All posts by h716a5.icu

Dr DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai will host its first Ranji Trophy tie this season, Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has confirmed

ESPNcricinfo staff07-Oct-2012The Dr DY Patil Stadium in Mumbai will host its first Ranji Trophy tie this season, the Mumbai Cricket Association (MCA) has confirmed. Owing to the unavailability of the Wankhede Stadium, the four-year old stadium in Navi Mumbai, on which only IPL matches have been played, is scheduled to host the Mumbai-Gujarat game from December 29 to January 1, 2013.”The Wankhede will host Indian universities’ biggest congress and hence the stadium won’t be available. The managing committee has decided to allocate the Mumbai-Gujarat tie to DY Patil Stadium. The rest of the matches will be held at the Wankhede Stadium,” MCA secretary Nitin Dalal told .Seventeen matches have been played at the stadium since its inauguration in 2008. It has been home to the Mumbai Indians, Deccan Chargers in 2010, and Pune Warriors in 2011. The last game played there was the Pune Warriors-Kolkata Knight Riders IPL fixture on May 19 last year.”It is a good opportunity for cricket lovers in the suburbs to watch quality cricket,” Vijay Patil, president of DY Patil Sports Academy and MCA vice-president, said.

Darren Sammy has said his team’s failure to build on a 132-run fourth-wicket stand between Kieron Pollard and Darren Bravo with another substantial partnership was what cost West Indies the fifth game

Mohammad Isam in Mirpur09-Dec-2012Darren Sammy has said his team’s failure to build on a 132-run fourth-wicket stand between Kieron Pollard and Darren Bravo with another substantial partnership was what cost West Indies the fifth game and the ODI series. Bangladesh succeeded where West Indies failed, Sammy said, and that was the difference between the teams.”We had a good partnership but we crumbled again,” Sammy said. “We didn’t capitalise on the Bravo-Pollard partnership. We then got early wickets but the difference in the game was the Mominul [Haque]-Nasir [Hossain] partnership. It came after the captain [Mushfiqur Rahim] and Mahmudullah had a big partnership.”We also didn’t take our catches today. I dropped a crucial catch before that partnership developed. I’m a guy who believes everything happens for a reason, and I think they deserved to win the series.”West Indies made a poor start and played out 34 dot balls from the fourth to the ninth over, during which time they were reduced to 17 for 3. The counterattacking innings from Pollard, who hit eight sixes in his 74-ball 85, and the sizeable fourth-wicket partnership with Bravo set it up for a late surge, with the likes of Sammy and Andre Russell still to bat. But West Indies didn’t manage that and had to settle for a mediocre total.Bangladesh’s partnerships came after they also lost three early wickets, all to Kemar Roach. They first recovered through a 91-run stand between Mahmudullah and Mushfiqur and then another 53-run partnership for the sixth wicket between Nasir and Mominul. The 28-run stand between Nasir and Sohag Gazi for the seventh wicket was also crucial, as it took Bangladesh close to their target of 218 runs.”We haven’t played our best cricket in this series but we still were in with a chance to win the series. I would never blame anyone. We have to pull together as a team. It is not every day that the same people will perform,” Sammy said. “We got it from Kemar [Roach], who took five wickets, and [Kieron] Pollard and [Darren] Bravo with the bat today. We need more performances from everyone in the team.Sammy hoped to end the year on a positive note. “This has been a good year for us. We won four Tests in a row and the T20 World Cup. We would have loved to win this series but we didn’t.When we look back at this year, I wouldn’t say it is a step backward. We played as well as we could. Monday would be our last international this year and we will look to finish on a high.”

