Durban, Feb 25: England's make-or-break World Cup clash with India on Wednesday will offer an intriguing head-to-head confrontation between the best batsman in the world and the find of the tournament. James Anderson, 20 years young and who was still playing club cricket a year ago, will be tested as never before in his short career by Sachin Tendulkar.
Anderson produced a near-perfect swing-bowling display to take four for 29 in England's shock 112-run victory over Pakistan in Cape Town on Saturday. That victory has galvanised a team, which many commentators had all but written off after their wretched start to the tournament, dominated by their refusal to play in Zimbabwe because of security concerns.
England, with three victories in the three games, will feel they must win to reach the Super Six stage. They face Australia in their final group match but have not beaten the world champions in their last 13 encounters.
Nasser Hussain's side will have the advantage of playing their second consecutive game under floodlights, where seaming conditions can make life difficult for sides chasing targets. England, though, have one big worry. Michael Vaughan, the team's top batsman who made a fluent half-century against Pakistan, is struggling with a calf strain.
India, meanwhile, still have lingering batting concerns in spite of their spectacular display against minnows Namibia. However, India can draw confidence from their recent record against England. Last summer at Lord's, they chased down 326 to score a thrilling two-wicket victory in the tri-series final and then crushed them by eight wickets in a Champions Trophy league game in Colombo in September.
Bureau Report