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Mickey Arthur has said the heavy defeat to England in the one-day series last year had only made the team stronger

Cricinfo staff11-Jun-2009Mickey Arthur, the South Africa coach, has said the heavy defeat to England in the one-day series last year had only made the team stronger and emerge as a world-beating unit. He said the 4-0 defeat – after winning the Test series – forced him and Graeme Smith to rethink their overall composition of their limited-overs side and the benefits are now being felt, with South Africa starting the ongoing ICC World Twenty20 as one of the favourites.”I think that one-day series we had here (in England) after winning the Test series was a blessing in disguise for us,” Arthur said. “It certainly forced myself and Graeme to sit back and do a lot of reflection, deciding on which way we wanted to go, what was going to be our brand going forward to the World Cup in 2011, who were the players we were going to look at and we did. We sat down and we thought long and hard about it.”With the team we had in England, we didn’t have the ability to take pace off the ball. We realised we needed to grow our spin bowling department, we realised we needed to have batters who could bowl spin coupled with out and out pace bowlers.”Though the current Twenty20 squad isn’t markedly different from the one-day team which toured England last year, the big difference is the number of spinners who’ve helped South Africa’s growth. The offspinner Johan Botha – an effective Twenty20 bowler – was elevated to the one-day captaincy to fill Smith’s absence; JP Duminy has been chipping in regularly with his offbreaks and Roelof van der Merwe has been an asset with his left-arm spin and match-winning ability.”I think we’ve got the balance right now. We’ve got seven definite bowling options, three of which are spin bowling options – I include JP Duminy in that because I think he’s that good,” Arthur said. “And we’ve got three guys who can bowl at over 140kph (Dale Steyn, Wayne Parnell and Jacques Kallis).”We also bat down to ten – Wayne Parnell was batting at six for Kent a month back – and I still think as a group we are probably the best fielding side in the world.”Despite the team’s recent success as a Test unit – with Test series wins in England and Australia – a victory in an ICC event has always eluded them. South Africa failed to make the semi-finals of the last World Twenty20 on their own turf and bowed out of the 2003 World Cup in the group stages, among other missed opportunities.”We said a year ago there were three things we really wanted to do as a South African unit – to win a Test series in England, to win a Test series in Australia and to win an ICC trophy event,” Arthur said. “We’ve flattered to deceive in ICC events. We’ve ticked two of the three boxes and we’ve got three opportunities until 2011 to put the other one right so here’s hoping.”

Cricinfo previews the Mumbai Indians and Kolkata Knight Riders in the run-up to the second edition of the IPL, which begins in South Africa from April 18

