Indian team who started their tour on loosing notes is now on verge of creating history by winning their first ODI series in New Zealand. However Sachin Tendulkar who has been in superb form so far in the ODI series, has been ruled out of fourth ODI because of Stomach injury. But Dhoni and his men is keen to wrap up the series at Hamilton before playing last ODI at Auckland. New Zealand has to produce something more than their best to stop the Indians. Return of Captain Daniel Vettori will strengthen their bowling attack which looks bobbling at Christchurch. However it will be interesting to see whether Dan will go with two spin attacks or would prefer only himself for that job. Blackcaps will be also delighted by the facts that Master batsman will not play the fourth one day international and that will give them a good chance to bounce back on their happy hunting ground at Hamilton. Ishant Sharma who missed last three ODI's due to shoulder injury is ready for return in place of Munaf Patel will lend more thrust to the Indian attack, which seemed to wilt under the early and late Kiwi onslaught during third ODI at Christchurch. Now it will be interesting battle between two inform New Zealand openers and young Ishant Sharma. New Zealand team has to came out with some plan to stop the Indian batsman from scoring big boundaries. In last game there was 31 sixes hit in total, 18 by the Indians and 13 by New Zealanders. On the other hand Indian team looks settled and more solid in their bowling department after the return of Ishant Sharma. Tendulkar will be missed in batting department but there are plenty of players who can take India to historic win. Watch out for Jesse Ryder: This man might looks bulky by physique, but a dangerous opener who can hammer any bowling attack if he gets going. As we have witness his knock at Christchurch which was a match winning one but unfortunately for him, his team lost the match. Gautam Gambhir: A superb 2008 with bat, but on this tour so far he has been kept silent by the New Zealand bowlers. However he will get an opportunity to return to form when he came out to bat as an opener with Virendra Sehwag at Seddon Park, Hamilton in 4th ODI. Pitch and conditions When Indian team last played here they have been bundled out for 122 which is a lowest at this venue. However the pitch and conditions has been changed since then. The ground is not as small as in Christchurch but we can expect another high scoring game in the 4th ODI. Team winning the toss would prefer to bat first and compile somewhere around 300 plus runs on the board. Rain is expected to play spoil spot during 4th ODI, let’s hope that it will stay away and we can watch another intense battle between these two teams. Stats & Trivia As like Christchurch Indian team poses poor records at Seddon Park, Hamilton. They manage to win just one out of five game they have played here and that to against minnows Zimbabwe in the 1992 World Cup. On the other hand New Zealand have won 10 out of 12 matches they have played at this venue with one loss and one game has no-result. India poses record of lowest total of 122/10 runs by any team at this ground while host New Zealand have highest total of 350/9 runs by any team at this venue that to came while chasing the target against mighty Australian in 2007. Team News Sachin Tendulkar who is suffering from abdomen injury will miss the fourth one day international at Hamilton. After a brilliant match winning at Christchurch, this is big blow for the Indians, however Rohit Sharma is likely to be included in the squad and G.Gambhir will open the inning with Virendra Sehwag. Munaf Patel who got lot of hammering by lower order New Zeland batsman at Christchurch and finally taken out of the attack after bowling two high full tosses is likely to be replaced by I.Sharma or I.Pathan. Brendon McCullum who is not fully fit yet from thumb injury, so New Zealand will play with additional wicket keeper batsman P. McGlashan. D.Vettori who missed the third ODI due to his first child birth will return at Hamilton. However New Zealand will not take risk of playing with two spinners, so J.Patel will be replace by the Captain and in place of injured I.Butler, E.Thompson is likely to make his ODI debut in 4th ODI. T.Southee who conceded 105 runs in his quota of 10 overs has already been left out from the squad by New Zealand selectors, so Iain O'Brien will make comeback after missing third ODI at Christchurch. Likely Playing XI for both teams (Match is schedule to begin at 06:30 AM India Time on 11th Of March) India Squad: G.Gambhir, V.Sehwag, M.S.Dhoni (Captain & WK), Y.Singh, S.Raina, R.Sharma, Yusuf Pathan, H.Singh, Z.Khan, P.Kumar, I.Sharma. New Zealand Squad: Jesse Ryder, Brendon McCullum, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Jacob Oram, P. McGlashan (WK), Grant Elliott, Daniel Vettori (Captain), Kyle Mills, Ewen Thompson, Iain O'Brien. |