Kevin Pietersen’s return to the England set-up is likely to be given a final stamp of authority by the ECB with the upgrading of his four-month central contract to a full, year-long one

Alan Gardner19-Dec-2012Kevin Pietersen’s return to the England set-up is likely to be given a final stamp of authority by the ECB with the upgrading of his four-month central contract to a full, year-long one.Pietersen, who was dropped from the squad during the Test series against South Africa after a breakdown in relations with the dressing room, was given a short-term contract at the beginning of October, after England’s exit from the World Twenty20. That would run up until the end of January but Andy Flower, England’s team manager, indicated that Pietersen’s “reintegration” had gone smoothly and a new contract, covering home and away series against New Zealand and the Ashes, will be a formality.”The contract won’t be a problem,” Flower said. “Kevin has been excellent in every way. We don’t all always get on with people all of the time – any of us in any walk of life – and everyone has made an effort to make it work.”The temporary arrangement allowed Pietersen to be selected for England’s tour of India, where they secured a first Test series win since 1985. Pietersen made a crucial century in the series-levelling win in Mumbai and ended as England’s second-highest run-scorer, and Flower was keen to praise his efforts. “It’s been really good fun and he should be very proud of the way he’s operated out here, both as an individual and as a player,” he said.Pietersen, along with the majority of England’s Test squad, has returned home after being rested for the two-match T20 series with India, which begins on Thursday. He will be part of the ODI squad flying back out to India in January and is set to play his first one-day match in almost a year, since scoring back-to-back hundreds in England’s 4-0 whitewash of Pakistan in the UAE.Just a few months later, Pietersen announced his surprise retirement from limited-overs international cricket, setting off a chain of events that culminated in his exclusion from the England set-up but Flower insisted the issues had been fully resolved.”We did move on from it as soon as we had our meetings and everyone made a commitment to do so,” Flower said of the behind-the-scenes process to smooth Pietersen’s return to the squad. “I want to continue that, moving forward. We want to learn from the past, but we don’t want to keep on revisiting it.”While Pietersen has been included for the five ODIs against India, James Anderson and Jonathan Trott have been rested, in line with England’s move towards a more flexible selection policy. Pietersen’s temporary retirement was in part down to a feeling that too much was being demanded of England cricketers and the message appears to have been heeded, and even extended to the management. The ODI series will be Ashley Giles’ first in charge of the limited-overs sides, with Flower taking a more back-seat role.”We want to make this new coaching structure work for English cricket like we did the three captains,” Flower said. “It’s not gimmickry; we want to make the most efficient use of our resources and our personnel. I think we’re lucky to have a coach of Ashley Giles’ quality taking over and we want some of his ideas and energy to assist in taking our limited-overs sides up a notch or two. We believe he can do that.”

Lions completed an eight-wicket win over Cape Cobras within three days of their match in the Sunfoil Series

ESPNcricinfo staff12-Jan-2013
ScorecardLions beat table-toppers Cape Cobras within three days at Newlands on the back of an all-round team performance and are now just 15 points adrift of Cobras.Lions bowled out Cobras for 169 in the second innings which gave them a 124-run target. The batsmen, led by opener Quinton de Kock, then ensured there were no hiccups as they completed the chase in the 28th over for the loss of only two wickets. De Kock set the tone of the chase with a 75-ball 55 before Neil McKenzie hit a flurry of boundaries to expedite matters.Cobras had started the third day on 81 for 6 – 35 ahead – but lost Johann Louw in the fourth over of the morning. An obdurate 63-run stand between Qaasim Adams and Charl Langeveldt took the lead past hundred, but the innings folded soon after Langeveldt fell to Imran Tahir. Adams, who scored 88, was the last wicket to fall.Lions, who had chosen to field, bowled out Cobras on the first day for 224 with Zander de Bruyn taking a five-for. But Cobras sensed a first-innings lead when they had Lions on 131 for 6 at one stage. However, a crucial 110-run stand between wicketkeeper Thami Tsolekile and Cliffe Deacon – both batsmen hitting half-centuries – took Lions past the Cobras score to help Lions take a 46-run lead.

The Indian selectors are unlikely to make sweeping changes to the squad that played the final Test against England, for the Australia series

