India v England ICC World Cup 2011: Sachin Tendulkar, Andrew Strauss - Batsmen to lookout for
India v England: In a battle between heavyweights, England take on India in a much awaited contest at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bangalore on February 27.
The two teams are well balanced, as they house a complete all-round batting line-up, and boast a bowling attack of extravagant variety. However, England is a better fielding unit on paper as they hardly have a poor fielder in their ranks.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/India-c750 hold the edge over the visitors as far as records go: they whitewashed them in an ODI series at home in November 2008. However they should expect a different ballgame altogether with a much improved English side.
Batting first on a Bangalore pitch will be a safe plan, as later in the match; it will turn and offer steep bounce to the spin bowlers. Batsmen will have to use the pace of the ball in order to score runs, and the fast bowlers will provide it.
Andrew Strauss
Andrew Strauss will be tested against the likes of Zaheer Khan and Munaf Patel with the new ball, but he can deal with them as he possesses one of the best defensive techniques in his armoury.
His compact defence has earned him a successful reputation against quality new-ball bowlers. The English captain has his own way of attacking, and uses his feet even against the seam bowlers to track them off from their natural line and length.
He is strong off his back-foot, and his crunching cut-short is often followed up with a pummeling pull. The precautionary measure for the bowlers is, “Don’t bowl short to him, he will punish you.” His scalp at the top-order will be essential for the Poms if they are to ensure a mammoth target.
Paul Collingwood
Paul Collingwood has clicked form at the right time, as his unbeaten 30-run innings steered his team home against the Dutch in the opening match, and saved them from a humiliating defeat.
In the middle order, he is vital to England’s cause as he plays spin with authority and rotates the strike to keep the scoreboard ticking. He plays with a straight bat and has a wide range of shots to choose from. A tantalising slog sweep for six over the mid-wicket boundary is often seen against the spinners.
Sachin Tendulkar
Sachin Tendulkar looked in a supreme touch for his 28-run knock against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 in the opening match, but misjudgement of a run brought about his downfall. His current form sends a worrying sign for the opposition. Certainly Sachin will be keen to score his first century of this World Cup.
Against England: he has amassed 1335 runs at an average of 41 in 35 games. Surprisingly he has scored only one century against them and will be keen to improve on that record.
Gautam Gambhir
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Virender-Sehwag-c95429 in Test matches, drops down the order in fifty-over version of the game.
The dashing left-hander has all the shots in the book, but loves to play down the ground to his comfort. As a complete all-round player, he is as good against the spinners as he is against the pace bowlers.
Gambhir loves to go after bowling attacks, and doesn’t like hitting the ball right from the crease. It doesn’t matter to him whether he is up against a spinner or a fast bowler; he uses his feet to demolish them.
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