Long-term plan for shorter version

With World Cup in South Africa only a couple of months away, both India and West Indies are looking at the seven-match one-day series, start...

With World Cup in South Africa only a couple of months away, both India and West Indies are looking at the seven-match one-day series, starting here at Keenan Stadium, as a good opportunity to test their strengths and weaknesses and get ready for the mega event ahead. India, after their 2-0 victory in the just concluded Test series, will start as favourites but the Caribbeans, who played better to draw the third and final Test at Eden Gardens, are no less confident about winning it.

In overall standings, the West Indians are still well ahead of their opponents, winning 42 of the 69 one-day matches played between the two countries so far. While the Indians have won 25, one match ended in a tie while the other one was abandoned.

TEAMS

INDIA: Saurav Ganguly capt, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman, Mohammad Kaif, Yuvraj Singh, JP Yadav, Anil Kumble, Harbhajan Singh, Ajit Agarkar, Ashish Nehra.

WEST INDIES from: Carl Hooper captain, Wavell Hinds, Chris Gayle, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Daren Ganga, Marlon Samuels, Ryan Hinds, Gareth Breese, Ridley Jacobs wk, Mahendra Nagamotto, Mervyn Dillon, Pedro Collins, Cameron Cuffy, Ricardo Poell, V Dreekes. Coach: Roger Harper; Manager: Ricky Skeritt.
Match referee: Mike Procter South Africa. Onfield umpires: Asoka de Silva Sri Lanka, AV Jayaprakash. TV umpire: Sivaram; Reserve umpire: ESC Gupta.

After a two-hour nets session, captain Saurav Ganguly announced that speedster Javagal Srinath, Test opener Sanjay Bangar and Dinesh Mongia, who was included at the last minute to give rest to an injured Sachin Tendulkar, would not feature in the opening match.

That automatically finalises India8217;s playing XI. Ganguly said the team management decided to give JP Yadav a chance as 8216;8216;we are trying to have some promising all-rounders for the ensuing World Cup8217;8217;. West Indies skipper Carl Hooper, who along with his teammates also underwent a rigorous practice session, lasting three and half ours, said that the composition of the playing XI would be decided later tonight.

When asked about the chances of including Ricardo Powell, Hooper said: 8216;8216;He is very talented with 31 ODIs under his belt. A brilliant fielder, Ricardo is also a handy off-spin bowler. About the fitness of pace bowler Pedro Collins, the West Indies skipper said: 8216;8216;He is fit and available for selection.8217;8217;

When asked bout his thoughts on the seven-match series, Hooper said: 8216;8216;One-day cricket is a different ball game. We will see how good we are in a couple of months.8217;8217;

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He, however indicated that the team aimed to carry on their good work in the third Test into the one-day series.

Hooper claimed that the Caribbeans are a good one-day side. 8216;8216;We are looking forward to start the ensuing series on a positive note.8217;8217;

On the newly-laid Keenan wicket, which has a little amount of dry grass and a few cracks on it, both the captains described it as 8216;8216;dry and good for batting8217;8217;.

However, Hooper termed the wicket as 8216;8216;funny8217;8217;. When asked to comment of the cracks, the India captain said: 8216;8216;We have asked the groundsman to give it a good rolling.8217;8217; According to groundsman Maheswar Sahu, who prepared the pitch in three months time, it would be a sporting one.