Perth: An under-fire India will be hoping to get their act together in the virtual semifinal against a better-placed England in the final league match of the cricket tri-series, here on Friday.
Lucky to share two points with Australia, who are awaiting their opponents in the final, in the washed off game in Sydney, the Mahendra Singh Dhoni-led side will not only try to address its bowling worries but also try to pull up its batting socks.Failing to register a win in the league stage so far, the Indian bowlers were unable to defend their 267 runs in their first match, while the team was shot for 153 in the second game against England.
All eyes were on Rohit Sharma’s fitness after the opener failed to take part in the last two ODIs post a fluent 138 in the team’s opener against the hosts but the team management is not looking to risk his strained hamstring so close to the World Cup.
Meanwhile, Ajinkya Rahane has shown flexibility with the think-tank still tinkering with the team’s batting order as Ambati Rayudu looks uncomfortable at the number three position.
Shikhar Dhawan’s batting form has also contributed to India’s dismal showing in the ODIs as the left-handed opener has just managed 11 runs in three matches to give the team a big reason to worry before the World Cup.
The rest of the cast has also not been consistent and Virat Kohli is still trying to find his groove at the No.4 spot.
Even after getting stick from the Australian batsmen in the Test matches and the Indian critics, the bowlers still continue to leak runs without picking many wickets. With Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav and Mohammed Shami still trying to find the right length all through the Australian summer, spinners Akshar Patel and Ravichandran Ashwin find little help from the fast-paced tracks. A bowling all-rounder is what India have been searching for and if Stuart Binny can deliver if picked in the XI then the Men in Blue will fancy their chances against Eoin Morgan and company.
England though also have had a patchy run in this tournament so far but have certainly looked much better than India on the field.
Getting a bonus point against Dhoni and company in the nine-wicket win in Brisbane has been their high-point so far as they lost both their ODIs against arch-rivals Australia.
With five points from three games, England certainly have the upper hand in the knockout game but WACA is always a different ball game for any visiting side. (PTI)
