da jogodeouro： When touring sides come to India they certainly get the red carpetrolled out for them in every hotel and club they go to
Anand Vasu22-Jul-2009When touring sides come to India they certainly get the red carpetrolled out for them in every hotel and club they go to. No luxury isconsidered a waste. While this might be the case off the field, thekind of pitches rolled out make even the most expansive luxury seemtiresome. After a slow turner at Mumbai saw India go 1-0 up in thethree ‘Test’ series, the wickets served up in subsequent games havebeen anything but sporting. The 22 yards of road that the second andthird ‘Tests’ were played on saw batsmen make merry at the experienceof some very weary bowlers. With the first of three One-Dayers beingplayed in Hyderabad on Friday, the England side can expect more of thesame.Tim Boon, coach of the England team is fully aware of the gravity ofthe situation, "If the Indian batsmen get going, we could be lookingat scores of 350 plus," he said with a guarded smile. While concedingthat, Boon is still optimistic, "Even if the Indian batsmen do getgoing, we have the resources to chase big totals," he added. Talkingabout the contrast in the ways the two teams approached batting, theformer Leicestershire opening batsman conceded, "While the Indianbatsmen tend to go after the bowling, they always give us a chance."This line of thought was certainly upheld by the Indian batsmenthrough the Test series where numerous catches were given – andspilled in the series."I think about 20 catches were put down between both teams in thelast ‘Test’. The fielding certainly has not been up to the standardsexpected at this level," Boon said. In the same breath, he hoped thatthe One-Dayers would see a much more disciplined display.The England side have little to lose going into the limited overgames. After putting up a good fight in the third ‘Test’, at least afew players would have gained confidence. None more so than the Essexleft-arm mediumpacer Justin Bishop. Bowling with character on a wicketthat was flat enough to break any fast bowler’s heart, Bishop pickedup the first five wicket haul by any Englishman on this tour. Theother crucial wheel in the English One-Day cricket machine is NickyPeng. After carting the ball all over the park in Chennai where hemade a hundred, Peng helped himself to a breezy 72 in the third’Test.’ The Durham top order bat will have to come out with all gunsblazing if England are to take the attack to the rampaging Indians.In his turn, Indian coach Roger Binny is confident. "We have somereally talented cricketers. The openers have been in fine nick throughthe ‘Tests.’ Both Vinayak Mane and Gautam Gambhir have made bigscores and that should give them a lot of confidence," the formerIndian allrounder said.The Indian side for the One-Dayers is unlikely to be very differentfrom the team that played the longer duration games. The inclusion ofmiddle order bat Arjun Yadav, wicketkeeper batsman Amit Deshpande andManvinder Bisla gives the Indian think-tank a few extra options. It ispossible that Yadav will find a place in the middle order which hasbeen brittle at times.The three match One-Day series is likely to be a spectator’s dream.Coming from England where most Under-19 games don’t see any manner ofcrowd at all, several English players have been inquiring keenly aboutthe numbers expected at the One-Dayers. While one can’t put even anapproximate number on that, one thing is certain. The bat will comedown hard on the ball on flat pitches and race across quick outfields.If you’re the kind of person who enjoys watching boundaries scored atwill, make your way to Hyderabad for the first One-Dayer.