Sriram Veera16-Apr-2009Kolkata and Mumbai are the two teams whose “icons” transcend the word and enjoy God-like status. The stars failed last season, with injury keeping Sachin Tendulkar out for much of Mumbai’s season and a lack of form preventing Sourav Ganguly from making an impact for Kolkata. This season, they enter the tournament in contrasting ways: Tendulkar is in great form and has the calm presence of Shaun Pollock as the team’s mentor while Ganguly has been out of cricketing action and has been embroiled in a running controversy with coach John BuchananMumbaiThe good news for Mumbai is the availability of Sachin Tendulkar for the entire season•AFPThe most expensive franchise put in a below-par performance last year. They sweated over Tendulkar’s injury in the first half, recovered superbly on his return but choked in the big game against Rajasthan Royals, which was their pass to the semi-finals. This year, not only do they have Tendulkar from the start but also the services of the in-form Harbhajan Singh, who missed much of the last season after the most expensive slap in cricket history. They have Sanath Jayasuriya, Zaheer Khan and Lasith Malinga and, importantly, four allrounders in Dwayne Bravo, Ryan McLaren, JP Duminy and Essex’s Graham Napier, who in 2008 hit 152 – including a world record 16 sixes – against Sussex in a Twenty20 match. Though they will miss Pollock, they are a pretty strong and balanced team.The buzzAll cricket-centric. Jonty Rhodes is in as fielding coach and Pollock is the squad mentor. Both have been involved in intense pre-tournament training with half the squad.New faces JP Duminy was bought for a whopping US$950,000, Mohammad Ashraful was picked up for $75,000 and they signed up the exciting McLaren and Napier. Zaheer was brought in to compensate for Pollock, Kyle Mills too was drafted in and they traded Nehra for Shikhar Dhawan to balance out Robin Uthappa’s exit.Watch out forHarbhajan. He is in his best form in recent times and the South African pitches offered turn in the recent ODI series against Australia.Missing in actionPollock. He chose not to play and he will be missed – especially his experience of bowling on South African pitches – but his backroom help will be invaluable.X Factor Ryan McLaren. A kolpak player whom South Africa tried to head back to his home country after the ODI losses against England last year but his county, Kent, refused to budge. This IPL could be the only venue left for the hard-hitting allrounder to make his name across the world.StrengthThe batting. Tendulkar and Jayasuriya can, on their day, match the younger Delhi opening combo (Sehwag and Gambhir) and they have Duminy, Dhawan, and Bravo to follow.WeaknessThe fast bowling. Pollock has left a huge hole. Even Zaheer can leak runs in this format and Malinga has just returned from a long injury lay-off while Dilhara Fernando has rarely been consistent. A strong batting line-up can hurt them. PREDICTION FOR 2009 A place in the semis but perhaps lacking the extra bit needed to lift the trophy.IPL 2008 – The key figures: Final position: Fifth placeTop scorer: Sanath Jayasuriya with 514 runs at 42.83
Top wicket-taker: Ashish Nehra with 12 wickets at 29.00 and an economy rate of 7.76
Best result: Nine-wicket wins over Chennai and Bangalore
Worst result: Ten-wicket loss to Hyderabad
Highest team score: 202 for 7 v Chennai
Lowest team score: 116 v Punjab (there were two lower scores but both were successful chases)KolkataKolkata will miss Umar Gul’s effective bowling at the death•AFPThey seemed more talented than their sixth-place showing last year. This season started off well, with the news of Brendon McCullum’s availability for the entire season and Chris Gayle, who didn’t play last year due to injury, available for two weeks. Then Buchanan dropped his captaincy bombshell. It might be a stop-start season for Kolkata, whose biggest Achilles heel would be the lack of quality allrounders. They have one in Moises Henriques from New South Wales but it will be interesting to see their combination of four foreign players. Can a Twenty20 outfit win consistently without quality allrounders? We don’t have to wait long to find out.The buzz Poor Ganguly. Whether he likes it or not, he can’t escape controversy or those Australian coaches. Buchanan has been the chaos theory expert this time around with his multiple captains’ idea. He might say that the confusion is the media’s creation but Ganguly, and even Ishant Sharma, have said they don’t it. Shane Warne has not let the opportunity slip to throw a few daggers at his old sparring partner Buchanan. Meanwhile, team owner Shahrukh Khan has weighed in, including a rant against Sunil Gavaskar. The Knight Riders ride on controversies.New facesMashrafe Mortaza is in but he may find it difficult to fill Umar Gul’s shoes.Watch out forAjantha Mendis. Yes, Pakistan and India played him well in the recent ODIs but he was fresh off an injury. Even then, he was rarely collared and, more importantly, for the rest of the world he remains a mystery.Missing in actionUmar Gul. His tight bowling with the new ball and the consistently accurate yorkers at the death overs will be sorely missed.X FactorAshok Dinda. He was the surprise package last year, bursting with enthusiasm and pretty decent skills. He picked up nine wickets at a good economy rate of 6.66 last year. But he has had a very average domestic season since then and might lack the confidence going into this big tournament.StrengthsThe presence of the explosive McCullum for the entire season.WeaknessQuality allrounders. Ganguly, who had the lowest economy rate (6.40) in the side last time for any bowler who bowled at least 20 overs, was the best among the lot. Laxmi Ratan Shukla is the Indian allrounder; he has a big heart but not quite the talent to match it. Even Henriques, while rated highly, is yet to convert his talent to something consistently substantial in first-class cricket. And the seam bowling too doesn’t quite have the potency, notwithstanding Ishant Sharma, who has been struggling in limited-overs cricket of late. They might be better off playing their new M&M – Mendis and Murali Kartik. PREDICTION FOR 2009 Will miss out on the semis unless Mendis has an outstanding tournament.IPL 2008 – The key figures: Final position: Sixth place
Top scorer: Ganguly with 349 runs at 29.08
Top wicket-taker: Umar Gul, with 12 wickets at 15.33
Best result: 140-run win over Bangalore
Worst result: Chennai won by nine wickets
Highest team score: 222 for 3 v Bangalore
Lowest team score: 67 all out v Mumbai

