Indian team will be eying to get another win under their belt to increase their chances of making two ODI series win against the home side in Sri Lanka. Indian team is boosted by return of Virendra Sehwag in the playing XI as he is fit to play for second one day international at R.Premdasa Satdium, Colombo.
Indian team seams to be on a roll as they have won six out of six one day matches they have played so far and they seek to maintain their winning streak when they take on Sri Lanka in the day/night encounter. However toss will play another crucial role on the outcome of the result.
Before series started there were much hype about how Indian batsman will handle the spin magician Murali and Mendis but all obstacles are kept silence during first one day international as both bowler failed to do any damage to the Indian batting line up.
For the hosts, ageing warhorse Sanath Jayasuriya continues to be in good form but middle-order mainstay Kumar Sangakkara's and Captain Mahela Jayawardne inconsistent run with the bat has become a major concern.
Especially M.Jayawardne is the big headache for the team management as he last scored fifty in one day international 13 innings back and that is worrying sign for the Sri Lankan team.
Their bowling also looks flatter during the first game. They need to work in all departments if they want to put up good fight in the second game.
On the other hand Indian team bowling attack looks settled with Ishant Sharma and Zaheer Khan with backup support from M.Patel and P.Ojha.
Watch out for
M. Muralitharan: He might got only one wickets in the first one day international at Dambulla but he just need two more to became the leading wicket taker in the one day international. So he will try to set the record as early in the series as possible.
S.Tendulkar: He is eying to get the big score at this ground as this is one of the favorite grounds of Tendulkar. He has scored his first one day international century here and wants to get another one to his name. He might get out in the first match with the decision going against him but he will be eying big score in one day international in Sri Lanka.
Pitch and conditions
The pitch and condition at R.Premdasa stadium is dry and will support the batsman. However going by the statistics and records team batting first has most win at this venue, since balls start to move quite a bit under the light in the first 10-15 overs. So again toss will play another important factor on the outcome of this game as it always in Sri Lanka.
Stats & Trivia
Indian captain M.S.Dhoni just need six more runs to reach 4000 run mark in one day international and to become only sixth wicketkeeper batsman to achieve this milestone.
Mualitharan is only two wickets away from becoming the leading wicket takers in one day international surpassing the legend left arm pacer Wasim Akram record.
India has modest record at this venue as they have lost 16 and won only 12 at this ground.
Sanath Jayasurya is the highest runs scorer (2286 runs in 63 matches) at R.Premdasa Stadium and Sachin Tendulkar top the list for Indians with scoring 872 runs at average of 48.44.
Team News
After missing the first game due to hip injury, Virendra Sehwag is all set to return in the playing XI to strengthen the batting line up in place of Rohit Sharma. Rest team is likely to be same as played at Dambulla. Despite of loss in the first game Sri Lanka is likely to go into this match with same XI.
Likely Playing XI for both teams (Match is schedule to begin at 10:00 AMIndia Time on 28th Of January)
India Squad: Sachin Tendulkar, V.Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, S.Raina, Y.Singh, M.S.Dhoni (Captain & WK), Yusuf Pathan, P.Ojha, Z.Khan,I.Sharma, M.Patel.
South African debutant L.Tsotsobe picked four wickets in his debut match to help South Africa to win the five matches ODI series by 4-1 and now they are the number one team in ODI according to ICC Ranking.
Australia, after dominating the one day international arena for more than decade loss their top ranking and slip to number two position in one day ranking. Now India is at third and South Africa moved ahead of Australia to gain the number one spot in ICC ODI Ranking.
Chasing a stiff target of 289 runs for victory, Australia found themselves into trouble when they loss their four top order batsman for just 53 runs in the 13th over. From then onwards they are always behind with the asking run rate. In between M.Hussey (78 runs) and B.Haddin (63 runs) did tried their best but it was too tough for both of them to guide Australians to the victory.
L.Tsotsobe accounted for Shaun Marsh (5) and Captain Ricky Ponting (12) in successive overs while the other debutant, Wayne Parnell, ran out David Warner for 22. Now Australia will be looking to regain their top spot in the ICC Ranking by winning the one day series against New Zealanders starting from 1st of February. But they have to play really well if they want to win the series and regain their top spot.
Earlier South Africa captain J.Botha won the toss and decided to bat first. With brilliant half century from H.Amla and A.B.Deviliers south Africna team manage to post huge target at bouncy wicket at WACA Ground. But it was J.P.Duminy (60 runs of 42 balls) who provided the late flourish with his bat that helped South African to get close to 300 run mark.
Hashim Amla was declared Man of the Match for his superb 97 runs and Albie Morkel was declared Man of the Series.
