India vs England Fifth ODI 2007 Preview

England has taken 3-1 lead in the ODI series against India. So, England now needs just another win from the last three ODI matches to win the series. On the other hand, it has now become tough for the Indians to win the ODI series because they have to now win all of the last three matches. It seems that lack of consistency has become a major problem for India. Throughout the test series and ODI series, hardly any Indian players could show consistency. Indian bowlers seem to be ordinary against English batsmen.

In contrast, I become amazed to see the English batsmen and the deepness of their batting line up. In the fifth ODI their no. 8 batsmen Ravi Bopara and no. 9 batsmen Stuart Broad made an unbeaten partnership to lead England to a three wicket win. On the other hand, English bowlers bowled very well maintaining line and length. Indian batsmen again failed to show their consistency.

The fifth ODI will be held on 2 September 2007 at Leeds. For both teams the match will have great importance. If England can win the match they will win the series. However, India will try their best to win the next match to make the series alive. India has no alternative of win in every match of the ODI series against England.

India Batting Strength

No doubt, batting is the main strength of Indian cricket team at this moment. It is said that India never lacks of batsmen. It does not matter how many star batsmen India has or how many star bowlers India has. Rather, it is a question of influence that to what extent Indian batsmen or bowlers are influencing the team. Cricket is a team game so many of you will not agree with me. You may say that only batsmen or only bowlers can not win a match for a team. I agree with you. However, still you can find that either bowlers or batsmen lead in a match. For India, batsmen could do it many times in the past. The most important thing is dominance. Indian batsmen can dominate over the opponent bowlers whereas I hardly see any Indian bowler after Kapil Dev to dominate over the opponent batsmen.

Anyway, the recent performance of Indian batsmen shows that they do not lack of talent or skill; rather it is their inconsistent batting performance which is now a major concern. It has been proved again in the fourth ODI match against England that India’s present batting line up is not so balanced. To tell the truth, India has just six batsmen up to Mahendra Singh Dhoni. However, throughout the ODI series, Indian tale enders could not show any impressive performance. Well, you can claim that tale enders are not batsmen. Yes, they are supposed to be bowlers first and batting is like an additional subject for them.

I agree with you but I think, modern cricket deserve some support from the tale enders as well. In today’s cricket, having just six batsmen in your team does not indicate a goiod balance. If you look at the England batting line up then you can easily understand it. Their no.8 and no. 9 batsmen are continuously playing like a specialist batsmen. Moreover, India played Ajit Agarkar as an all rounder but he is, no doubt, out of form at this moment in both batting and bowling. I think, in ODI series, inconsistent batting and lack of deepness in batting line up are making difference between the two teams.

England Batting Strength

English batsmen played very well in the fourth ODI match. They again proved their deepness in batting line up. I think, England will have better chance to win the Twenty20 world championship. Twenty20 World Championship will be held in South Africa from next month. So, the consistent batting performance of England batsmen will give a boost to their confidence level during the Twenty20 world cup.

To tell the truth, English tell enders helped England to win the match. Except, captain Paul Collingwood and Iran Bell, no other top order batsmen could play well in the match. However, it was enough for Stuart Broad and Ravi Bopara to lead England reach their target.

So, English batsmen must be determined to continue their tremendous performance in the fifth ODI as well to help England win the ODI series. I hope that England will get some special performance from their batsmen in Twenty20 world cup.

India Bowling Strength

It seems that bowling is an all time problem for India. In ODI series, Indian bowlers could not show any impressive performance yet. Most of the bowlers seem to be inexperienced. However, both Zaheer and Agarkar are playing in Indian team for many years. Though Ajit Agarkar took four wickets in the fourth ODI, he was very expensive. In a low scoring match, giving too many runs does not work so well. Spinner Ramesh Power bowled very well as he took 1 wicket conceding just 26 runs in hi s10 overs.

It is a matter of worry for the team officials that almost all the bowlers are out of form at this moment. Ahead of the upcoming Twenty20 world cup, it seems a big problem for the Indian team. I think, Indian selectors should have taken Harbhajan Singh in the team for this series.

England Bowling Strength

England bowlersa have been doing well in ODI series. Expect the second ODI England bowlers could bowl well. They do not have any dominating bowlers but still they are doing well because of their good line and length. James Anderson and Stuart Broad took 3 and 4 wickets respectively in the fourth ODI match. All rounder, Andrew Flintoff conceded only 31 runs in his 10 overs taking 1 wicket.

In the fifth ODI, I think, it would be vital for English bowlers because India play all out to win the match. I am sure, Indian batsmen will try to lead India in the fifth ODI match against England. It is a matter of fact that, Indian batsmen have the capability to dominate over the English bowlers. However, it is also true that in the ODI series, India could do it only once in the second match. English bowlers must take the challenge and be determined to resist the Indian batsmen to win the series.

Online Live Scores, Updates and Commentary

I know that cricket fans of both India and England are now excited to see a special end of the ODI series. However, many of you will become busy with your personal and professional works. So, I am here giving some website links from where you can get line scores, updates and commentary of the fifth ODI between India and England.