Filed under IndvEng Cuttack

There has been occasions when a minnow team failed to win a single match in whole tournament like World Cup and triangular tournaments.. but in a bilateral series between two countries, the record for not winning a single One day international belongs to New Zealand against South Africa in 2001 and Zimbabwe against West Indies in 2006 who lost 5 of their 6 ODIs and remaining 1 game was rained off.

West Indies were unbeatable in 1970 to 1980, practically! They went on to whitewash India in 1983, New Zealand in 1984, Pakistan in 1987 and England in 1989 in a 5 ODI series.. If we subtract bilateral ODI series played by Zimbabwe & Bangladesh, New Zealand against Pakistan in 2003, South Africa against Srilanka in 2004, New Zealand against Australia in 2004, West Indies against South Africa in 2004, New Zealand against South Africa in 2005, England at home against Srilanka in 2006 and West Indies at home against Australia in 2008 have also lost the 5 ODI series 5-0.

Do you see India whitewashing any country in an ODI series?? they haven't. but current Hero Honda series has reached a position from where India (already 4-0 up) can do what no other team has ever done - a 7-0 whitewash over England.

As a Indian cricket fan, you would want your team to play their best XI and push for 3 more wins but as a Indian captain - MS Dhoni seems eager to test the bench strength by resting some seasoned players and throw opportunities to players like Virat Kohli, Irfan Pathan, Pragyan Ojha & Rohit Sharma who have been warming up the benches upto now.

Interestingly, one player who desperatly needs rest is the captain MS Dhoni himself, but since Indian selectors have not included any back-up wicket-keeper - Ranchi cricket is almost certain to play on..

As England fan, one would like India to make changes in their winning combination and include untested players for the simple reason that visitors have hardly pushed the present Indian combination.

This 5th India vs England ODI will be played at Cuttack in Orissa in India and since it's a day-night match - dew factor is going to be a factor.. the locals tell that if clouds cover comes - no dew.. if no clouds, dew starts falling by 7pm and makes live of fielding side miserable..

Both teams have good record at the Barabati stadium in which England have won 3 of their 4 games whereas India have registered 7 wins from 11 games at the venue.

Preview : To try whitewash or to test bench strength?

Scorecard : India vs England 5th ODI, Cuttack : 26 November 2008