Amol Karhadkar09-Feb-2013India’s selectors could have finally run out of patience with the established Test opening combination. ESPNcricinfo understands* that at least two selectors want Wasim Jaffer in the squad for the Australia Tests, “most probably” replacing Gautam Gambhir.The Sandeep Patil-headed selection panel will meet on Sunday to pick the squad for, most probably, the first two Tests against Australia. The panel is likely to retain most of the other batsmen who featured in the 15 for the Nagpur Test against England but the faltering openers will be under the scanner.With M Vijay hitting a century in the Irani Cup and Jaffer having plundered 915 runs from 12innings this season, the growing feeling among the selectors is that both Vijay and Jaffer “deserve to be in the squad”. While Vijay was the reserve opener during the Test series against England, Jaffer last played for India almost five years ago.Despite increasing doubts over Virender Sehwag and Gambhir’s place in the side, a couple of selectors also feel the Delhi pair deserves to be given “one final chance”. Though Sehwag, who pulled out of the Irani Cup tie with a stomach upset, scored a century in the opening Test against England in Ahmedabad, he lost his place in the ODI side soon after.Gambhir’s drought of centuries has extended over three years, and he has averaged just over 30 since then. If the pro-Jaffer selectors manage to convince the rest of their colleagues, the casualty will “most probably” be Gambhir.While Ajinkya Rahane set to be retained as the reserve batsmen, Ravindra Jadeja, who made a surprising debut at No. 6 in the Nagpur Test, could make way for either Suresh Raina or Rohit Sharma.In the spin department, R Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha are assured of leading the attack. It will again be a toss-up between Piyush Chawla, who played the last Test against England, and Harbhajan Singh for the reserve spinner’s slot.Although Harbhajan is on the verge of leading Rest of India to the Irani title, his performance with the ball hasn’t been compelling in the domestic season. His lack of “big-wicket hauls” may go against him though his outstanding record at home against Australia could prove “too difficult to ignore” for the selectors.With Zaheer Khan, Umesh Yadav and Irfan Pathan recovering from injuries, the selectors will have a tough task of finding their replacements; they may have to rely on the second string of pace bowlers. Though Ishant Sharma’s ankle pain recurred recently, he is expected to be available for the Test series.The contenders for the remaining two fast bowlers’ slots will include Sreesanth, who has recovered from multiple toe surgeries, Madhya Pradesh’s Ishwar Pandey, the highest wicket-taker in the Ranji Trophy season, Shami Ahmed and Bhuvneshwar Kumar, both of whom have impressed on their limited-overs’ debuts against England and Pakistan. Ashok Dinda and Parvinder Awana, both of whom were in the squad for the Nagpur Test, are “out of reckoning”.The selectors had dropped Zaheer, Yuvraj Singh and Harbhajan after losing the third Test against England.MS Dhoni and coach Duncan Fletcher are unlikely to attend the meeting, to be held at the BCCI headquarters in Mumbai, and it is “almost unlikely” that the selectors will discuss replacing Dhoni as captain.Likely squad: MS Dhoni (capt & wk), Virender Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir/ WasimJaffer, M Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, AjinkyaRahane, Ravindra Jadeja/ Suresh Raina/ Rohit Sharma, R Ashwin, PragyanOjha, Harbhajan Singh/ Piyush Chawla, Ishant Sharma, Sreesanth/ ShamiAhmed, Ishwar Pandey/ Bhuvneshwar Kumar.February 9, 7.45pm GMT This story has been updated with information about the openers

Shane Bond, the New Zealand bowling coach, said it had yet to be decided which of his bowlers will draw the short straw of needing to bowl into the wind at the Basin Reserve