Geraint Jones hit a century from his new No. 3 position to put Kent in control against Northamptonshire

Mark Pennell at Canterbury22-Apr-2009
ScorecardGeraint Jones’s century was the ideal start to his future at No. 3•Getty ImagesAt the start of the 2005 Ashes summer Kent wicketkeeper Geraint Jones was an integral part of the England set up, yet he starts this season of expectation as his county’s new No3 batsman and a long way down his country’s pecking order behind the stumps.However, Jones remains phlegmatic over his demise from the England set-up, preferring instead to concentrate on raising sheep, pigs and a family at his Kentish smallholding, while scoring runs for fun for his club. He rode his luck in cracking a 110-ball century against Northamptonshire and was dropped on seven and then 87 in the sunshine at Canterbury, but his blustery innings with 16 fours and six helped advance a game that threatened to get stuck in the doldrums.Northamptonshire had limped forward at a sedate pace throughout the four sessions of their first innings in posting 355 at a rate of only 2.7 per over, yet Jones and his team-mates upped the entertainment value considerably once they got to the crease soon after lunch on the second day.With no extreme pace in the attack to worry about Kent clattered a flurry of boundaries that kept the St Lawrence scoreboard ticking over at more than four-an-over and, as a result, inside two sessions, they had reduced Northamptonshire’s lead to just 95.After batting at his new county position of No. 3 for the first time, a delighted Jones said: “I had my fair share of luck with two fairly straightforward chances missed, but that’s the way I’ve set myself up to play now. I had a couple of years scratching around trying to be a proper batsman, now I’m going back to my roots and if I see the ball up there I’m going to try and hit it.”It’s nice start for me and to get a hundred first up is fantastic although I am aware that it will be hard work what with keeping and batting at No. 3. Our umpire today, Barry Duddleston had a spell doing the same in his playing days, and he asked me how I would cope with the work rate? I just said ‘it’ll be fine; I’ve got the winter to sleep!”I’m really looking forward to it, it’s what I set myself to do over the winter and I know it will be tough work, but I’ll look after myself, have plenty of massage from the physiotherapist and generally make sure I take care of my body.”Jones’s luck finally ran out the ball after he celebrated his ton when seamer David Wigley held on to a stinging return catch, but there was still no let up for the Northamptonshire attack. Thereafter Kent pushed on with a flurry of boundaries through to stumps as Martin van Jaarsveld (70 not out) and Darren Stevens (46 not out) added an attractive, unbroken 78 for the fourth wicket.Earlier Kent’s weakened attack performed heroics by claiming the last five Northamptonshire wickets for 87 runs in a shade over two-and-a-half hours. Nicky Boje, 77 not out overnight, was two short of a century when he edged James Tredwell’s first ball of the day into the gloves of Jones. There was little resistance after that and Azhar Mahmood finished with 4 for 73 and Tredwell 2 for 84.

A reason has been revealed as to why Wolves did not end up signing Duje Caleta-Car during the summer transfer window.

The Lowdown: Bid made

As per L’Equipe (via Sport Witness), the Midlands club were keen to sign Caleta-Car on Transfer Deadline Day, and put in a bid of €18m (£15.5m) to Marseille for his signature.

However, a deal never materialised in the end, and the central defender has ended up staying at the Ligue 1 side.

The Latest: No deal

According to L’Equipe (via Sport Witness), Caleta-Car was not excited by a move to England, as his partner had given birth to their first child just last week.

Marseille president Pablo Longoria tried to find a way to sell the Croatia international, and received another offer from Valencia, but he was not interested in a move to Spain either.

The Verdict: Shame

It is a shame that the Molineux faithful missed out on signing Caleta-Car, as he would have given them that extra bit of quality in their backline.

Described as a ‘quality’ player by his centre-back partner Alvaro Gonzalez back in November, the £22.5m-rated ace was such a key player for his side in Ligue 1 in the 2020/21 season, winning no fewer than 3.7 of his duels per game, while he also averaged 3.9 clearances and 1.3 interceptions per match, keeping five clean sheets in the process (Sofascore).

