http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 favourites to beat New Zealand: Micromax Cup, Match One
The Match
India take on http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 in the first ODI of the Micromax Cup tri-series at Dambulla in Sri Lanka. It will be a day-night match, and will follow India’s successful Test against Sri Lanka, where they won and equalled the series 1-1.
The Indians would have had sufficient practice in the Sri Lankan conditions, having played in the Asia Cup and the Test series in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758. In fact, the Asia Cup was played in Dambulla, and India had gone on to beat Sri Lanka in the final, a month back. This should give them the necessary confidence to do well in the game.
New Zealand will be aware of the odds being stacked against them. They are missing some of their major players and will be playing in conditions which will be quite alien to them.
The Pitch:
Dambulla is usually a track that allows good stroke-play for the sides batting first, especially if the game is being played under lights. However, for the side batting second, the intensity of the floodlights is said to be a huge concern, and that is a complaint that one could hear throughout the duration of the tournament.
India:
The Test match specialists have gone back, and the Indian team will now have the likes of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Dinesh-c54134 Karthik will open the innings.
Yuvraj Singh may get the nod despite his form and fitness issues, over Rohit Sharma, while the bowling will revolve around one spinner and three medium-pace bowlers. http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ravindra-c84236 Jadeja should continue to remain that specialist spinner in the side.
The Playing Eleven:
Sehwag, Kartik, Raina, Dhoni, Yuvraj, Kohli, Jadeja, Praveen, Ishant, Ojha, Nehra
Players to watch out for:
Sehwag was the man of the series in the preceding Test match series against Sri Lanka. However, his record in ODIs is not as good as he would have liked it to be. In the absence of Gambhir and Tendulkar, he could be the man to watch out for.
New Zealand:
The absence of the likes of regular captain Daniel Vettori, wicket-keeper and aggressive opener, Brendon McCullum and another smasher of the ball, Jesse Ryder will ensure that the Kiwis go into the game as underdogs.
Having said that, the toss is crucial at Dambulla and if the Kiwis can bat first, they will still be in with a chance against a side that has been pegged back on occasions whilst chasing a big total.
Ross http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Taylor-c92915 will lead the side, while the return of Jacob Oram and Scott Styris will ensure that the batting line-up is strengthened.
The Playing Eleven:
Guptill, Watling, Taylor, Elliot, Styris, Oram, Hopkins, McCullum, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mills-c76321, Southee, Tuffey
Players to watch out for:
Taylors captaincy will be the one to look out for, apart from the fact that he is the team’s best batsman.
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