West Indies v India, 3rd ODI, St Lucia

Match facts

Friday, July 3, 2009
Start time 09.30 (13.30 GMT)

ODI form guide

(last five matches, most recent first)
India - LWLWW
West Indies - WLLLN

Team news

Ravindra Jadeja had an impressive ODI debut, making an unbeaten 60 against Sri Lanka but has failed in this series, getting dismissed in an identical manner on both occasions. He was out first ball in the first game, playing away from his body and edging to the keeper, and managed just 7 in the second with his team in trouble. He could be left out of the next game for allrounder Abhishek Nayar to make his international debut.

India (probable): 1 Gautam Gambhir, 2 Dinesh Karthik, 3 Rohit Sharma, 4 Yuvraj Singh, 5 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 6 Yusuf Pathan, 7 Ravindra Jadeja/ Abhishek Nayar, 8 Harbhajan Singh, 9 Ishant Sharma, 10 RP Singh, 11 Ashish Nehra.

West Indies retained their squad for the final two one-dayers and Gayle said the allrounder Darren Sammy will return to the line-up. He rubbished rumours of an off-field rift with Sammy and said he had great confidence in him.

West Indies (probable): 1 Chris Gayle (capt), 2 Runako Morton, 3 Ramnaresh Sarwan, 4 Shivnarine Chanderpaul, 5 Dwayne Bravo, 6 Darren Bravo, 7 Denesh Ramdin (wk), 8 Jerome Taylor, 9 Darren Sammy, 10 Suleiman Benn, 11 Ravi Rampaul.

Pitch and conditions

Gayle expects the pitch to be full of runs as the venue has traditionally helped the batsmen.

Quotes

"It is a case of two good teams playing against each other, and we expect two very competitive matches."
Denesh Ramdin

"Yuvraj, on any given day, can destroy any bowling attack. When he is in that sort of mood (as he was in the first ODI) he is very difficult to bowl to. We have to try and contain him as much as possible but at the same time he's experienced and has a lot of power and he is definitely the main batter in this Indian team."
Chris Gayle

"We have good communication out there which is very good and we can assess the conditions as quickly as possible and make the necessary adjustments. I want him to play his game and I will support him at the other end."
Chris Gayle on Runako Morton

Latest Pictures :

Rohit Sharma avoids a bouncer from RP Singh in the nets, St. Lucia, July 1, 2009

Ishanth Sharma, Gautam Gambhir and RP Singh in conversation during a practice session, St. Lucia, July 1, 2009

MS Dhoni inspects the pitch at the Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia, July 2, 2009

MS Dhoni in action at India's practice session, Gros Islet, St Lucia, July 2, 2009

Abhishek Nayar practises a few shots before the nets session, Gros Islet, St Lucia, July 2, 2009