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Decisive India-England match today

Colombo Sept. 21. India will take on England in a decisive Pool 2 day\night encounter at the Premadasa Stadium, here, on Sunday.

This will be the first ODI meeting between the two sides after that dramatic NatWest final at Lord's earlier this year, where India successfully chased a mammoth 326.

The stakes are high here and the winning side will meet South Africa in the last four stage.

There were indications from the Indian camp that V.V.S. Laxman might replace Dinesh Mongia at the No. 3 slot while Ajit Agarkar could come in for Aashish Nehra in the pace bowling department.

Admitting it would be a big match, Indian captain Sourav Ganguly warned against complacency - "England is not a weak side. It should not be taken lightly.''

He was quick to reiterate that the match was not going to be a replay of the NatWest final. "It will be a new game, under new conditions,'' the Indian captain said.

English skipper Nasser Hussain spoke about the depth in the Indian batting, and added with so many strokeplayers around, it was hard for a team to focus and work on a single batsman.

He also denied Sunday's battle was a `grudge game.'

"I know it is a cliché, but it is just a game of cricket really. It is not the end of the world if we lose.

There is no grudge in it. They are a fine side. We are an inexperienced team.''

Both India and England have beaten Zimbabwe, the other side in Pool 2.

Australia, South Africa and host Sri Lanka are already in the semifinals.

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