http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 v England – 5th ODI at Cardiff - Match Preview
The final game of India's two-month long http://www.senore.com/Cricket/England-c56013 tour is just around the corner and the once formidable Indians are yet to win their first International game of the tour.
Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led India was on the top of the world when they landed in England two months ago, but the ramping world champs looked no better than a school team during the whole tour, given any format of the game.
The former world number one Test side was outclassed by England in all departments of the game as the hosts got the better of a depleted Indian outfit. They thrashed India in the four-match Test series 4-0 before winning the only T20 International.
It's been a pretty bleak tour for Mahendra Singh Dhoni who had stepped into England as the most successful captain in contemporary cricket. Dhoni’s status as an unimpeachable Indian skipper has come under serious scrutiny as the string of defeats continued.
Although the tourists have staggered from one disaster to the next, MS Dhoni has finally started rediscovering his best form with the bat. After anchoring India’s innings at The Oval along with Ravindra Jadeja, Dhoni shared a 169-run stand with Suresh Raina
for the fifth-wicket partnership in the 4th ODI at Lord’s. In the rain-ruined 4th One-Dayer against England, Dhoni returned with an unbeaten 78, laced with six muscular boundaries and three lofty sixes.
Keeping in view Dhoni’s individual performance in the last two games of the ongoing tour, one can expect him to fire at Cardiff as well to make Dravid’s swansong match memorable.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/SCJ-Broad-c2465 has been ruled out of the fifth Test with a torn muscle in his shoulder, an injury which he had sustained while bowling his final over at Lord’s. Ben Stokes is also a doubtful starter for the Cardiff show as he picked up a finger injury during
a practice session on Thursday. Jonny Bairstow and Somerset's http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Jos-Buttler-c1733 have been called up as covers but after Alastair Cook hinted at playing two spinners, one cannot write Samit Patel off from the Cardiff's playing XIs.
The Cardiff wicket usually favours batsmen. An unpredictable weather and the scattered clouds at Cardiff are likely to play an integral part in the outcome of the match.
The http://www.senore.com/Cricket/AN-Cook-c1026-led England has already won the five-match One Day International series by 2-0 and must be eager to send India home winless by inflicting a crushing defeat on them at Cardiff.
However, after showing some fight and spirit in the one-day series, it seems the tourists have rediscovered form and confidence and must be looking forward to bid farewell to England on a winning note.
Teams:
Probable Playing XI (India) : http://www.senore.com/Cricket/RA-Jadeja-c2238, Varun
Aaron.
Probable Playing XI (England): Alastair Cook (capt), http://www.senore.com/Cricket/IJL-Trott-c1576.
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