Standing at a mammoth six-foot-four-inches tall, the 24-year-old would have certainly given Bruno Lage’s team a threat in both boxes, but now they may have to wait until January before they can try to sign him again.

In other news, find out what confirmed news has Wanderers fuming here!

Steven Gerrard has issued an update on Connor Goldson after he missed Rangers’ 2-1 win over St Johnstone. 

What’s the latest?

Rangers manager Steven Gerrard has confirmed that centre-back Connor Goldson missed the 2-1 win over Livingston as he is currently self-isolating.

Gerrard refused to put a timeline on his return , opting instead to simply say that he would love to have him available for selection.

He told the Glasgow Times:

“He is self-isolating. Time will tell (how big a blow it is).

“He has been an important player for us. He has been very crucial since day one for me.

“We would love to have him available.”

Concern

Rangers fans will be concerned by this update from Gerrard as he left out a couple of key details. Firstly, we don’t know if he contracted Covid-19 or is he isolating because he was in close contact with someone who did?

Gerrard is well within his rights to keep that information private, but it does keep fans in the dark.

If he has Covid-19 then it could cause him to be out for a longer period of time, especially if he is suffering with symptoms and takes time to recover.

This leads on to the second piece of missing information, as Gerrard refused to give a timeline on when he will be able to return.

Therefore, Rangers fans will be concerned about exactly how many games the £27k-per-week beast could miss. The centre-back is a key player for the club, as the above quotes from the manager confirm, and his absence against Lyon could be a blow for Gers.

Earlier this year, Gerrard lauded Goldson as a mountain and hailed what he offers on and off the pitch. He told The Scotsman:

“Connor has been an absolute mountain for this team, a warrior.

“I can’t describe to you how well he has done for this team, not just in terms of what you have seen on the pitch but also his leadership on the inside of the club and his availability every single day.”

Rangers face Lyon in the Europa League on Thursday and now look set to be without Goldson, and Filip Helander, for the match.

The ex-Brighton defender, Goldson, was named in the Scottish Premiership Team of the Year last term, highlighting how important he is to the side, which is why his absence will hurt Rangers’ chances of picking up a positive result.

AND in other news, 82% duels won: Rangers beast with 73 touches stole the show for Steven Gerrard…

Anthony Joseph has admitted the transfer market is proving difficult in regards to Celtic adding a centre-back before the window closes.  

The Lowdown: Centre-back links

The Hoops look set to be busy in the final hours of the window in regards to incomings and outgoings.

Leigh Griffiths has joined Dundee on loan, Ryan Christie, Odsonne Edouard could depart and Georgios Giakoumakis and Filipe Jota could be the men to arrive at Parkhead.

Ange Postecoglou reportedly wants the club to explore a centre-back loan addition late in the window, however, it seems as if that is proving tricky.

The Latest: Joseph post

Joseph took to Twitter on Tuesday morning to reply to a fan when asked about Celtic’s deadline day business.

He shared the club’s hopes to finalise deals for Giakoumakis and Jota before giving an update when it came to a centre-back.

“Morning, James. Celtic are hoping to complete deals for Georgios Giakoumakis and Filipe Jota. They’ve been looking at a CB on loan but market proving difficult. Odsonne Edouard is close to signing for Crystal Palace and Ryan Christie’s future is in limbo.”

Celtic have since been linked with a move for Tottenham’s Cameron Carter-Vickers, however, a transfer has been described as ‘difficult’.

The Verdict: Not a disaster

Even if Celtic fail in their attempts for a centre-back, what matters most right now is replacing Edouard and Christie’s pending exits with the signings of Giakoumakis and Jota.

The Hoops recently brought in Liam Scales so now have five senior centre-backs to choose from when Christopher Jullien returns from injury.

That should be more than enough for the current campaign, so it wouldn’t be a disaster if a sixth didn’t materialise.

In other news: Greek journalist drops late Celtic transfer news; ace now ‘doesn’t want to’ move. 