Andrew McGlashan in Wellington12-Mar-2013Shane Bond, the New Zealand bowling coach, said it had yet to be decided which of his bowlers will draw the short straw of needing to bowl into the wind at the Basin Reserve.The into-the-wind role in Wellington can be unlike any other ground in the world, as gales howl up the Cook Strait and right down the Basin. One of the problems for the current New Zealand side, which is set to retain the same balance of attack, is that the three quicks usually have the wind in their favour in domestic cricket.”It’s an interesting one,” Bond said. “All three are strike bowlers in their own right and do a different role for their domestic team, but it’s certainly something you have to consider when you come to Wellington – who will do that role.”All three aren’t used to doing it so hopefully we’ll get days where it isn’t too windy. But it’s something you also have to think about when you go back to domestic cricket; bowl some spells into the wind to prepare yourself for this level.”Although one of the quicks will, obviously, have to bowl into whatever wind there is with the new ball, Bond added that later in the day the job will probably be shared between the full set to ensure no one is overburdened.Bond is confident that the attack can recover from their large workloads in Dunedin. New Zealand’s three quicks – Tim Southee, Trent Boult and Neil Wagner – sent down 114 of the 170 overs in England’s second innings and will be treated carefully over the next two days.”We always knew the guys are fit, and can bowl a lot of volume, we just need to make sure they are fresh and ready to go,” Bond said. “I thought we bowled our best on day five even after a day in the park. I was pleased with that.”However, Matt Prior suggested the situation was to England’s advantage “I’m sure the New Zealand bowlers will be feeling it. Any seamer bowling 40 overs is a mammoth effort. I’d rather have been batting for 170 overs than fielding, let’s put it that way.”The standout performance in Dunedin came from Neil Wagner who bagged seven wickets in his first home Test. He bowled 43 overs in the second innings, including an afternoon spell on the final day of 8-2-20-2 that included the wickets of Jonathan Trott and Kevin Pietersen. Bond, an aggressive fast bowler in his day, was hugely impressed with Wagner’s stamina.”That’s the one thing I’ve really enjoyed about working with Neil, that never-say-die attitude, he will always run in,” he said. “Even at the back end of the fifth day he was still running in hard after 40 overs, so that’s credit to him. When you go in with four bowlers there can certainly be no weak link in the chain in terms of volume.”There are a variety of predictions being made about the pitch for the second Test, ranging from another slow surface that was on show in Dunedin to a surface where the ball will fly through at good pace. What appears to be generally accepted, however, is that the spinners’ role will be very much a holding one.”It was a bowlers’ graveyard in the first game, it certainly wasn’t a 160 wicket,” Bond said. “I’d back our bowlers on wickets that do a bit. In terms of winning Tests that’s our best chance, some assistance to the quick bowlers.”Having briefly looked at the pitch on Tuesday, Prior said “it doesn’t look a slow one” although two days out from a match is really too early to judge a Test surface. Regardless of the pitch, Prior is aware that another poor first innings will not be tolerated despite the confidence boost England receive in saving the opening Test.”You can’t ignore that first innings,” he said. “But then you have to look at the way we kept fighting hard with the ball, and then the way we finished with the bat was sensational. We’re becoming a very hard team to beat, but we want to go that one step further and start winning.”

