Problem of plenty

Despite having wrapped up the ODI series,there is no room for complacency in Team England.

Promised a surprise for the following afternoon on Tuesday night,most members of the Indian team woke up on Wednesday morning with the anticipation of what lay in store for them. With the final game of the tour still a couple of days away,the visitors decided to become tourists,switching off completely from the cricket.

At breakfast,the secret was out of the bag,and wide grins followed the team managements arrangement of a post-noon go-karting session. For a jaded side at the fag end of a long and miserable tour where mishaps and misfortune have been their constant companion this was a rare day when the players didnt rise from bed loaded with cricketing worries. For once,there was no countdown to the flight back home.

While the Team India bus took an unusual detour and bypassed Sophia Gardens,it was business as usual for the rest of Cardiff city. Back at the impressive SWALEC Stadium,Team Englands net session was very high on intensity,as has been the norm on this tour. There was also the mandatory talk of the high possibility of rain on matchday.

So far during the ODI series,Team England,along with messrs Duckworth and Lewis,have had the biggest say. And with more talk of another tag-team,Friday might be no different. But that doesnt matter to this England side,going by their practice session.

Predictions of a washout,or even the unassailable lead that the team currently possesses in this series,are not crucial factors to Alastair Cook and his men. Such is the talent on the England bench these days that the so-called regulars who make it to the playing eleven cannot afford to take any match lightly. Even if their rivals dont challenge their skills,the healthy competition within keeps complacency away from the ranks. But at the moment,the England team management is dealing with a minor crisis.

With Eoin Morgan and Stuart Broad ruled out with injuries,the home side is without two of their finest limited-over cricketers. As of now,Ravi Bopara seems to have filled Morgans shoes by striking form in the Lords ODI,but filling Broads void in the pace department is always going to be the tougher ask for Steven Finn and Jade Dernbach.

After finishing the Tests as Man of the Series,Broad continued to make an impact in the ODIs. Even during the course of the last ODI where he injured himself,Broad dismissed both Indian openers,Parthiv Patel and Ajinkya Rahane,after coming on as first change.

Trump cards

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Morgan and Broad were also going to be skipper Cooks trump cards during Englands visit to India next month for the return ODI series. Morgans ability to face spinners and Broads strength to get bounce on the flattest of tracks make the pair an asset for any player. But to be on the safer side,the England team management are bound to be keeping an eye out for suitable replacements during the final ODI in Cardiff. Just ask Graeme Swann,who was named Englands T20 skipper in Broads absence.

Bopara has done well and he can be an asset in India. Moreover,the absence of stars gives youngsters the opportunity theyre looking for, the off-spinner says.

Retaining a place in the present England side is a big ask these days. Jonathan Trott,minutes after receiving the ICC Player of the Year honour,was asked if there was pressure on him to hold on to his place in the ODI side.

Although the timing and the intent of the question could be called cruel,it isnt totally irrelevant. Whenever Morgan gets fits,Trott will find it tough to find his place in a line up that has Cook,Kieswetter,Ian Bell and Ravi Bopara.