India and England will both have a improved idea of their World Cup qualifications when they meet in one of the stand-out matches of the tournament so far in Bangalore on Sunday. India, powerfully imaginary to add a second World Cup trophy to their 1983 success, were in commanding form while seeing off co-hosts Bangladesh by 87 runs in the tournament opener in Dhaka. Hundreds from Virender Sehwag and Virat Kohli indicated it will be a bold captain who follows Bangladesh skipper Shakib Al Hasan's example by asking India to bat after winning the toss.
Sachin Tendulkar, who looked in excellent touch, may well have got to three figures as well but for a dreadful run out mix-up with Sehwag. Star batsman Tendulkar has been causing millions of Indian hearts to miss a beat with a scan of his left knee barely two days after the start of the tournament but initial indications are that the 'Little Master' will face England. Of debatably greater concern to India was the performance of fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, whose five wicket less overs against Bangladesh cost an expensive 53 runs.
He may be the quickest member of India's attack but pace, especially in one-day cricket, is usually worthless against top-class batsmen if it's lacking in control. By contrast, Munaf Patel provided a textbook example of how seamers should bowl on sub continental pitches in maintaining a full length and good line on his way to four for 48 against the Tigers. The question facing India is whether, with left-arm seamer Ashish Nehra nursing an injury that kept him out of the Bangladesh game, they drop Sreesanth and bring in a second spinner in leg-break bowler Piyush Chawla to addition the undoubted threat of Harbhajan Singh.
Sachin Tendulkar, who looked in excellent touch, may well have got to three figures as well but for a dreadful run out mix-up with Sehwag. Star batsman Tendulkar has been causing millions of Indian hearts to miss a beat with a scan of his left knee barely two days after the start of the tournament but initial indications are that the 'Little Master' will face England. Of debatably greater concern to India was the performance of fast bowler Shanthakumaran Sreesanth, whose five wicket less overs against Bangladesh cost an expensive 53 runs.
He may be the quickest member of India's attack but pace, especially in one-day cricket, is usually worthless against top-class batsmen if it's lacking in control. By contrast, Munaf Patel provided a textbook example of how seamers should bowl on sub continental pitches in maintaining a full length and good line on his way to four for 48 against the Tigers. The question facing India is whether, with left-arm seamer Ashish Nehra nursing an injury that kept him out of the Bangladesh game, they drop Sreesanth and bring in a second spinner in leg-break bowler Piyush Chawla to addition the undoubted threat of Harbhajan Singh.
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