India vs New Zealand Analysis and Live Score: T20 World Cup Practice Match

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India vs New Zealand Practice Match Twenty20 World Cup 2009 Updates

India is the defending champion of the twenty20 world cup thanks to their triumph in 2007’s inaugural event. Naturally, the upcoming practice match between India and New Zealand on 1 June 2009 at Lord's, London has already caught the attention of many cricket fans who are like to see if Indian team remains the same force they were two years back in South Africa. You can write off New Zealand, considering the fact that the Kiwis defeated the Men in Blue in a two-match twenty20 series in New Zealand earlier this year.

Match: India vs New Zealand, Warm up Match, ICC World Twenty20 2009

Date: 1 June 2009

Venue: Lord's, London

Kick off: 16:30 GMT (Local Time 17:30)

Well, I think, the Indian squad still has enough strength to defend their title. The only problem is that some of their key players including Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag and Yuvraj Singh are not at the top of their form at this moment. If their players can play their natural game, then I do not think India should have any problem in defending their title.

There has been some concern in India that because of IPL, the national cricketers may be some tired now and it can hurt their prospect in the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup 2009. Sunil Gavaskar did not agree with it and in Hindustan Times he wrote:

There is some concern that the IPL would have left Indian players jaded but India has a fairly easy time after the World Cup, so the boys will be keen to give it their best.

The players also are a lot fitter and stronger nowadays, so fatigue shouldn’t be a worry. There are just two cities in England where the T20 World Cup is being played, so there won’t be any tiring travel either. The weather in England too will be better than it is in India.

New Zealand has a pretty balanced squad in the presence of some twenty20 specialists like Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Martin Guptill and Jacob Oram. No doubt, all of them are specialist hard hitters and are known for their big hits. I think, off spin all rounder Nathan McCullum and middle order batsman Neil Broom will be given a chance in the warm up game against India. Reserve wicketkeeper Peter McGlashan should also be given a chance in either of their two warm up games.

New Zealand pace attack includes the pacers like Iain O'Brien, James Franklin, Kyle Mills, Ian Butler and Scott Styris. Oram is also there with his medium fast, but I am not sure if he will be allowed to bowl, given his recent injury problem. I think, pacer Brendon Diamanti, who has only 1 ODI to his credit, should be given a chance against India in the practice match. Ryder’s medium pace has also been proven very effective. Their spin attack includes Captain Daniel Vettori and off spinner Nathan McCullum.

India has a fearsome batting line up that features the batsmen like Sehwag, Dhoni, Yuvraj Singh, Yusuf Pathan, Suresh Raina, Rohit Sharma and Irfan Pathan who all the well-known for their hard hitting batting. Though opener Gambhir is not at his top form at this moment, given his ordinary display in IPL 2009, he poses a threat for the opposition bowlers. I think, India will play young Ravindra Jadeja in the warm up match.

India’s bowling attack is also very strong in the presence of the pacers like Zaheer Khan, Praveen Kumar, RP Singh, the leading wicket taker of IPL 2009, Ishant Sharma and Irfan Pathan as well as spinners like Harbhajan Singh, Pragyan Ojha and Yusuf Pathan. There are occasional spinners like Yuvraj, Sehwag, Rohit, Raina and others. So, there is no doubt, India has a balanced squad that features many young players who are pretty much experienced.

Online Live Score and Updates

To be honest, I have not found any website which is giving live score of the warm up matches of twenty20 world cup 2009. Even Cricinfo is not providing live score. So, I am not yet sure which website would give the live score, but I find any site, I would definitely share it with you in this entry. However, if the match is shown live on television, then we will give you live score of the match.

India might be slightly favorite against New Zealand considering their squad strength, but you should keep it in your mind that some of the key performers of Indian team are currently not at the top of their form. So, I see 50-50 chance for both sides in the warm up match.