da marjack bet： Having failed to clinch the Test series, India will look to reasserttheir supremacy over Zimbabwe when they take on the hosts in theiropening match of the triangular one-day series at Harare on Sunday
23-Jun-2001Having failed to clinch the Test series, India will look to reasserttheir supremacy over Zimbabwe when they take on the hosts in theiropening match of the triangular one-day series at Harare on Sunday.With a 26-6 win-loss record, India obviously have an edge over theirrivals and start favourites against a home side devoid of thecharismatic Andy Flower and with a new captain at the helm.Grant Flower took over as the new captain of Zimbabwe after HeathStreak stepped down just ahead of the opening match against WestIndies today.That the Indians have left the setback of the four-wicket loss in thesecond Test far behind was in evidence in the thumping ten-wicket winover Zimbabwe A in a practice match yesterday.But probably the most important reason for the Indians to feelconfident 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 theinspirational Andy Flower around whom the entire innings of the teamrevolves. He has played the sheet anchor role on so many ocassionsthat it has become almost impossible to think of a Zimbabwe sidewithout him.The Indians have some more reasons to cheer about. The four playerscalled especially for the one-dayers looked in fine touch in thepractice match yesterday with Virendra Sehwag making a blisteringunbeaten 75 off just 53 balls. Sehwag is a certainty for tomorrow’smatch along with Hemang Badani who too has been quite consistent inthe limited overs matches.Captain Sourav Ganguly must be feeling a little better after scoring afew runs yesterday and the team would be hoping his bad run with thebat finally gets over here.Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman and Rahul Dravid have all looked goodhere though the big innings has eluded them. They have got accustomedto the conditions though they need to adhere to Streak’s advice ofexercising a bit more patience while batting.All-rounder Reetinder Singh Sodhi and middle-order batsman DineshMongia, who joined the one-day team along with Sehwag and fast bowlerHarvinder Singh, would find it difficult to make it to the teamconsidering 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 afterperforming exceedingly well in the Test series, India have four paceoptions and at least three of them are certain to play considering theseamer-friendly wickets here.For Zimbabwe, 17-year-old schoolboy Tatenda Taibu, who makes his debutagainst West Indies today, has been entrusted with the job of keepingthe wickets in the place of Andy Flower.In the absence of Andy Flower, his brother and new captain GrantFlower, who had a tremendous Test series against India, will have toshoulder the major responsibility. Stuart Carlisle and Dion Ebrahimhave shown their hunger for runs and Alistair Campbell is long overduefor a big innings.In the bowling department, David Mutendera and Mluleki Nkala form aformidable 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, RahulDravid, Hemang Badani, Virendra Sehwag, Dinesh Mongia, Reetinder SinghSodhi, Samir Dighe, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Debasish Mohanty,Ajit Agarkar, Ashish Nehra, Harvinder Singh.Zimbabwe: Grant Flower (capt), Alistair Campbell, Dion Ebrahim, StuartCarlisle, Guy Whittall, Heath Streak, Brian Murphy, Mluleki Nkala,Andy Blignaut, Tatenda Taibu, Dirk Viljoen, David Mutendera.