Date:17/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/17/stories/2008111756401700.htm

Sport

Shadow over Ishant; Yuvraj improving

Principal Correspondent

— Photo: K.R. Deepak

FIT AGAIN: Ryan Sidebottom could add to England’s pace arsenal.

Indore: Ishant Sharma is likely to miss the second ODI here on Monday, while Yuvraj Singh, nursing an injured back, is making steady progress.

“Yuvi has improved a lot and Ishant may be rested but the last call will be taken before the game,” M.S. Dhoni said at the pre-match press conference.

Optional nets

Asked about the absence of Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan and Yuvraj at practice, Dhoni said: “It was an optional session and we thought it would be better to rest a few players.” Incidentally Ishant, who is recovering from an ankle injury, bowled briefly in the nets.

The Indian captain termed the pitch as slow. “It is a bit slow and dry and might help the spinners. It might be difficult to score runs in the later part of the day. The toss will be important,” he said.

Dhoni said his team would not under-estimate England. “They have a good bowling side, better than what they had when they came here last. Can’t take them lightly,” he said.

He praised the bowlers for their role in the 158-run victory at Rajkot, but added that rotation of players was critical while coping with a packed schedule.

Dhoni refused to make a comment on the recent exhibition match that he, Zaheer and R.P. Singh played at Bhandara. “Ask the BCCI,” he said.

Meanwhile, Paul Collingwood said getting early wickets would be the key to victory.

“We got some tall fast bowlers and we need to get early wickets and expose the middle order which is inexperienced.

If we can get Sehwag and Yuvraj and put pressure on the middle order, we can upset their plans,” Collingwood said.

“In case Yuvraj doesn’t play tomorrow, it will be a bonus,” he added.

Collingwood also recalled the 2002 ODI series in India in which the visitor came from behind to draw level at 3-3.

“It is amazing that in some of the games India doesn’t even give you a sniff but if we get a sniff, we will put them under pressure. India like any other team doesn’t like pressure and that’s what we found in 2002,” he said.

Collingwood said batting first would be ideal. “There are a few cracks on the pitch but it could well be a flat wicket. Batting first would be the way to go,” he said, adding that left-arm seamer Ryan Sidebottom was fit.