Netherlands women have followed in the footsteps of their counterparts in Ireland and will participate in England’s domestic county championship in 2009

Cricinfo staff29-Jan-2009Netherlands women have followed in the footsteps of their counterparts in Ireland and will participate in England’s domestic county championship in 2009. With Scotland having been part of the fixtures since 2007, the tournament will now feature three of Europe’s leading sides.Netherlands and Ireland have been placed in the newly created fifth division though they will be competing in separate sub-divisions. Scotland are higher up in the third division.The 50-over competition format for 2009 will run from May to September and have more home and away matches for the 24 teams in the top four divisions.Clare Connor, the head of England’s women’s cricket, was confident the ECB’s structure would help Ireland and Netherlands enhance their performance. “I want to support our European neighbours to enable them to climb the ODI rankings and it seems to me that with more regular, competitive opportunities we can genuinely help them do this. I do not want to see Irish and Dutch women’s cricket get left behind in the global rankings by the growing Asian nations who are playing more and more cricket.”Richard Hobsworth, the ICC regional development manager, said the two teams’ inclusion in English domestic cricket was a boost to the women’s game in Europe. “This will allow each team to participate in regular competitive fixtures outside of their own countries; an environment which will progress their development enormously.”

Andrew Strauss followed up his first-innings century with a composed, unbeaten 73 on the third day in Chennai as England built a strong lead of 247

The Bulletin by Andrew McGlashan13-Dec-2008
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
How they were out
Andrew Strauss continued his outstanding Test with an unbeaten 73 © Getty Images
This Test series only consists of two matches, but Andrew Strauss has already batted for longer than some players manage in full-length contests. He followed up his first-innings century with a composed, unbeaten 73 on the third day in Chennai as England built a strong lead of 247, leaving them superbly placed to push for one of their unlikeliest Test victories. Paul Collingwood helped him add 129 for the fourth wicket and by the close India were walking around without much energy or purpose.The home side face a huge challenge to try and salvage the game. Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Harbhajan Singh added 75 to limit the first-innings deficit, before the last four wickets fell for 29. Even though the equation was evened up when England slipped to 43 for 3, the crucial moment came in the over after Kevin Pietersen had fallen to Yuvraj Singh’s first ball. Strauss, on 15 at the time, went to cut Amit Mishra, a shot that has brought him so many runs in this match, and a thin edge was spilled by Dhoni. It would have made the score 43 for 4 with the Indian spinners bounding in.Apart from that blemish, Strauss was again in complete control at the crease, playing himself in against the early pace and then playing to his strengths against the spin. He has barely produced a shot down the ground during more than 10 hours at the crease, scoring most of his runs with well-controlled sweeps and his favourite cut. Batting in the subcontinent is a draining experience, both mentally and physically, so to back up a first-innings century puts Strauss on course for his finest Test. If he converts this start into a second hundred it will surpass Port Elizabeth in 2004-05 when he scored 126 and an unbeaten 94.After Ishant Sharma, who struggled with no-balls and overstepped seven times, removed Alastair Cook with a thin outside edge it was the spinners who provided the major threat, although Harbhajan was a disappointment. The pitch offered encouragement, but it also looked worse that it played. As in the first innings Mishra was introduced in the ninth over and produced one that bounced more from a length to take Ian Bell’s glove to short leg.Then came the latest Dhoni masterstroke. As soon as Pietersen walked in Yuvraj was brought into the attack. All of England’s batsmen have struggled with Yuvraj, both in the one-dayers and this Test, but as much against his sliders as his spin. His first delivery angled in with the arm, trapping Pietersen in front and the England captain knew his fate before the finger went up.Smart StatsIndia will almost certainly need to break the record for the highest chase in India to win this Test. The current record is 276, by West Indies in Delhi in 1987. The highest chase in Chennai is 155, by India against Australia in 2001.England scored 30.23% of their runs in boundaries in their second innings, and 34.17% in the first – the figure is the third-lowest in a completed innings in India since 2000. In India’s first innings, nearly 49% of their runs came in boundaries.The 129-run fourth-wicket stand between Strauss and Collingwood is the first century partnership between the two. In ten previous partnerships, the pair had scored 208. They kept the scoreboard ticking constantly – their maximum dot-ball streak was 11.The post-tea session today was a departure from the wicket-filled final sessions on the first two days. England lost four wickets for 65 on the first and took three Indian wickets on the second, but Strauss and Collingwood added an unbroken 104 on the third.Collingwood was the perfect man to walk into a dicey situation which needed some grafting. He was the ideal partner for Strauss, someone to work the gaps and run hard between the wickets. India’s fielding has improved out of sight in recent times, but they still carry a few passengers and the England pair harried them on occasions.Mishra became a touch expensive as Strauss put him off his line and Collingwood came down the pitch. It was pleasing to see an England batsman advance, and although Collingwood didn’t always convince – he lofted one narrowly over Yuvraj at mid-off – it was a statement that some of the first-innings batting lacked.Alongside spin, reverse swing was the other trump card Dhoni would have banked on. However, Sharma was struggling for rhythm and Zaheer couldn’t replicate his first-innings threat. It was noticeable that the two Indian players to show most frustration as the partnership grew were the strike-bowling pair of Zaheer and Harbhajan.Harbhajan had been much more feisty during the morning session as he and Dhonirattled up 75 in 17 overs and it appeared India would make a decent fist of getting level with England. Dhoni played a very mature innings and the more flamboyant shots came from Harbhajan, who has an individual style to his batting. When Monty Panesar went over the wicket, Harbhajan brought out the reverse sweep which left the bowler with a rather bemused smile.Panesar provided the breakthrough when Harbhajan got an inside edge to short leg. It was a confidence-boosting strike for Panesar, who had again seemed at odds with his game. Pietersen sensed the opening and almost immediately returned to Andrew Flintoff. Once again he was rewarded with a first-over breakthrough as Zaheer was trapped on the back foot by one that shaped in.Dhoni played within himself and brought up a half-century off 77 balls despite the pain of a twisted ankle which he picked up while running a three. However, with the final two tailenders in, he felt it was down to him to reduce the deficit and attacked Panesar, only to find Pietersen stationed two-thirds of the way back at mid-off. Panesar’s trademark smile was returning and his spirit will be vital when England defend their fourth-innings target. Thanks to the remarkable efforts of Strauss he should have plenty of runs to work with.

