India

Post mortems of the Test defeat have been done. Every nook and corner, every nut and bolt of the humiliating defeat in whites have been analysed at length that has called for new measures. A new team director, a new support staff and some new faces in the Indian team look for positivity ahead of the first ODI against England in Bristol. If the warm-up game against Middlesex leading up to the first ODI is to be taken into consideration, India could try and take some confidence from it. A seventy for Virat Kohli could keep the man himself in good stead who has been completely out of sorts in the Test series. Apart from Kohli, Ambati Rayudu got a seventy as well and has made a case for himself for a place in the playing eleven. Leg-spinner Karn Sharma’s 3-wicket haul opens up more selection dilemmas for India and whether the spinner will make his ODI debut will be worth a watch. There has been an influx of new faces with refined energy in the team for the ODIs; will India give them a chance and if given a chance will they make those opportunities count? Can Suresh Raina’s exuberance on the field lift up energies within the team and will Rohit Sharma showcase the form he did in the ICC Champions Trophy last year as an opener? We are in for an interesting 10 days of 50-over cricket. There is always a sense that this is one format that the team feels more confident playing and India would be looking to start off their ODI campaign on a positive note. Baggage aside with a refreshed outlook, India look towards this ODI series for a revival of sorts.

England

Test series in the bag, England sure have their eyes set on the ODI series now. It is an Indian side low on confidence that they are up against and expect England to deliver severe blows come Monday. England don’t seem to have any major issues with regards to team combinations and form. Like India, even England have a few new faces in the team, the most notable being Alex Hales. His T20 exploits are well known and England would be itching to give him a chance against a not-so-strong Indian bowling line-up. England will be missing the services of Stuart Broad and James Anderson as expected will lead the pace attack. The crux of the England batting remains the same with the likes of captain Alastair Cook, Ian Bell, Gary Ballance and Joe Root. An exciting inclusion in the England side is that of Eoin Morgan who adds a lot of meat to the middle order. Morgan’s innovations with the bat and cricketing prowess in the shorter formats are well known and he would be one of the players to watch out for. Who gets a nod between Moeen Ali and James Tredwell for the spinner’s slot is worth a thought as well. Tredwell maybe a specialist spinner, but memories of the Test series would be fresh in the English minds where Ali tormented the Indian batsmen. Moreover Ali is touted to be a better bat than Trewdwell. Also Steven Finn could make for an interesting choice in the pace attack. The first ODI will set the tone for the rest of the series, as both teams look for a positive start in the five-match ODI series.

Key Players

India

He may have gone through a rough patch in the Test series but expect a confident Virat Kohli while facing the white ball. He is a completely different player when it comes to batting in ODIs. Kohli’s ODI average in the last 12 months is close to 66 along with four centuries to his name. Those are outstanding numbers and Kohli’s form is crucial to India’s form in the ODI series. He looked in good touch against Middlesex in the warm-up game scoring a brisk 71. That sweet sound off his bat would have been his favorite music he would have heard on the tour off late. He would want to add that tune to his playlist for the rest of the tour.

England

With conditions expected to be overcast, one man would be itching to get the ball in his hands – James Anderson. After making a mockery of the Indian batting in the Test series, expect Anderson to transform all his form in the Test matches in ODIs. India have been found wanting against Anderson’s pace and bounce and have failed to cope up with his ability to swing the ball both ways. In Stuart Broad’s absence Anderson needs to take over the mantle of leading a young pace attack and give those early breakthroughs. India’s biggest threat and captain Cook’s go-to bowler; expect Anderson to come all guns blazing on Monday.

Stat Overview

1. Average first innings score at County Ground, Bristol:
Overall - 235
Since 2000- 229

2. Average second innings score at Bristol:
Overall- 219
Since 2000- 221

3. Result summary at Bristol:

Matches	Won by side batting 1st	Won by side batting 2nd	Tied	NR
Overall	6	7	0	0
Since 2000	4	6	0	0

4. Head-to-head:

Matches	Played	Ind won	Eng won	Tied	NR
Overall	87	47	35	2	3
In England	34	12	18	1	3
At Bristol	1	1	0	0	0

5. Last meeting between both sides at Bristol:

Brief scores: August 24, 2007 – India 329/7, England 320/8. India won by 9 runs

6. Form guide (most recent listed first):

India: NR, Won, Won, Won, Lost
England: Lost, Lost, Won, Lost, Won

7. Pace vs Spin at Bristol (Who has been more effective)

Since 2000

	Wkts	Avg	RPO	Best
Pace	106	33.26	4.92	5-33
Spin	24	35.62	4.72	4-46

The Squads

India: M.S. Dhoni (C & WK), Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Sanju Samson, Ravindra Jadeja, R. Ashwin, Stuart Binny, Dhawal Kulkarni, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ajinkya Rahane, Karn Sharma, Mohit Sharma, Rohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav.

England (1st ODI): Alastair Cook (C), Moeen Ali, James Anderson, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Jos Buttler (WK), Steven Finn, Harry Gurney, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, , Eoin Morgan, Joe Root, Ben Stokes, James Tredwell, Chris Woakes.