M.S.Dhoni calm and cool batting display who led his tem from the front by making unbeaten 61 runs to guide his team to register six wicket win over Sri Lanka at Rangiri Stadium, Dambulla. With this win Indian team registered their sixth consecutive win in the one day international.
First it was Gautam Gambhir (62 runs of 68 balls) and S.Raina (54 runs 71 balls) put on solid and aggressive partnership of 113 runs in 21.1 overs for the 2nd wicket after the loss of Sachin Tendulkar who may feel himself unlucky as he was given lbw on the ball that pitched outside leg stump by K.Dharmsena in the run chase. Later M.S.Dhoni (61 runs of 65 balls) and Rohit Sharma (25 runs of 30 balls) put on 66 runs of 61 balls to guide their team to an easy win of six wickets with 11 balls remaining.
Earlier M.S.Dhoni won the toss and has no hesitation in putting Sri Lanka into bat. Sri Lanka got of to disaster start when there last series win hero T.Dilshan run out on naught in the very first over. However the old veteran S.Jayasurya and K.Sangkara (44 runs of 86 balls) steadied the Sri Lankan ship 118 runs for the second wicket. Sri Lanka looks more cautious in their approach and that certainly what cost them this match.
Sanath Jayasurya went on to score his 28th century. Jayasuriya also became the second man after Sachin Tendulkar to score 13,000 runs in ODIs when he steered Ishant in the 14th over for his 37th run. At 39 years and 212 days, Jayasuriya also became the oldest cricketer to score an ODI century. He hit 10 fours and one huge six during his knock of 107 runs.
From India, Ishant Sharma bowled beautifully and manages to bag three wickets. With only one specialist spinner in the team Dhoni tried Rohit, Raina as well as Yusuf Pathan and the entire bowler did fantastic job for his captain.
With this win now India lead the five match ODI series by 1-0, the next match will b played in Colombo on 31st of January which will be day/night encounter.
Sanath Jayasurya was declared Man of the Match for his brilliant 107 runs of 114 balls.
Indian team who is riding the success under the captaincy of M.S.Dhoni and Coach Gary Kirsten start their tour as the firm favorites in the first ODI against the home team at Dambulla. Recently Indian team who has beaten England by 5-0 and on their earlier tour of Sri Lanka they were able to win the five match series by 3-2 without Sachin and Sehwag. With the presence of these two masters at the top of the order Indian batting looks stronger than their earlier tour of Sri Lanka.
M.S.Dhoni and his men are looking quite confident of doing well against Sri Lankan’s. Last time Indian batsman able to handle the two spinners well and M.S.Dhoni is hoping for something similar from their batsman again.
On the other hand M.Jayawardne team looking very confident after beating Pakistan in their back yard. Especially in the manner in which Sri Lanka achieve their victory against Pakistan in last two ODI’s was quite outstanding. They able to beat Pakistan quite easily in last two ODI’s with their allround performance both with ball and bat.
Sri Lanka able to win six out of seven ODI series they have played recently. Although in between they lost a match against Bangladesh and was also in trouble in the final but thanks to Murali magical display with the bat they were able to clinch the title. Sri Lanka will be also aware of the fact that they were not able to win the series on last three successions at their home. This is worrying shine for Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardne as well as Sri Lankan fans.
Indian team looks more settled in each department of the game but they can not take Sri Lankan lightly especially with M.Muralitharan, A.Mendis and N.Kulasekara all three in top bowling form.
Watch out for
Z.Khan: This man is getting better and better day by day. He is in superb form as we have seen recently in the Ranji Trophy final he went onto bag seven wickets. On the last tour to Sri Lanka this man looks real threat for the Sri Lankan top order and he will be eying same performance.
N.Kulasekara: In the absence of veteran C.Vaas, this man done extremely well with the new bowl. He enjoyed his great year 2008 and now started the 2009 with bang by picking up 12 wickets in the six matches at an average of 13.33. His success in the last series against India make him a real threat fro the Indian top orders.
Pitch and conditions
The pitch and condition at Dambulla is likely to favor the team batting second. Since in the morning pitch will provide help for the fast bowlers. So team winning the toss would like to have a bowl on this wicket. Learning from the experience from the past India team went on the tour with five seam and swing bowlers.
Stats & Trivia
Mualitharan is only three wickets away from becoming the leading wicket takers in one day international surpassing the Wasim Akram record.
Sri Lanka manages to won 14 out of 20 ODI they have played here at Rangiri Dambulla Stadium.
Team News
Indian team is likely to go into the match with three seam attack and one spinner. On the other hand Sri Lanka is likely to retain the same squad that played against Pakistan at Lahore.
