India v England 2nd ODI Watch Streaming online
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, they are in danger of being steamrolled by Mahendra Singh Dhoni's clinical outfit which executed a 158-run victory in the first one-dayer. The upshot for England is that it will be relatively easier for them to improve on their previous effort, while India will be challenged to reproduce a performance as devastating as the one in Rajkot.
Touring sides face several tests in India. The common ones bandied about are difficulties in adjusting to the climate, the environment outside hotels, and the playing conditions: several Australian cricketers, for instance, were ill during the recent Test series. However, the biggest challenge is overcoming a formidable opponent in conditions tailored to its style of play. Indian batsmen have always flourished at home but recently their fast bowlers have become more effective on flat pitches by learning to reverse swing the ball. Fielding used to be a weakness, but the average age of this squad is 24 and they are fleet-footed, safe, and accurate.
England's limited-overs form, before the three massive defeats, was excellent. They beat South Africa 4-0 at home and their coach Peter Moores said they needed to play the same quality of cricket in different conditions in India. Their bowlers in particular need to find the right length quickly, especially against an opening pair that will attack from the outset. Ground once ceded is hard to regain. England bat deep - Stuart Broad is at No 9 - but there is little their batsmen can do if they have to chase 300-plus totals on india's opening partnership: The Rajkot match will be remembered for Yuvraj Singh's astonishing stroke play but the foundation for India's victory was laid by their openers. Virender Sehwag and Gautam Gambhir were in excellent form during the Tests against Australia and they carried it into the first one-dayer. Both openers scored half-centuries and added 127 in 19.5 overs: a partnership full of big hits and terrific running between the wickets.
England's big two: Andrew Flintoff's finished 1 for 67 but he had figures of 1 for 34 off eight overs before he was battered by Yuvraj. Flintoff was the only bowler to exercise control over the run-rate during the first half of the Indian innings. Although the contest had been decided by the time Kevin Pietersen began his innings, he was in excellent touch during his 63 off 56 balls and particularly severe on India's spinners, scoring 43 off 29 balls against them.
The batting team's Powerplay: Both Dhoni and Collingwood were of the opinion that the new playing condition,