MATCH: India v England one-off T20I
DATE: Saturday, October 29, 2011
TIME: 1830 hours local (1300 hours GMT)
VENUE: Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
After surrendering the ODIs, five to nothing, an abject England will look to end the tour with crumbs to take home when they play India at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. The Indian team, on their part, will be looking to topple England off their T20I pedestal.
Past Record:
In the first ever released T20I rankings this week, England is perched at the top, while India is currently fifth. Given the nascent stages and infrequent number of international T20 games, a win for India will propel them ahead of England, who would slide down to the third position.
Interestingly, the two sides have played only three T20Is so far ever since the first one in the World T20 in 2007. Yuvraj Singh’s blade had scythed through Stuart Broad in that epic first game resulting in six sixes in an over and an Indian win, but England have come back strongly with wins in 2009 and most recently in 2011.
Team News:
While a one-off T20 game like this cannot be termed as inconsequential, its rank in the order of importance may not be too high. And yet, the English management, who had earlier rested Kevin Pietersen through the ODIs in England, have not allowed him to go back despite his fractured finger. If reports are to be believed, he may even attempt a start in the T20I. Pretty weird, if that is indeed the case.
England will be without their regular T20I captain Stuart Broad, which allows Graeme Swann to lead the side and it also means that Alex Hales should open the innings after his recent half-century in the West Indies T20Is. Jos Buttler should get a chance in the middle-order as well, while the bowling will be propped by the return of Jade Dernbach.
India have named a slightly different squad for the T20I as well. There is place for Yusuf Pathan and Robin Uthappa in the squad, and they should make it to the playing 11. Pathan’s chances of being selected for the game are high given his form in the recently concluded rounds of the domestic T20 tournament in India. Uthappa could also get a look-in at the top of the innings with Gautam Gambhir being given a break and he could open the innings with Ajinkya Rahane.
The bowling line-up should be same as the one that featured in the previous game – Ashwin being the sole spinner, while Praveen Kumar, Varun Aaron and Vinay Kumar forming the pace bowling attack.
Players to look out for
One has to give it to captain MS Dhoni, whose battered fingers – and in fact, the whole body – have not restricted his run-scoring ability. Armed with two man-of-the-series awards in a row, Dhoni will look to end the home winter on a high before he gets a well-deserved ahead of the tour of Australia. Jonny Bairstow’s batting in this format of the game is one to watch out for and he will look to come good here.
Prediction:
India should make it six wins in a row.
