India vs Sri Lanka 1st ODI: Experienced Sri Lanka Facing Youthful India

After the rain interrupted first match against Australia, India is going to play their second match of the Commonwealth Bank Series 2007-2008 against Sri Lanka at Brisbane today. Indian team is full of youth, while Sri Lanka has some experienced cricketers. So, this is where Sri Lanka seems to be favorite in the match. Indian batsmen were not up to the mark against Australia in the first match as they got all out at 194 runs before the match ended up with no result due to rain.

India is likely to feature the same eleven today that played the first match. Though Indian top order failed to play well, Indian lower order put on some effective runs in the first match. Manoj Tiwary did not have a satisfactory debut after getting out at 2. So, he must try to prove his potential today.

Yuvraj Singh has recovered from injury, but he is not confident enough then he will not make it to the final line up today. Sri Lanka came to play after losing the ODI series against England at home. The ODI world cup finalists did not have a good time during their test series against Australia. So, they have come to Australia leaving behind some ordinary performances of the recent past. However, Sri Lankan captain Mahela Jayawardene has been confident saying it is going to be a fresh start in the tournament.

Cricinfo.com reported:

"It's all on form, how you adapt to the conditions. Australia can be favourites but the same applies to them. It's going to be a tough, interesting series," Jayawardene said a day before his team begins the second leg of their Australian tour, losing the Test series 2-0 in the first part late last year.

Jayawardene said he had already forgotten the loss and blamed it mainly on the inability of his batsmen and fast bowlers to work out their responsibilities. It's a fresh beginning now, he insists.

Sri Lanka has an experienced side with the names like Mahela Jayawardene, Sanath Jayasuria, Muttiah Muralitharan, Kumar Sangakara all have huge experience in both ODI and test cricket. India is now missing their in-form pacer RP Singh, who could have been effective in the condition of Brisbane. The wicket helped the pacers in the first match at Brisbane. RP Singh picked up an injury that made him out of action since the fourth test of the test series at Adelaide. Zaheer Khan is also out of team with Yuvraj Singh missed the Twenty20 and the first match of the tournament. However, the same players played in the twenty20 world cup and brought the trophy for India. So, Indian fans can rely on the youthful Indian side.