West Indies v India 1st ODI at Kingston, June 26 - Preview

Kingston: India play their first match of a four-ODI series against West Indies. The series isn't just a test for India's cricketers after their dismal show in the World T20, but will test the viability of the 50-over format itself.

MS Dhoni and his men won the one-day series trophy in New Zealand just a few months ago. It was a historic first-ever triumph in the country, but somehow seems to be a page from distant memory.

Since that series India's players have been seen only in the shorter and crisper T20 format, and many are cynical if the cricket fan will have the patience or desire to sit through a full day to watch 100 overs of cricket after the barrage of T20 cricket of late.

India's players can't afford to be swept away by the debate. Their form in one-day cricket in recent times has been good with series wins over England and Sri Lanka as well, besides the demolition job they carried out in New Zealand.

In fact, a closer look at the ICC rankings for one-day teams shows India are within striking distance of South Africa for the top spot. So a series win in the West Indies will help them climb the charts further and help erase memories of the defeat in the 2007 World Cup.

India will have to pull off the win without some key men though, around whom this one-day outfit has been constructed. Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag are the first choice opening pair and both are missing with injury. Zaheer Khan has been the lynchpin of the seam bowling attack but he too is nursing a sore shoulder at home.

But West Indies captain Chris Gayle isn't one to take India lightly. "It is never a walk-over against India. There are a lot of guys still there to give us a lot of trouble, so we just have to stick to the game plan and make it a successful one," he said.

India will also be searching for revenge for the 1-4 loss at the hands of the West Indies when they last toured in 2006. So there is plenty at stake over these next few days.

West Indies coach John Dyson said his resurgent team will be more dangerous at home turf and will play an aggressive brand of cricket in the one-day series against India starting on Friday.

Dyson said they have chalked out strategies to tackle key Indian players, though he admitted the new members in the side could spring a surprise.

"We will play aggressive cricket, we will play to win as always, and we will aim for consistency of performance," Dyson was quoted in the media here on Wednesday.

"The players love the sunshine on their back, they like the warmer temperature, the local food. Of course, they like being home. They missed their families while they were away in England and getting back to the Caribbean will suit them down to the ground," said the former Australian Test opener.

West Indies are high on form and confidence after reaching the semi-final of the World Twenty20 in England. Skipper Chris Gayle led the side from the front with some smashing knocks as West Indies demolished Australia in the group stage and then went on to upset India and England in the Super Eights to become surprise semi-finalists before falling to Sri Lanka.

In contrast, pre-tournament favourties India were knocked out after losing all three matches in the Super Eights. Mahendra Singh Dhoni's team faced a lot of criticism back home as reports of an unfit and tired squad playing in England made headlines.

Left-arm medium-pacer Ashish Nehra, last played an international for India in September 2005 after which a spate of injuries kept him out of contention. However, a strong performance in the IPL, where Nehra was the third-highest wicket-taker with 19 at 18.21 each, coupled with the axing of Munaf Patel and Irfan Pathan, paved the way for his return.

Darren Bravo anywhere near as skilled as his sibling Dwayne, India have a problem on their hands. Darren Bravo's an unknown quantity to people outside the Caribbean, having played only 15 first-class games and eight List A matches for Trinidad & Tobago. It will be interesting to see what responsibility he's given, if he plays, in the first two games against India.

Team news
India have a few decisions to make regarding the composition of their final XI. Should Rohit Sharma continue opening in Sehwag's absence? Or should he move down the order to give Vijay or Karthik a chance at the top? What of S Badrinath? Another worry for the team management is the delayed arrival of Karthik, Vijay and Badrinath due to issues with obtaining a transit visa to England. They were scheduled to arrive in Jamaica on Thursday evening.

Simmons' omission from the West Indies squad was surprising considering he scored 150 runs during the World Twenty20, including a 50-ball 77 against South Africa, and took a four-wicket haul in the group match against Sri Lanka. They also omitted Darren Sammy who has been an underrated allrounder in the West Indian outfit.

Stats and trivia

• West Indies have won four out of their last five ODIs in Jamaica - against India, Pakistan, Zimbabwe and Ireland. India have played only two ODIs at Sabina Park of which they lost one by 1-run and won the other.
• Only once has a team made more than 300 at Sabina Park: Pakistan made 349 against Zimbabwe during the 2007 World Cup. The highest target successfully chased there is 254 when South Africa made 255 for 2 against West Indies in 2005.

Match fact:
Friday June 26, 2009
Start time: 09:30 local, 14:30 GMT

Highlights of the match