India vs England 2008: Schedule/Fixture ODI Series

If you want to get live score of the 5^th ODI being played now, go to this entry:

India-England 5^th ODI 2008: Live Updates

If you want to get the online live score and updates of the ICL India XI vs Pakistan XI match then visit the following link:
ICL 20s World Series, 2008/09: India-Pakistan Match Updates

Following the excellent series victory over the world champion Australia, Indian team is going to face England at home in a seven-match ODI series, starting from 14 November 2008 in Rajkot. Indian cricket fans are eagerly waiting for the series. After the eye-catching success over Australia, the expectation of Indian fans has been extended now.

England has been in good form in ODI cricket. In their recent ODI series, England demolished South Africa 4-0 at home in a five-match ODI series. However, they suffered a morale-denting defeat to Stanford Superstars in Antigua in a multi-million dollar Twent20 match recently. Aside from the recent test series victory, India defeated Sri Lanka 3-2 in their last ODI series.

Indian team recently announced its ODI squad where the notable omission is star batsman Sachin Tendulkar, who last played in ODI in the tri-series in Australia in March this year. Due to several injuries, Sachin was ruled out of Bangladesh series and Asia Cup in Pakistan. Later, he also missed the ODI series in Sri Lanka too. However, it is not injury that kept him out of the ODI series against England. In fact, the batsman himself requested the selectors to give him a break and selectors granted a three-match break for him. That means, from the fourth match of the series, Sachin Tendulkar will be part of India’s ODI team.

Timesofindia reported:

“Considering the hectic schedule ahead and the amount of cricket he has already played this season, Sachin Tendulkar requested that he be rested for the first three ODIs,” Indian board secretary N. Srinivasan said in a statement. “The selectors accepted his request.”

Ishant Sharma will not be able to play the first match in Rajkot as he pulled his ankle recently. Ishant Sharma played an instrumental role behind India’s 2-0 victory test series victory over Australia. In fact, he was awarded the Man of the Series award. Now, he has given rest for five days.

Cricinfo reported:

“He is undergoing his rehabilitation at present and is making good progress,” N Srinivasan, the BCCI secretary, said. “Hence he would not be available for the first ODI against England.”

England will also miss their pacer Ryan Sidebottom for the first ODI as the bowler will not be able to recover from Achilles problem before the first match of the series.

Cricinfo reported:

“He’s had it injected and it seems to have reacted, but we won’t know until he bowls before the match,” Peter Moores, the England coach, told Sky Sports.

Given the excellent recent form of both sides in ODI, cricket fans of both sides are expecting an interesting series where there will have some hard-fought, mind blowing matches.