Dayaneshwar Agashe, the former Indian board vice-president and Maharashtra wicketkeeper, died in Pune after failing to respond to treatment for gangrene

Cricinfo staff03-Jan-2009Dayaneshwar Agashe, the former Indian board vice-president and Maharashtra wicketkeeper, died in Pune after failing to respond to treatment for gangrene. He was 66 and suffering from diabetes.He played first-class cricket for Maharashtra from 1962 to 1968 and scored two half-centuries in 13 matches. His best season came in 1964-65 where he made his career-best total of 75, took ten catches and effected two stumpings. His highest score took Maharashtra to 226 in reply to Gujarat’s 74 in a match his side won by an innings and 34 runs. He was a contemporary of Test players Bapu Nadkarni, Dilip Sardesai, Farokh Engineer and Polly Umrigar.Agashe was in judicial custody on charges of embezzlement of depositors’ money of a co-operative bank he had co-founded when he was hospitalised on Friday.

Cricinfo previews the fourth one-day international between India and England in Indore on November 22, 2008

The Preview by George Binoy22-Nov-2008Match factsNov 23, 2008
Start time 1430 (0900 GMT)
Sachin Tendulkar will return to open the innings as India aim to win the series in Bangalore © AFP
Big Picture England were thrashed in Rajkot and comprehensively beaten in Indore but improved their performance in Kanpur. The gap between the teams has narrowed with every game but, at 3-0 to India, the series has reached a stage where England have to win in Bangalore to keep it alive.Should the toss go Kevin Pietersen’s way, there are a couple of extraneous factors that could aid England. Sunday’s encounter is the first day-night match of the series and, if England’s batsmen post a competitive total, England’s bowlers could use the conditions under floodlights to put the Indian batting line-up under pressure, as they did in Kanpur. The other variable is the weather in Bangalore which at the moment is typically Manchester – wet and overcast. England’s chances of victory are greater in a low-scoring contest – their batsmen are more adept at nudging difficult runs and the conditions could aid their fast bowlers.Sunday’s match is an opportunity for Mahendra Singh Dhoni to win another limited-overs trophy but to achieve that he will need to forget the controversy that arose on the eve of the match and focus on the game. The Indian selectors changed a winning combination when they picked the squad for the fourth and fifth ODIs and Dhoni reportedly expressed his displeasure at RP Singh’s axeing. He was certainly angry when the issue was raised at Saturday’s press conference.The other change to the squad, however, will boost a team already high on confidence. Sachin Tendulkar, who had asked to be rested for the first three ODIs, will return to the team and is likely open the innings with Virender Sehwag. His inclusion, however, will split the Sehwag-Gautam Gambhir partnership that has given India outstanding starts in 2008 and could give England a tiny window of opportunity.Form guide (last 5 completed ODIs, most recent first)India WWWLW
