India v England – 1st ODI – English batsmen to watch out for
The Men in Blue are set to pay their dues against the Poms, as both the sides gear up to lock horns in the opening One Day International (ODI) game, from England’s tour of http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750, which kicks off today, October 14, 2011, at the Rajiv Gandhi International
Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad.
The English tourists have already paved a strong footing on the Hyderabad turf, after recently securing two imposing wins on the tour games, against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Hyderabad-c792 Cricket Association XI; which according to the team’s top-order batsman, Jonathan Trott, has given
the English batsmen a fair appreciation of the pitch conditions.
For the matter, India’s youth-oriented line-up of bowlers will have to keep an eye out for England’s threatening arsenal of batters – built on Skipper Alastair Cook, wicket-keeper batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/C-Kieswetter-c1206, and all-rounder Ravi Bopara.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AN-Cook-c1026
Although Captain Alastair Cook has already ranked the assignment against the Indian hosts as a tough challenge ahead of his team, but, the opening batsman still vows to stand tough for the Poms, and use the team’s past 10 days of experience in India to produce
a competitive bout against the hosts.
During the tourist’s preceding tour game against the Hyderabad XI, Cook batted England’s second highest aggregate, worth 85 off 74 balls, after Jonny Bairstow’s imposing ton of 104 runs.
Cook, who will surely stand out as a valued stump for the Indian bowlers, will aim to offer a replica of what his team delivered against the Men in Blue, during last month’s home ODI series; where the Poms secured a clean sheet against the Indian tourists.
With a valuable ODI career to his name, Cook premiered his first ever limited overs game in June 2006, following which he went on to serve the Poms in 36 fixtures, bagging a tally of 1325 runs, at an average of 38.97.
Craig Kieswetter
Wicket-keeper batsman, Craig Kieswetter, has already spent a valuable stint in India lately, after serving his county side, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Somerset-c843, in the recently concluded Champions League Twenty20 (T20) competition, and then the preceding tour match, where the top
order batsman scored 71 runs.
As for the upcoming bout, Kieswetter will have an added advantage at his end, as he will be looking to avail his adaptability to Indian pitches, which would aid the Poms in retaining some lasting innings against the Indians.
Making his ODI debut in early 2010, Kieswetter has had 23 outings for his national side, scoring an aggregate of 674 runs, including his best performance of 107 runs.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RS-Bopara-c2373
His Skipper might have patented the India series as a tough battle for England, however, the team’s all-rounder, Ravi Bopara, differs after recently stating that his side is here to win, and that they will do.
After serving a slipping Test spell for England, Bopara vowed to make an imposing contribution for England under the shorter formats – which he surely went on to achieve.
During the opening Tour game, England had already lost 4 of its top order batsmen before 15 overs, but it was Bopara, who came to his side’s rescue, and led the tourists to pile up fair total, which the opponent failed to cover-up.
For today’s bout, Bopara will surely stand out as a dangerman for India, since the middle order batsman has lately been marking some landmark performances for England.
The 26-year-old has already played 64 ODIs for http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013, with a score of 1480 runs at an impressive average of 30.83.
As part of another anticipated cricket event, the match will surely come as a thriller, as each contender will aim to offer a strong bout – but for England, the team’s hopes will not only be rested on the trio, but also on its additional potent stars, such
as the fresh face on the roster, Jonny Bairstow, top-order batsman http://www.senore.com/Cricket/IR-Bell-c1597.
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