Preview of the first ODI between Zimbabwe and Bangladesh in Bulawayo

The Preview by Mohammad Isam02-May-2013Match factsMay 3, Bulawayo
Start time 0900 (0700 GMT)Unsurprisingly, Brendan Taylor has been Zimbabwe’s mainstay in ODI batting in recent months•WICB Media/Randy Brooks PhotoBig PictureAs it had been before the Test series, Bangladesh are slightly ahead of Zimbabwe leading up to the ODI series in terms of form, recent results and experience. But the 1-1 scoreline after nine absorbing days in Harare means the “favourites on paper” theory is not applicable to these two teams.Mushfiqur Rahim’s side should carry some momentum from the 143-run win in the second Test. The most encouraging sign for them has been the middle-order bouncing back from a wretched time in the first match. Mushfiqur, Shakib Al Hasan and Nasir Hossain have scored two fifties each, while Tamim Iqbal has shown he can still bring out his A-game despite a thumb injury.The visitors’ bowling too has more edge to it. Robiul Islam was adjudged Man of the Series for his 15 wickets, brought mostly through accuracy and the regular use of the outswinger. He will have to bring a bit more of his skills into this format, one he hasn’t played yet at international level. Robiul is expected to make his debut alongside Shamsur Rahman, who’s likely to open with Tamim at some stage of the limited-overs leg of the tour.Zimbabwe have April 17 to 20 to look back at. They crushed Bangladesh by 335 runs in those four days, with superb showing from captain Brendan Taylor and quick Kyle Jarvis. The likes of Malcolm Waller, Graeme Cremer and Shingi Masakadza also had important roles to play in the win. There were several positives in that game, and they would do well to bring that attitude into this ODI series.They have a poor record at the Queens Sports Club against Bangladesh, though, winning two out of eight completed games. They have two legspinners in the squad in Natsai Mushangwe and Tino Mutombodzi, and that could be prove to be an advantage over Bangladesh this time around.The first game of the ODI series promises much, simply because both sets of players mostly have attacking mindsets. Though Bangladesh have won and drawn the two ODI series they have played this season, Zimbabwe are their closest rival in the international game and hence there is bound to be nerves.Form guideZimbabwe: LLLLL (completed games, most recent results first)
Bangladesh: WLWLLPlayers to watchA century in the second Test was a much-needed boost for Hamilton Masakadza. He was forceful during the unbeaten 111 too, and the same would be expected of him in the first ODI; Zimbabwe would be keen to see their No. 3 get some runs, given their openers’ ordinary scores off late.A Man-of-the-Series performance in the Test series is enough to win Robiul Islam his first ODI cap. He has been a revelation on the tour so far, and will be expected to bring out the same levels of accuracy in the ODIs.Team newsRegis Chakabva could continue opening with Vusi Sibanda, though Sikandar Raza has been kept in the squad. Legspinner Natsai Mushangwe was impressive in the West Indies, and is likely to play ahead of Prosper Utseya, while Brian Vitori could also make a comeback.Zimbabwe (possible) 1 Vusi Sibanda, 2 Regis Chakabva/Sikandar Raza, 3 Hamilton Masakadza, 4 Brendan Taylor (capt & wk), 5 Malcolm Waller, 6 Sean Williams, 7 Elton Chigumbura, 8 Natsai Mushangwe, 9 Shingi Masakadza, 10 Kyle Jarvis, 11 Brian Vitori.Opener Jahurul Islam’s ordinary run in the Test series could see him make way for newcomer Shamsur Rahman, who could make his ODI debut alongside Robiul Islam. It would be tempting to play three seamers, in which case Mahmudullah could miss out.Bangladesh (possible) 1 Tamim Iqbal, 2 Shamsur Rahman, 3 Mohammad Ashraful, 4 Mushfiqur Rahim (capt & wk), 5 Shakib Al Hasan, 6 Nasir Hossain, 7 Mahmudullah/Ziaur Rahman, 8 Sohag Gazi, 9 Abdur Razzak, 10 Shafiul Islam, 11 Robiul Islam.Pitch and conditionsBeing Bangladesh’s happy hunting ground, the Bulawayo pitch must be more like those produced in the subcontinent; it will remain slow and may turn later in the game. The cooler climate will make it a more pleasant affair for both teams.Stats and trivia Bangladesh have won in Bulawayo six times in 10 ODIs. Level with England, they are most successful visiting team at this venue The last ODI century by a Zimbabwe player was 18 months ago, by Brendan Taylor. He has scored the last five tons for his country in this format Shakib Al Hasan and Abdur Razzak are the highest run-getter and wicket-taker in Zimbabwe-Bangladesh ODIsQuotes”The start is important, so we need to do well in the first game. We have great memories of Bulawayo, so we will do well there.”
“Our top four batters have got the potential to score hundreds and that is big for us. We have got some quality, experienced spinners like they have. In the West Indies I think our bowlers bowled really well and contained some dynamic batsmen so we can take a lot out of that.”

Lonwabo Tsotsobe will represent his third first-class club when he joins the Lions for the 2013-14 season

Firdose Moonda17-May-2013Lonwabo Tsotsobe will represent his third franchise in as many seasons after he decided to move to the Lions for the 2013/14 summer. Tsotsobe originally hails from the Eastern Cape and represented the Warriors for seven seasons before changing allegiances to the Dolphins over the past season and will now play for the Lions.How frequently he turns out for the Johannesburg-based franchise will depend on his international commitments. Tsotsobe is a regular member of South Africa’s ODI and T20 team and is often on the fringes of the Test squad, which limits the amount of time he can play domestic cricket.Tsotsobe has also earned a reputation for shirking his domestic responsibilities, although a number of family-related problems were partly to blame for his absence from the circuit. He only turned out for the Dolphins in the one-day competition, where he played nine matches, but did not play a single first-class or T20 match, much to their administrations’ displeasure.Should he make the odd appearance for the Lions, he will team up with Chris Morris and Hardus Viljoen in what could be a fearsome trio of quicks. “He has a tremendous amount of ability and and I believe he will bring experience and guidance to some of the younger players in the squad,” Geoffrey Toyana, Lions coach, said.They will have to wait until after the Champions League T20 to make use of Tsotsobe, though. He will not be able to represent the Lions because he was not part of the contracted squad that qualified for the event.Tsotsobe is not the only big mover this winter. Hashim Amla also left the Dolphins and will ply his trade at Cape Cobras. This leaves the Dolphins’ franchise without two of its most senior players.They have been bolstered by the arrival of veteran wicket-keeper batsman Morne van Wyk from the Knights. The franchise from the Free State also lost Ryan Bailey to the Warriors.