England LLLWWWatch out for:Tendulkar hasn’t played an ODI since March but he was in fluent form in the recent Tests against Australia, against whom he scored 396 runs at 56.57. His return to the top of the order will add experience to a batting line-up full of dashing stroke-players.Andrew Flintoff was a force with the ball in Kanpur. He hurried Yuvraj Singh with a bouncer after which he had a long, hard stare at the batsman. The next ball was a bouncer off which Yuvraj holed out in the deep. Flintoff is beginning to get into his stride and needs his team-mates to back him up.Indian spin: England’s batsmen have struggled to build momentum during the overs when Dhoni uses the spinners. Harbhajan Singh was the Man of the Match in Kanpur for his 3 for 31 and even Yuvraj has bowled long spells and contained the England batsmen.Team newsTendulkar’s return is a certainty but what is less clear is whom he is going to replace. Rohit Sharma’s scores in this series are 11 not out, 3 and 28 and it’s likely that he will make way for Tendulkar. Gambhir will drop down to No. 3, giving India’s top order the look it had when winning the tri-series in Australia earlier this year. Ishant had a poor game in Kanpur, conceding 12 of India’s 17 extras, but India are unlikely to change their bowling attack.India (probable): 1 Virender Sehwag, 2 Sachin Tendulkar, 3 Gautam Gambhir, 4 Yuvraj Singh, 5 Suresh Raina, 6 Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt & wk), 7 Yusuf Pathan, 8 Harbhajan Singh, 9 Zaheer Khan, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Munaf Patel.England made several changes to their batting order in the last game in Kanpur, promoting Ravi Bopara to open, Pietersen to No. 3, and dropping Owais Shah and Matt Prior to Nos 6 and 8. They are likely to persist with that plan after the Bopara-Ian Bell combination produced 79 runs in quick time. They could make a change to the bowling attack, however, replacing the out-of-form James Anderson with Steve Harmison.England (probable): 1 Ravi Bopara, 2 Ian Bell, 3 Kevin Pietersen (capt), 4 Paul Collingwood, 5 Andrew Flintoff, 6 Owais Shah, 7 Samit Patel, 8 Matt Prior (wk), 9 Stuart Broad, 10 Graeme Swann, 11 Steve Harmison.Pitch and conditionsBangalore has had daily showers in the run-up to the match and the meteorological department has predicted moderate to heavy rain over the weekend. The pitch at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, however, is expected to be full of runs. “It’s a sporting wicket, and should assist the batsmen more than the bowlers,” the curator Narayan Raju said. “The ball will come on to the bat nicely.” In the last ODI at this venue, in September 2007, Australia scored 307 for 7 before rain interrupted play shortly into the Indian innings and forced the match to be abandoned.Stats & Trivia Gambhir isn’t unfamiliar with batting at No 3. He’s played 18 innings in that position and scored 697 runs at an average of 46.46 with two hundreds. England batsmen have scored only seven hundreds in 43 ODIs in India, compared to Australia’s 19 centuries in 63 ODIs, and West Indies’ 17 in 62 matches. England had a dot-ball percentage of nearly 58 in Kanpur, while India’s percentage was almost 60. The dot-ball percentages for England in Rajkot and Indore were 51 and 62 compared to India’s 45 and 52. Anderson’s been in poor bowling form in 2008. In 19 matches this year, he has taken only 10 wickets at an average of 71 in 19 ODIs, compared to a career average of 31.Quotes”If you lose this game, you lose the series. It’s a big game. We have got to do it here in Bangalore. From now on, every game is a final game.”
“We want him [Tendulkar] to play as long as possible and whenever he is available he should play. He has played his part in Indian cricket and it’s up to the upcomingplayers to get the most out of him. The more he plays, the more it benefits the youngsters.”