CAN DEAD RUBBER GET LIFE AT DHARAMSHALA?
India look to end on high, pride at stake for England
With no competitive interest left in the series after India’s decisive win at Mohali three days ago, interest in the final game at the HPCA Stadium here on Sunday essentially centres around how planning for the 2015 World Cup is being unfolded.
The first signs came early in the season when the selectors unveiled a newlook fast bowling attack. It continued with the elevation of Rohit Sharma to the opener’s slot at Mohali and with a couple of untried faces still in the ranks, it is likely the Indian XI will wear a slightly different look here.
Of Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s 15- member squad, only middle order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara and leg- spinner Amit Mishra are yet to get a game. At his pre- match media interaction Suresh Raina hinted at a change in (“new batting attack”) as he put it, but it is also clear that
Of M. S. Dhoni’s 15member squad, only middle order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara and legspinner Amit Mishra are yet to get a game.
the home side would prefer a 4- 1 scoreline to one reading 3- 2.
“We are leading 3- 1, but 41 looks better,” he pointed out. This suggests at best a tweak in the playing side but if the sequence of batsmen at nets here on Saturday was any indication, there may not be much change in the order. Ajinkya Rahane had his turn very late while Pujara came in behind the frontline run- makers.
Clearly, the hosts will want to end an up and down season on a positive note, but this being the last one- dayer for some time, could also be tempted into giving the bench- warmers a go at a down and out opposition, though Dhoni and coach Duncan Fletcher have already made the change of the series in fielding Sharma for Rahane at Mohali.
England began well with the close win at Rajkot, but have been forced to play catch- up ever since. Precious little has gone right for them and the change of wicket- keeper with Jos Buttler replacing the struggling Craig Kieswetter ahead of the critical Mohali match was a good enough indication that things have gone pearshaped for Alastair Cook’s side.
And it’s not as if there was just one area to fix. After a bright start Ian Bell has faded away. Young Yorkshire middle- order batsman Joe Root, however, has been a revelation and is among the few bright spots for the visitors along with his unflappable captain.
Nor has the bowling really tested the Indians and the induction of Stuart Meaker or Chris Woakes for the expensive Jade Dernbach is very much on the cards.
Steve Finn was the pick of the fast men at Mohali but got almost no support from the others though offspinner James Tredwell did chip in with two wickets as the Indians ran a target of 258 with wickets and balls in hand. With Meaker in the ranks, Cook will hope he has more options than he has had so far.
England will be playing for pride here, and though the Test series win last year was a huge boost, they have very quickly been pushed on to the back foot in the ODIs. Whether or not they have it in them to turn the tide is really what this match will all be about.
Play will start half an hour later than earlier scheduled, match referee Andy Pycrost making the call after seeing the dewy outfield here this morning.