Likely Playing XI for both teams (Match is schedule to begin at 10:00 AMIndia Time on 28th Of January)
India Squad: Sachin Tendulkar, V.Sehwag, Gautam Gambhir, Y.Singh, M.S.Dhoni (Captain & WK), Rohit Sharma, Yusuf Pathan, P.Ojha, Z.Khan,I.Sharma, M.Patel.
Young left arm spinner and lower middle order batsman Ravindra Jadeja with his brilliant performance in domestic arena allowed him to find his spot in Indian 15 member squad announced today for the tour of Sri Lanka.
Delhi right hand batsman Virat Kohli is not included in the squad while off-spinner Harbhajan Singh will miss the tour due to an injury. Praveen Kumar is also included in the 15-member squad.
Indian selector announced the 15 member squad during the meeting held in Mumbai on 18th of January, Sunday. They have included seven specialist batsmen in their team including the captain M.S.Dhoni.
The five ODIs and a Twenty20 match in Sri Lanka would also test the all-round ability of Ravindra Jadeja, Yusuf Pathan and Praveen Kumar. In the absence of Harbhajan Singh the spin department will lead by left arm spinner P.Ojha with support from Y.Pathan and R.Jadeja.
Indian team will play five match one day series and one twenty20 international against the home team. First ODI match will be played on 28th of January in Dambulla Stadium. Second, third and fourth ODI will be played at R.Premdasa Stadium on 31st of January, 3rd of February and 5th of February. Last ODI will be played on 8th of February at S.S.C Ground. India will end their tour with one twenty20 International which is scheduled to be played on 10th of February at R.Premdasa Stadium.
All matches will be day/night encounter except the first and fifth one day international.
Indian 15 member Squad for ODI and T20I against Sri Lanka: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Captain & WK), Virender Sehwag (Vice Captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma, Ravindra Jadeja, Yusuf Pathan, Praveen Kumar, Irfan Pathan, Munaf Patel, Ishant Sharma, Pragyan Ojha, and Zaheer Khan.
India itinerary for the tour of Sri Lanka has been announced by Sri Lankan Cricket board on Thursday 15th of January. India will play five one day international and one twenty20 internationals.
India will begin their tour on 28th January with first ODI against Sri Lanka to be played at Dambulla. The next four ODI’s will be played on 31st January, 3rd of February, 5th of February and last and final ODI will be played on 8th of February.
India will end the Sri Lanka tour with one twenty20 International which will be played at R.Premdasa Stadium, Colombo on 10th of February. Apart from the 1st and 5th ODI all games will be day/night encounters.
Here are the complete schedule fixture of India Vs Sri Lanka Series 2009(All timing are mentioned in GMT+05:30)
The Indian Cricket Board and New Zealand Cricket board agreed on additional T20 International and one additional test match and announced new cricket Schedule for Indian Cricket team for the tour of New Zealand.
Now India will arrive in New Zealand on 20th of February, eight days earlier than previous schedule. Indian team will start their long 46 days cricket tour with Twenty20 International against New Zealand at Christchurch to be played on 25th of February followed by another T20I to be played on 27th February at Wellington.
India will be touring New Zealand after 6 years where they will play five one day international, two T20I and three test matches according to new schedule. The reworked schedule allowed both teams to play additional T20I and one more test matches.
Indian team ends their tour with three test matches which will be played in Hamilton, Napier and Wellington. The first test match will be played from 18th to 22nd March, second test match will be played from 26th to 30th of March and last test match will be played from 3rd of April to 7th of April.
Last time when Indian team went to New Zealand they have lost the test series by 2-0 and lost seven match One day Series by 5-2. So it will be interesting to see how Indian team performs this time when they will go to New Zealand.
Here are the complete re-schedule fixture of India Vs New Zealand Series 2009(All timing are mentioned in GMT+05:30)
Finally BCCI revealed that India is finally going to tour Sri Lanka for five match one day series and one Twenty20 International. After the cancellation of tour of Pakistan by Indian government and BCCI, Indian cricketing official were seeking the tour.
Sri Lanka team will host India for five match one day series and a T20I between January end and early February. Before that Sri Lanka has to play five match one day series and one twenty20 International against Pakistan. So Sri Lanka tour of Pakistan has been divided into two phases to adjust the game against Indian cricket team.
The final date and schedule for the game against Indians will be finalized by Friday 16th January.
Cricket News around the Globe
Australian opener Mathew Hayden announces his retirement from International cricket considering his poor form in the last five test matches he played. He was also dropped from T20 and ODI squad announced by Australian selectors recently.
New Zealand able to crush West Indies in the last one day International by 9 runs (D/L method) to clinch the five match ODI series by 2-1.
