India out to prove Test loss was a fluke

June 23, 2001

Having failed to clinch the Test series, India will look to reassert their supremacy over Zimbabwe when they take on the hosts in their opening match of the triangular one-day series at Harare on Sunday.

With a 26-6 win-loss record, India obviously have an edge over their rivals and start favourites against a home side devoid of the charismatic Andy Flower and with a new captain at the helm.

Grant Flower took over as the new captain of Zimbabwe after Heath Streak stepped down just ahead of the opening match against West Indies today.

That the Indians have left the setback of the four-wicket loss in the second Test far behind was in evidence in the thumping ten-wicket win over Zimbabwe A in a practice match yesterday.

But probably the most important reason for the Indians to feel confident about their prospects would be the absence of Andy Flower, the most prolific Zimbabwean scorer against India.

For the same reason, Zimbabwe would be a bit worried, for it is the inspirational Andy Flower around whom the entire innings of the team revolves. He has played the sheet anchor role on so many ocassions that it has become almost impossible to think of a Zimbabwe side without him.

The Indians have some more reasons to cheer about. The four players called especially for the one-dayers looked in fine touch in the practice match yesterday with Virendra Sehwag making a blistering unbeaten 75 off just 53 balls. Sehwag is a certainty for tomorrow's match along with Hemang Badani who too has been quite consistent in the limited overs matches.

Captain Sourav Ganguly must be feeling a little better after scoring a few runs yesterday and the team would be hoping his bad run with the bat finally gets over here.

Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid have all looked good here though the big innings has eluded them. They have got accustomed to the conditions though they need to adhere to Streak's advice of exercising a bit more patience while batting.

All-rounder Reetinder Singh Sodhi and middle-order batsman Dinesh Mongia, who joined the one-day team along with Sehwag and fast bowler Harvinder Singh, would find it difficult to make it to the team considering they are yet to have a feel of the conditions here.

It would be interesting to see the bowling composition of the team. With Delhi seamer Ashish Nehra being asked to stay back after performing exceedingly well in the Test series, India have four pace options and at least three of them are certain to play considering the seamer-friendly wickets here.

For Zimbabwe, 17-year-old schoolboy Tatenda Taibu, who makes his debut against West Indies today, has been entrusted with the job of keeping the wickets in the place of Andy Flower.

In the absence of Andy Flower, his brother and new captain Grant Flower, who had a tremendous Test series against India, will have to shoulder the major responsibility. Stuart Carlisle and Dion Ebrahim have shown their hunger for runs and Alistair Campbell is long overdue for a big innings.

In the bowling department, David Mutendera and Mluleki Nkala form a formidable combination in the company of Streak and Andy Blignaut. Grant Flower and Brian Murphy will take care of the spin department.

The teams (from):

India: Saurav Ganguly (capt), Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Rahul Dravid, Hemang Badani, Virendra Sehwag, Dinesh Mongia, Reetinder Singh Sodhi, Samir Dighe, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Debasish Mohanty, Ajit Agarkar, Ashish Nehra, Harvinder Singh.

Zimbabwe: Grant Flower (capt), Alistair Campbell, Dion Ebrahim, Stuart Carlisle, Guy Whittall, Heath Streak, Brian Murphy, Mluleki Nkala, Andy Blignaut, Tatenda Taibu, Dirk Viljoen, David Mutendera.

© PTI

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