March 9, Delhi
Start time 2.30 pm (0900 GMT)
Big Picture
India are in no mood to take this game lightly. MS Dhoni made it clear that he wants an easy ride in Delhi compared to the uncertain drives in Bangalore. They remain the only team in their group yet to lose a match. Barring Dhoni and Yusuf Pathan - both of whom have played useful cameos - all their batsmen have got either a century or a half-century under their belts in the tournament. Even if their bowling machine has not operated smoothly, it is being fine-tuned and they could well make a change or two for Wednesday.
The Netherlands is a nation of about 16 million people, mostly a quiet lot, who only bare their emotions when football is on. The cricketers are usually immune to noise, since they play most of their cricket indoors. So there is little doubt that Peter Borren’s men will feel intimidated when they walk out in front of a hostile crowd of 42,000, which might sound like a million. But Borren wants his troops to be brave.
More than heart, Netherlands’ players need to keep their head, and remain focussed. Ryan ten Doeschate, with his fighting knock against England in their first match, is their only batsman to score a century in this World Cup, while Tom Cooper is the only other player to get past fifty. India might have come out of a tight contest against the spirited Irish, but the reason they have been among the best teams in the world in the last two years is because they do not repeat their mistakes. If Netherlands have to stand strong, they need their collective best.
Form guide
(completed matches, most recent first)
India: WTWLL
Netherlands: LLLLL
Watch out for …
Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir will be playing in front of their home crowd at the Feroz Shah Kotla, but both Delhiites have poor records at the ground: Sehwag has a [ is an easy win." MS Dhoni expresses his calm before the clash with the Dutch.
“We are going to play brave cricket. Initially, our philosophy was to get out there and take the opposition on and hopefully put them on the back foot. We are going to go out there and try and cause a surprise.” Peter Borren raises the war cry ahead of Netherland’s “toughest” contest.
India have won one and lost one game in Delhi in World Cups. There have been only three day-night matches in Delhi (all three in the 2011 World Cup) of which two have been won by the side chasing.
Pitch report: Sunny Gavaskar terms this pitch as "National Highway No. 6". Enough said! "The ball may keep a little low in the second innings, but this is a batsman's pitch alright."
Toss:Netherlands win and choose to bat. Peter Borren: "We have been a bit disappointing with the bat recently, and we have a chance first up to rectify that.
Dhoni: "We would have wanted to bat first, since this pitch will slow down as we go. We wanted to bring Nehra in, so Munaf is being left out. Piyush Chawla stays. Compared to Ashwin, Chawla needs more practice so we decided to play him today. Ashwin is mentally stronger, and it doesn't matter against whom he comes in, he will do well.
Khan to Szwarczynski, FOUR, hideously lazt start this from India. Back of a length and wide of off stump, Eric looks to steer and gets an under edge that goes between Dhoni and the wide slip. Surely Dhoni could have made a better effort and stopped the ball, but his half-hearted jump is of no use.
[QUOTE]
11.5
Chawla to Szwarczynski, 1 run, appeal for lbw, turned down and given as a leg bye. Dhoni decided to review it. This is going to be interesting. The initial replay suggested there was some glove on it as Eric went for a sweep to a full ball on off stump. If it hadn't hit the glove that would have been out. Now, the umpire says not out. And then says it is not a leg bye. I am stumped. The umpire is confused. He's asks Eric to go back to take strike. Not sure how he can do that. Ah, now he gets it right. Eric gets the single. But it seems unfair that this should cost India a review. The umpire said leg bye, which is what prompted the review in the first place - Dhoni assumed it had hit pad first and hence was in for a chance to get the lbw. Reversing the leg bye and penalising the review that was based on the legb-bye seems unfair. UDRS controversies and India - now that's unconditional love
[/QUOTE]
Khan to Szwarczynski, FOUR, hideously lazt start this from India. Back of a length and wide of off stump, Eric looks to steer and gets an under edge that goes between Dhoni and the wide slip. Surely Dhoni could have made a better effort and stopped the ball, but his half-hearted jump is of no use.
:k: