Preview:The Big Match:India Vs.England

Was it a blessing in disguise for the people of Kolkata that the India Vs. England’s match got shifted to Bangalore? People queuing up for tickets were lathi-charged. There was chaos. But all for the love of the game.The India England encounter was always going to be a huge match in this World Cup and the hype surrounding it has been enormous. For this the common man will still be ready to take a few blows if that means a ticket to today’s encounter between the two heavyweights.

Today’s match immediately brings back the memories of the 1987 semifinal that India lost to England and 2003 where the Nehra inspired Indian team raced to a victory. But today is a new day. The team that holds its nerves should come out trumps. Andrew Strauss at a press conference yesterday has made it clear that the pressure is on India. And it indeed is. There are millions watching and a loss against an English side will certainly not be acceptable.

The conditions in Bangalore are a bit damp. There has been some rain there and this raises a question whether India plays with two spinners or three seamers. With Nehra fit to play today’s game he is a certainty if India are to play three seamers meaning which Sree ‘maniac’ Sreesanth sits out . If not, Piyush Chawla comes in as the second spinner . Any which ways Sree has to sit out. The question Dhoni has to answer is whether to play to your strengths which is spin or play to the conditions. Better would be playing to your strength, and with the English having a history of struggling against spin and with the home crowd it has to work.

The big match also has its share of the battle within a battle. Stuart Broad won’t forget for his lifetime what Yuvraj did to him at the inaugural T20 World Cup by hitting him for six sixes in an over. Time to make amends Mr. Broad? And then of course Yuvraj with his dibbly-dobbly left arm spin would be looking to get the better of Kevin Peterson who again should be opening the batting today . Then there is a certain Mr.Sehwag who is a wounded tiger , after being hurt in the ribs by a local bowler . Good for India I say, bad for England!!And what’s more, he has vowed to play 50 overs!!

Strauss has been in good form and for India it’s very important to get him out cheaply and likewise, England have to get Sehwag out cheaply. No one likes the toss to be an important factor in such games , but whoever bats / bowls first , it’s up to these openers to negotiate these first few overs where in the ball might swing , and then it’s a batsman’s game. Tendulkar will be hungry for runs after having missed out against Bangladesh and England will know that very well. Also another thing England would do well to keep in mind is that Dhoni might just give the new ball to Harbhajan Singh to tackle Kevin Peterson.
And at the same time India will have to keep in mind the English pace attack who on its day can destroy the opponents single handedly. It’s GAME ON…