I am all pumped up and excited about this and hope it really lives up to all the expectations and build-up. A cake-walk for India would most definitely not disappoint me, a thrilling win for India would make me very happy; a thrilling win for England would disappoint me and a cake-walk for England would definitely sap out the renewed interest I have found,
What I aim to be doing just about 12 hrs before the start of this cracker of a contest is; a man-to-man comparison. This is of course, assuming India and England play unchanged sides from their respective first games. I also don't see a reason as to why they would want to change the squad (except maybe, Sree)
Ok.. Here goes...
Openers:
Sehwag vs Strauss - Strauss is a good One Day player, Sehwag is a devastating one day player. 'nuff said!
Tendulkar vs Pieterson - Pieterson is a great One Day Player, Tendulkar is God.
Gambhir vs Trott - This is a tough one.. Excellent players... In prime form, very good temperaments.. great application and excellent level of determination.
Kohli vs Bell - Kohli is in a purple patch, Bell is good, but going by current form, Kohli has an edge.
Yuvraj Singh vs Collingwood - Again, a tie.. Both the all-rounders are doing alright with the ball, but with the bat, both are in the middle of a very lean patch; but on his day, Yuvraj Singh can be a bigger threat than Sehwag, a slight edge to Yuvraj Singh.
Dhoni vs Prior - Dhoni wins; a better batsman, but when it comes to keeping wickets; Prior, probably slightly better
Yusuf Pathan vs Bopara - Yusuf Pathan wins hands down.. He has overcome his short ball woes and he can plunder the opponent and run over them in a small matter of two overs.
Harbhajan Singh vs Swann - Harbhajan Singh is probably the better choice here, he is slowly regaining his form and also the better bowler in home conditions and also a bit handy with the bat.
Zaheer Khan vs Broad - Zaheer Khan is definitely the better bowler; Broad is a handy batsman and can hit a few blows down the order.
Sreesanth vs Bresnan - Well, Bresnan is a good bowler and handy batsman too; not counting out Sreesanth though, when he turns up, he really does turn up
Munaf Patel vs Anderson - Munaf has all the luck in the world, but Anderson is the pick in this head-to-head.
Overall, on paper, India look like they can push over England easily. Lots of odds stacked against the Englishmen. But! You never know, an early wicket, a stupid run out, a needless wild swing outside the off stump is all it takes for a strong batting side to collapse!
Here is hoping!
What I aim to be doing just about 12 hrs before the start of this cracker of a contest is; a man-to-man comparison. This is of course, assuming India and England play unchanged sides from their respective first games. I also don't see a reason as to why they would want to change the squad (except maybe, Sree)
Ok.. Here goes...
Openers:
Sehwag vs Strauss - Strauss is a good One Day player, Sehwag is a devastating one day player. 'nuff said!
Tendulkar vs Pieterson - Pieterson is a great One Day Player, Tendulkar is God.
Gambhir vs Trott - This is a tough one.. Excellent players... In prime form, very good temperaments.. great application and excellent level of determination.
Kohli vs Bell - Kohli is in a purple patch, Bell is good, but going by current form, Kohli has an edge.
Yuvraj Singh vs Collingwood - Again, a tie.. Both the all-rounders are doing alright with the ball, but with the bat, both are in the middle of a very lean patch; but on his day, Yuvraj Singh can be a bigger threat than Sehwag, a slight edge to Yuvraj Singh.
Dhoni vs Prior - Dhoni wins; a better batsman, but when it comes to keeping wickets; Prior, probably slightly better
Yusuf Pathan vs Bopara - Yusuf Pathan wins hands down.. He has overcome his short ball woes and he can plunder the opponent and run over them in a small matter of two overs.
Harbhajan Singh vs Swann - Harbhajan Singh is probably the better choice here, he is slowly regaining his form and also the better bowler in home conditions and also a bit handy with the bat.
Zaheer Khan vs Broad - Zaheer Khan is definitely the better bowler; Broad is a handy batsman and can hit a few blows down the order.
Sreesanth vs Bresnan - Well, Bresnan is a good bowler and handy batsman too; not counting out Sreesanth though, when he turns up, he really does turn up
Munaf Patel vs Anderson - Munaf has all the luck in the world, but Anderson is the pick in this head-to-head.
Overall, on paper, India look like they can push over England easily. Lots of odds stacked against the Englishmen. But! You never know, an early wicket, a stupid run out, a needless wild swing outside the off stump is all it takes for a strong batting side to collapse!
Here is hoping!
