England will go with mixed feelings ahead of the first ODI at Rajkot by CricketArchive Staff Reporter

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Event:

England in India 2008/09

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DateLine: 12th November 2008

 

England will go with mixed feelings ahead of the first ODI at Rajkot Though England lost their second warm up game against the Mumbai Cricket Association, Their captain Kevin Pietersen seemed unperturbed. England will still have mixed feelings going into the first ODI at Rajkot. They won the first warm up match convincingly but were humiliated in the second one. They would want to put that second warm up match behind them soon and get back to serious business ahead of the first ODI.

Considering the fact that they thrashed South Africa at home in the odis 4-0 they would be confident, but the conditions and the opposition are totally different. With injuries to two key fast bowlers Ryan Sidebottom and Stuart Broad they will rely a lot on Harmison, Anderson and Flintoff. They would want at least one of the injured bowlers to get fit. Flintoff's century, his first in three years since the ashes 2005 was the only silver lining of the warm up game. They would want their Captain, the openers Bell and Matt Prior, Collingwood and Owais Shah to fire on all cylinders on the placid track, fast outfield and small ground in Rajkot. Runs are a must there. Anything less than 280 may be a problem for them.

Kevin Pietersen has assured that once the ODI starts his team will be switched on, one needs to believe him as he has not lost anything apart from the Stanford 20-20 since taking over. India will be wary of this English side and would like to do away with complacency. As their captain said they will come back hard on Friday, India should be ready for it.