Half-centuries from Benny Howell, Michael Klinger and Ian Cockbain guided Gloucestershire to a 29-run victory against Unicorns in a Yorkshire Bank 40 Group C game in Bristol.

26-May-2013
ScorecardIan Cockbain’s aggressive innings proved to be the match-defining contribution•Getty ImagesHalf-centuries from Benny Howell, Michael Klinger and Ian Cockbain guided Gloucestershire to a 29-run victory against Unicorns in a Yorkshire Bank 40 Group C game in Bristol.Gloucestershire skipper Klinger held the top order together with 61 before Howell, with an unbeaten 75, and Cockbain, with 53, were chiefly responsible for the late assault which brought 112 runs from the final 10 overs in a total of 260 for 7.Former Surrey youngster Tom Lancefield, who has played for Gloucestershire’s second XI this season, led a spirited run chase by Unicorns with 76 from 93 balls.But the visitors eventually finished on 231 for 5 as Gloucestershire secured a third win to maintain their strong challenge in Group C.Gloucestershire were made to work much harder for victory than they were in a nine-wicket success against Unicorns at Wormsley earlier in the month.After Klinger won the toss, Gloucestershire were reduced to 75 for three in the 16th over after Hamish Marshall was caught behind off Glenn Querl, Chris Dent was run out by Aneurin Norman’s throw from backward point and Alex Gidman edged to wicketkeeper Tom New off Norman.A stand of 73 in 14 overs between Klinger and Howell revived the innings, but the Gloucestershire captain was then run out by Luke Beaven’s direct hit from backward square leg.Unicorns must have been pleased with their bowling and fielding display up to that point, but Cockbain’s arrival in the middle changed the tempo dramatically.He took two fours and a straight six off the 35th over, bowled by Querl, and brought up his 29-ball half-century with the second of two successive sixes over long-on from Warren Lee’s bowling in the 37th over. However, Lee gained revenge from the next delivery when Cockbain skied a pull into the gloves of wicketkeeper New.The late boundary barrage continued unabated as Howell and James Fuller thrashed 42 from 18 balls before the latter was bowled swinging across the line at Beavon’s left-arm spin.Gareth Roderick was run out off the last ball of the innings, which left Howell undefeated on 75 from 69 balls, having struck four fours and three sixes.The Unicorns’ run chase was given a great start by Lancefield and New, who put on 118 in 22 overs in largely untroubled fashion. Former Leicestershire player New had contributed 35 when he clipped Howell to midwicket, where Alex Gidman dived forward to take the catch.Gloucestershire seized control after that, thanks to tight bowling from Howell and Gidman and some sharp fielding.Michael O’Shea was caught at deep mid-on by Fuller off Gidman, then Lancefield’s fine innings came to an end when he was run out by Chris Dent’s throw from cover. The former Surrey youngster had hit six fours and two sixes in his 93-ball innings.Garry Park and Scott Elstone put on 43 for the fourth wicket before the latter was bowled by Fuller for 17. And, despite some defiant blows from Park, who made 47 before being caught on the midwicket boundary off Fuller in the last over, Gloucestershire ran out comfortable winners.

