Action replaces five-day soap

RAJKOT, NOV 4: Adieu to freeze frame scoreboards, crowding close-catching cordon, crawling batsmen, drained out bowlers and follow-on fol...

RAJKOT, NOV 4: Adieu to freeze frame scoreboards, crowding close-catching cordon, crawling batsmen, drained out bowlers and follow-on follies. The Motera experience has replaced the Romanticism of the five-day affair by sheer cynicism. The one-day itch was getting too strong to resist. When a TNT black and white classic gets unbearably boring, all one needs to do is switch over to AXN. And that has been done.

Looking at the track record and explosive cast at the nets, the first One-Day International of the five match series at the Rajkot Municipal Corporation on Friday promises to get over that nauseating Motera hang over. While the groundsmen were busy turning the pitch brown from the temporarily green, the captains were promising to paint the stadium red on Friday.

Indian skipper Sachin Tendulkar put the nail on the head, saying, 8220;What we are looking at is consistency.8221;

New Zealand skipper Stephen Fleming, who had played here during 1995 tour game against Board President XI, said familiar groundcondition breeds confidence. Another piece of statistics which would have been music to Fleming8217;s ears is India8217;s one win and three loss record at this venue. But in the same breath, the mild-mannered skipper confessed Indians are formidable at home.

The Kiwi Black Cap is feathered with a number of home wins and not many have left their backyard with heads high, though India drew their One-Day International series 2-2 before this year8217;s World Cup. The teams have met once after that squared series 8212; New Zealand winning the inconsequential final game of the Super Six league in England. That made two losses in two games for India and the Kiwis are poised on a hat-trick.

Of the 38 games played this year, India have lost 18, won 18 while two were abandoned. Figures which would give an Indian fan a good night8217;s sleep is the home and away record of the two teams. India have won 56 per cent of their home games while the Kiwis have won 29 per cent of their away games. Turning a blind eye to everything else, justthis piece of statistic would make India favourites for Friday8217;s game.

Giving all-round support to India8217;s cause will be the shorter version super specialists Nikhil Chopra and Robin Singh. But they, along with Vijay Bharadwaj, pale in comparison to the Chris8217;. New Zealand8217;s Harris and Cairns, who have more than 2000 runs and 100 wickets, are the few genuine all-rounders a species fast becoming extinct.

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A capacity crowd is expected for the match and a near capacity turnout was witnessed at the nets. The one-dayer tomorrow coincides with the Pontiff8217;s landing in India and also the release of a much-hyped family drama by a sure-shot movie director. But for the people of Rajkot, cricket is the biggest entertainer.

Teams: India: Sachin Tendulkar captain, Saurav Ganguly, Rahul Dravid, Sadgopan Ramesh, Ajay Jadeja, Robin Singh, Nikhil Chopra, Vijay Bharadwaj, MSK Prasad, Sunil Joshi, Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, Venkatesh Prasad, Debashish Mohanty.

New Zealand: Stephen Fleming captain,Matt Horne, Craig Spearman, Nathan Astle, Adam Parore, Chris Cairns, Daniel Vettori, Dion Nash, Chris Drum, Shayne O8217; Connor, Chris Harris, Gary Stead, Scott Styris, Roger Twose.

Umpires: Hariharan and I Shivram. Third Umpire: M R Singh. Reserve umpire: C K Mohite. Match starts at 9:00 am.

Sandeep Dwivedi

Sandeep Dwivedi is the Sports Editor at The Indian Express. He is one of India's most prominent sports journalists, known for his deep analytical insights and storytelling that often goes beyond scores and statistics to explore the human and cultural side of sports. Professional Profile Role: As the Sports Editor, he leads the sports coverage for the newspaper and the website. Weekly Column: He writes "The Sports Column," a weekly feature where he provides sharp, narrative-driven perspectives on the biggest sporting news of the week. Podcast: He is a frequent contributor to the "Express Sports" podcast (Game Time), where he discusses evolving trends in cricket and other international sports. Areas of Expertise While Dwivedi covers the entire sporting spectrum, his work is particularly noted in the following areas: Cricket: He provides extensive coverage of the Indian National Team and the IPL. He frequently analyzes the leadership styles of figures like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and Gautam Gambhir. He is known for tracking the transition phases of Indian cricket and the evolution of specific players like Kuldeep Yadav and Rishabh Pant. Athletics & Olympic Sports: He has written extensively on Neeraj Chopra’s rise in javelin, the nuances of Indian shooting, and tennis legends like Sania Mirza and Leander Paes. Human Interest Stories: A hallmark of his writing is his focus on the struggles and backgrounds of athletes, such as the sacrifices made by Shafali Verma’s father or the "silent battles" of veteran players like Cheteshwar Pujara. Notable Recent Work & Themes Leadership and Dynamics: Recently, he has written about the dynamic between Gautam Gambhir, Virat Kohli, and Rohit Sharma, arguing that personal friendship is not a prerequisite for team success. Sports & Culture: His articles often intersect with global culture, such as his deep dive into the 100-year legacy of the Harlem Globetrotters and their role as American soft power during the Cold War. The "Grey Areas" of Sport: He often addresses sensitive topics like the mental health of cricketers post-retirement, the "outrage industry" in sports broadcasting, and the impact of fan-wars on the game. Tenure and Experience Dwivedi has been with The Indian Express for over three decades. This experience allows him to provide historical context to modern sporting events, often comparing current crises or triumphs to those of previous generations. You can follow his latest work and columns on his official Indian Express Author Profile. ... Read More