Ireland's rousing display against England betokens danger for India. This Irish side has grown in belief. William Porterfield's team's palpitating three-wicket win, the side rode on archetypal big-hitter Kevin O' Brien's smashing hundred, over England has opened up Group ‘B'.
Ireland dishes out a bold and a rather direct form of the game. It relies on courage than chicanery. This is a side with flair, dare and gravitas.
India has to be on guard in the ICC World Cup day/night duel versus Ireland at the Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday. After its giant-killing act against England, defeating India is no longer a mere chimera for Ireland.
The Indian batting has tongues of fire. Yet, will the bowling, amidst insistent pounding of the drums by the fans, rediscover rhythm?
The Indian fielding in the competition has been torpid and the team-management is chafed. It's a combination of fielding and bowling that creates stress.
SAME SURFACE
India, with good reasons, would want the surface to assist spin. The contest will be played on the pitch used for last Sunday's India versus England game that produced over 670 runs.
For the surface to change its character within seven days, the curator will have to stop watering the pitch completely to make it dry; such a surface could crumble. But then, the wicket here, even on Saturday, was watered.
The Irish batsmen are not quite the most accomplished players of spin. Bangladesh employed its four spinners, Abdur Razzak, Naeem Islam, Shakib-Al Hasan and Mohammed Ashraful for 34 overs against Ireland at Dhaka. The spinners conceded 136 runs while scalping six. Pursuing 206 on a surface that offered turn, Ireland stumbled to 178 all out.
And when Ireland astounded the cricketing world by chasing down 328 against a dumbstruck England, off-spinner Graeme Swann sent down 10 immaculate overs for 47 while scalping three batsmen. That was a night when England desperately lacked quality spin support.
Coming to its own spin attack, Ireland's left-arm-spinner George Dockrell and Paul Stirling, who can send down off-spin, are no more than steady.
A spinning surface would suit India, but the host might have to be content with a pitch that might only assist the famished spinners a tad more.
DHONI'S PREFERENCE
India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni has indicated that the side would continue with the seven-batsmen theory. This strategy is not without risk, particularly against the big guns.
Left-arm paceman Aashish Nehra is fit for the fray but the think-tank is likely to opt for a two plus two combination (two pacemen and two spinners). Zaheer and Munaf should team up again and spearhead Harbhajan Singh might have either Piyush Chawla or off-spinner R. Ashwin for company.
Chawla, despite going for runs, did achieve both fizz off the pitch and turn against England. He deserves another outing.
However, the team-management could also consider Ashwin's sense of equanimity during the Power Play overs and his subtle variations.
POWERHOUSE BATTING
The Indian batting is a powerhouse in these conditions. Yet, looking back at the game against England, the late collapse cost the side at lest 25 runs. And the two maiden overs India conceded during the innings did not help its cause either. The strike needs to be rotated during all times.
Apart from the destructive Kevin O' Brien, Ireland has the smooth-stroking Ed Joyce and exciting shot-maker Stirling in its ranks. The side bats deep and the likes of Alex Cussack and John Mooney can alter scripts.
The lanky Boyd Rankin, the quickest bowler in the Irish ranks, will have to provide the early breakthroughs. The Irish attack, though, has to ascend steep steps.
Chasing represents a better option for both sides.
The teams (from):
India: M.S. Dhoni (captain), S. Tendulkar, V. Sehwag, G. Gambhir, V. Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, R. Ashwin, Munaf Patel, P. Chawla, A. Nehra, S. Raina, S. Sreesanth.
Ireland: W. Porterfield (captain), P.R. Stirling, E. Joyce, N. O' Brien, G. Wilson, K. O'Brien, A. Cussack, J. Mooney, T. Johnson, G. Dockrell, B. Rankin, A. Botha, A. White, A. Van der Merwe, N. Jones.
Match starts at 2.30 p.m (IST).
No comments:
Post a Comment