ESPNcricinfo previews the Champions Trophy final between India and England

The Preview by Sidharth Monga22-Jun-2013Match factsJune 23, Edgbaston
Start time 1030 (0930 GMT)Covers could make appearances on the final day too•AFPBig PictureTwo years ago, India went to England to play the most anticipated set of matches between the two teams. By the time India reached their last game, England was sick of them and they were sick of England. The tour gave them nothing but defeat, and the fans could hardly wait for the end. At the end of this short and sharp trip, however, India are finally up against England, two of the best sides of the tournament and deserving finalists.India have played sparkling cricket so far, England have been pragmatic, it makes for a good match-up, but it is highly unlikely the fans or the teams will be left asking for more. If England win, they won’t even get a day to celebrate; they play New Zealand in a meaningless Twenty20 on Tuesday. If India win, they will most likely be taking the Champions Trophy to the West Indies for an even more meaningless ODI tri-series.We have been given a brief window then to relish what is at hand, rendered briefer by the role rain is likely to play with no reserve day in sight. And there is enough to relish. India are at their most aggressive: five specialist bowlers, positive batting in a tournament that has left almost everybody else circumspect, sprightly fielding and forceful captaincy. England are at their most practical: the batsmen are doing just enough for the conditions in question, and their bowlers – attaining form and fitness at the right time – are good enough to make a match of any total above 200 on pitches that are not featherbeds.A day before the final, questions arise that classically accompany a match between a side that has waltzed its way through to the final and the other that has had to will its way through the roadblocks. Will India be undercooked should conditions and bowlers conspire against them? Suresh Raina has faced 10 balls in the tournament so far, MS Dhoni 26 and Dinesh Karthik 84. Will England’s professionalism come second best – as it has tended to happen in big cricket events – to the freer spirits? Will the teams tamper with their trusted philosophies?If India win through their opening batsmen or if England win chasing 220, it will be well deserved all right, but the real excitement lies in India winning after recovering from 10 for 3 or England gunning down 320. And in the rain staying away.Form guide (most recent first)England WWLWW
India WWWWL
In the spotlightShikhar Dhawan and Jonathan Trott are the two prime candidates for the Player-of-the-Tournament award. Dhawan’s impact – two centuries, a 48 and a fifty – has been bigger than Trott’s – two fifties, no hundred – but a match-winning effort in the final could still decide it.Neither of the Ravis was a natural selection. The conditions were supposed to favour Irfan Pathan more than Ravindra Jadeja. And Ravi Bopara was just a replacement for Kevin Pietersen. Now Jadeja is the second highest wicket-taker in the tournament with an economy rate of 3.51, and Bopara has played a couple of important cameos to go with his part-time work with the ball. They will be important in the final: Jadeja will have continue bowling his 10, Bopara will need to provide England that final kick.Team newsIndia are highly unlikely to disturb their winning combination, and while England might want to go the same route they could have two temptations. James Tredwell has done enough to challenge Graeme Swann’s status as the best ODI spinner in the country, but will England be able to overlook Swann’s experience should he be fit? The only other change could be Tim Bresnan playing ahead of Steven Finn because Edgbaston can assist reverse swing. However, it will be difficult to leave out Finn against any Asian side.England 1 Alastair Cook (capt), 2 Ian Bell, 3 Jonathan Trott, 4 Joe Root, 5 Eoin Morgan, 6 Ravi Bopara, 7 Jos Buttler (wk), 8 James Tredwell/Graeme Swann, 9 Stuart Broad, 10 James Anderson, 11 Steven Finn/Tim BresnanIndia 1 Shikhar Dhawan, 2 Rohit Sharma, 3 Virat Kohli, 4 Dinesh Karthik, 5 MS Dhoni, 6 Suresh Raina, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 10 Ishant Sharma, 11 Umesh YadavPitch and conditionsThe big concern is what is overhead. It rained a day before the final, and the weather is expected to play some part during the match, but will it do enough to affect what have been almost subcontinental conditions at Edgbaston? The pitch for this match hasn’t been used previously, but If it retains enough moisture, the ball could seam around crazily as it did in the Cardiff semi-final.Stats and trivia India and England have played only three knockout matches against each other. India won the 1983 World Cup semi-final and the 2002 tri-series final, both in England, but England won the 1987 World Cup semi-final in Mumbai.
India have not lost a single wicket in the mandatory Powerplays this Champions Trophy. Their smallest opening stand has been 58, against Pakistan at Edgbaston.
England have made it to four finals in ICC ODI tournaments without winning any of them.
Quotes”I’ve never seen them as relaxed as we have been leading up to a big game. But I’m looking around in the guys’ eyes and I know they’re ready to play.”
“The English team is a very good team, especially the bowlers, and what we are positive about is the fact our top order, they have done well, and also the fact they have played some of the best bowlers in world cricket so far in the tournament. So I think they are quite well prepared for the English bowlers.”