got things moving again there ... Hard to keep him quiet for long .

Tredwell back. Good.

[msp83]

ThinkCook iv overbowling Root here, at the end of the day he's a parttimer, and for a parttimer he did a fabulous job. Now the inconsistencies are coming in perhaps he should think of Samit, or bring Finn back on for an over or 2.

[msp83]

Samit Patel on now. A bit of a chance against 2 lefties, but if he can keep it quiet for a couple of overs, that would be a job well done.

[alfie]

ThinkCook iv overbowling Root here, at the end of the day he's a parttimer, and for a parttimer he did a fabulous job. Now the inconsistencies are coming in perhaps he should think of Samit, or bring Finn back on for an over or 2.

Tend to agree. Would have been no harm in keeping his remaining overs up the sleeve and at least trying Patel - rather looks as if he isn't going to bowl at all now...oh no , here he is

This flurry of runs has put India in front , but a wicket would change that.

[alfie]

...and here is the wicket ! Tredwell takes his third , the danger man gone for a fine 61...

Well played Yuvraj , but that puts pressure back on India...Dhoni now the key.

[msp83]

There is the big wicket for England, Yuvraj Gone, Tredwell with the wicket, 198-4. Think India's chances have taken a huge hit although Dhoni is the next man in.

[liverbnz]

Wicket for Tredwell. Danger man Yuvraj gone sweeping. Should be game, set now.

[msp83]

Yuvraj in that batting powerplay could have been very distructive. Dhoni these days is a slow starter. A very timely wicket indeed for England.

[VTR]

Wicket for Tredwell. Danger man Yuvraj gone sweeping. Should be game, set now.

Dhoni the master finisher is coming in next. Far from over!

[seanmichaels]

Man of the match is going to be difficult. No performance really stands out at the moment particularly if England go on to win.

[dummy_half]

Big last 3 or 4 overs from England to turn the momentum of the match - looked to be running away from us until Tredwell and Patel slowed the runs and then Tredders got his wicket. Definitely back in the hunt now, although Dhoni can change that very quickly if he gets going.

[msp83]

This powerplay is a huge moment in this game. If India have a good powerplay they'll be in front. Powerplays usually brings wickets as well, if England get one more soon, they would be very much in charge.
Finn hasn't starded off well for England.

[Guest]

Patel really has to prove he has what it takes with the ball. It's past time son.

[alfie]

None of the seamers have been able to keep the lid on today. Just hope for a wicket in this power play and then get the spinners back on...

...nearly a wicket then , though Morgan did well just to stop that !

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

required rate is pushing toward 9 ....dhoni struggling to get going..very much in the balance but India have plenty of firepower left

[msp83]

The Indian captain is struggling to get going. The RRR is going up all the while. England in charge.

[msp83]

Jadeja is not the best option for firepower at 7, Dhoni and Raina will have to do much of the job. A wicket here, that will be game over for India.

[alfie]

Yes , nine per over can very well be done , especially with a pair like this at the crease...but if one or two wickets fall it gets a bit tricky...

Much better last over from Finn.

[msp83]

Ooh, Raina very nearly gives it away. Just short of captain Cook.

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

India really need to make more of the PP...another near chance there

On this pitch though its well doable, if Patel can score at 13 an over Dhoni can too. England only have one proper spinner over left, and the seamers have all struggled in this game

[msp83]

Much needed boundary there.

[msp83]

And another, the last 2 balls messing up what was turning out to be a good over.

[alfie]

This power play has swung back England's way after an explosive start...

...but as I type two successive boundaries ...bad finish from Dernbach.

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

Indias only 1 run behind where england were at this point

[dummy_half]

So 98 needed in the last 11 overs - just swinging back India's way again.

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

Brenan makes Finns figures look a lot better with a Collingwood there

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Dernback has been pants

[msp83]

That looks like a clean catch, Raina, last ball of the powerplay, Bresnan, think he has taken it, will be a huge setback for India.

[mystiroakey]

argg thats a drop.. ul bresn

[msp83]

No, Raina gets away with it, Bresnan seems to have grounded it. Huge moment in the game!.

[alfie]

Going to need nine plus from the last ten...

Close , I think. Dernbach will need to tighten up

What a great catch by Bresnan ! ...or is it ? Did it touch the ground as he rolled ? Doubt to the batsman , Raina stays...

Bresnan not happy

[Peter Seabiscuit Wheeler]

Jesus that sucks

[msp83]

A job well done technology!. Bloody BCCI, are you watching?

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