Rain threat to India-West Indies one-day series opener in Kochi

Kochi: For the moment, the skies above Kochi are largely clear with all the hues of November, though ominously enough, there are also islands of dark clouds. A cricket tourist arriving for Thursday's first India-West Indies ODI though, may find it advisable to carry an umbrella as per the forecast.

After the infamous Duleep Trophy washout last month due to poor drainage there is every possibility of an encore and as of on cue, it rained heavily on Monday night. However, with the ground staff working tirelessly, organisers are hopeful of avoiding any unnecessary delays on match day.

The Kerala Cricket Association claim to have made necessary improvements on soil percolation in the outfield, if and when it rains and the BCCI's West Zone curator, Dhiraj Parsana, who inspected the venue also seemed happy. “Though we cannot prevent rain, I'm happy with the work done on the outfield and the wicket,“ he said.

“If the weather is pleasant there will be an even battle between bat and ball. My assessment is that there is going to be help for to be help for batsmen, spinners, medium pacers. In short it is going to be a balanced wicket that will fetch around 270 runs,“ he added.

And optimism seems to run high despite the conditions. Five days after the ticket sales started the KCA confirmed a collection of '59.05 lakh and with both teams set to arrive on Tuesday the excitement is set to fire up.

“The teams will arrive tomorrow and M.S. Dhoni has agreed to inaugurate the Sachin Tendulkar pavilion on Wednesday. Players of both teams will sign on a giant cricket bat that is to be placed in the pavilion,“ said KCA joint secretary Jayesh George.

India, West Indies teams arrive for first ODI

India, West Indies teams arrive for first ODI

PTI

Kochi: India and West Indies cricket teams arrived here this afternoon for the first ODI of the three-match series to be played on Thursday. The teams were accorded a traditional welcome at the airport with Mohiniattam and Kathakali dancers greeting the players.

The two sides will begin their practice sessions tomorrow. A pavilion in the name of batting legend Sachin Tendulkar will be inaugurated at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium here tomorrow by India captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni. The unveiling of the 'Star Trophy' for the winners will also be held tomorrow.

The opening match of the series will be a day-night affair.

Test loss behind us, says Holder
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?DC CORRESPONDENT

MUMBAI: The West Indies were battered and bruised in the two-match Test series. Their approach to batting and lack of temperament let many cricket connoisseurs down. In the second Test at Wankhede, Rohit Sharma managed to score 54 runs with no. 11 Md. Shami to get to his second century of the series.

Their abject surrender prompted captain Darren Sammy to admit that their team 'failed to turn up in the series.' After such a thrashing, one would expect the team to do serious retrospection but if young fast bowler Jason Holder is to be believed, the visitors are brimming with energy ahead of the three-match ODI series starting on Thursday at Kochi.

“We are a very confident side at the moment. It is the first limited-overs series after we played against Pakistan (in July). I think we have a side that can turn things around and move forward,“ Holder said after his side's practice session at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday.

Holder asserted that the embarrassing Test loss was behind them. “The morale is very good at the moment.
We can't look back and change it. Looking ahead, I just think the guys need to be positive in the first game and make a mark in the opening match,“ added Holder.

Dwayne Bravo will lead the West Indies ODI team and the all-rounder will be able to utilise the services of senior fast bowler Ravi Rampaul and T20 sensation Sunil Narine. Holder believed new players would bring a fresh mindset.