Reetinder set to make one-day international debut

By S. Sabanayakan

CUTTACK, DEC. 1.One of the main reasons of India's rather indifferent showing in limited overs version of the game since it won the coveted World Cup in 1983 has been lack of genuine allrounders in the side. And the decision to blood one of the promising youngsters, Reetinder Singh Sodhi, against Zimbabwe in the first of the five-match one- day International series here at the Barabati Stadium on Saturday is a welcome one indeed.

Sodhi, aiming to excel as an allrounder, has been one of the best to emerge from the junior lot. His good showing for National Cricket Academy against the visitors in the tour opener and his consistent performance in the domestic matches for the past couple of years rightly pitchforked him to the highest

league.

With Robin Singh (Sr) not finding favour with the National selectors, here is a fine chance for Sodhi to seal a permanent place in the one-day team. Skipper Sourav Ganguly, in naming the XII for Saturday's contest, left one of the two youngsters, local hero Shiv Sundar Das and Tamil Nadu's Hemang Badani, to fight for the lone slot available in the side.

If India's preparation, under the new coach, John Wright, has been meaningful, Zimbabwe could not finalise its playing XI or even shortlist the 12 owing to fitness worries. Zimbabwe captain Heath Streak informed at the end of the nets this morning that the playing XI will be made known only later this evening. The visitors main worry is the injury to Travis Friend's left ankle though the allrounder bowled and

batted without much discomfort at the nets and Zimbabwe should find itself in a better frame of mind when its thinktank sits down to finalise the team.

Having lost the Test series 0-1, Zimbabwe will be looking to do well in the one-day series before moving to New Zealand and later to Australia. There is no doubt that this Zimbabwe side is the better of the two adversaries on the field. With better and planned attack and imaginative batting, it can really run India close in the limited overs version.

The last time the two teams played that was also the last one-day game at this venue, produced a high scoring game in which India triumphed by 32 runs. In fact, this venue has been a happy hunting ground for the home team, for it had won six of the eight it played.

India's chances is based on its batting strength. Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly, expected to open the innings, are the two premier batsmen. Rahul Dravid, in roaring form, will be coming in at No. 3 followed by another exciting batsmen Yuveraj Singh. Either it is Shiv Sundar Das or Hemang Badani, most probably the latter, will come in at No. 5 and Sodhi should follow him. After Sunil Joshi, a competent hitter who can also be used as a pinchhitter, wicket-keeper Vijay Dahiya, Ajit Agarkar, Zaheer Khan and B.K. Venkatesh Prasad should follow in that order.

Ganguly feels India has the wherewithal to take the lead in the five-game series. And the flat batting track of the Barabati Stadium should help in his quest for an early advantage. He is candid in his observation saying ``no team can be taken lightly especially in one-day game.'' Coach John Wright feels Indian fielding has to measure up to world class if the team has to make an impact in international arena.

``The bowling too needs to bowl with a lot of discipline and there is no short cut to success at the highet level,'' he opines.

Zimbabwe is likely to go into the game with a strong batting lineup that will include Alistair Campbell, Guy Withall, Stuart Carlisle, Andy Flower, Grant Flower, Gavin Rennie or Doughas Marillier. Streak himself will spearhead the bowling along with Henry Olonga, Bryan Strang, Travis Friend and Dirk Viljoen. If Friend and Marilier are played both will be making their first appearance for Zimbabwe in a one-day international. Zimbabwe may include Brian Murphy or use Grant as the fifth bowler.

``Zimbabwe is the most improved side in recent years,'' feels Streak. ``It could come up to certain standard over a short period indicates the commitment of the cricketers for whom playing for the country is the fore most,'' he says.

History, of course, backs India to do well. Out of 29 meetings, India have won 22 and Zimbabwe 5 with two ending in tie. At home, India won eight out of nine contests with one ending in tie. Playing at Zimbabwe, India won three out of five, the other two going in favour of Zimbabwe. But one-day game being totally unpredictable, India cannot lower its guard without disastrous consequences.

The teams:

India (from): Sourav Ganguly (captain), Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Yuveraj Singh, Reetinder Singh Sodhi, Sunil Joshi, Vijay Dahiya (wicket-keeper), Ajit Agarkar, Zaheer Khan, B.K. Venkatesh Prasad, Hemang Badani, Shiv Sundar Das, Sridharan Sriram and Nikhil Chopra.

Zimbabwe (from): Heath Streak (captain), Alistair Campbell, Guy Whittall, Stuart Carlisle, Andy Flower (wicket-keeper), Grant Flower, Douglas Marillier, Gavin Rennie, Travis Friend, Henry Olonga, Bryan Strang, Dirk Viljoen, Brian Murphy, Trevor Madondo and Mluleki Nkala.

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