England skipper Andrew Strauss on Saturday put a confident India on notice by asserting that the hosts would be under pressure in their World Cup clash here today
England skipper Andrew Strauss on Saturday put a confident India on notice by asserting that the hosts would be under pressure in their World Cup clash here today.
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| England skipper Andrew Strauss during a training session on the eve of their match against India in Bangalore. Pic/Suresh KK |
"In some ways, there is more pressure on India than on us in this game, as they are playing in front of home crowd whose expectations are always high," Strauss told reporters on the eve of the Group B clash at the Chinnaswamy stadium in the heart of the city, facing the famous Cubbon Park.
Coming into the second league match after winning a hard game against minnows the Netherlands at Nagpur on Tuesday, the English team has been sweating it out at the nets for a tough encounter with favourites India who beat Bangladesh Feb 19 in the opening match.
"We intend to play some smart cricket and put India under pressure by going for early breakthroughs. Of course, it depends on toss and who bats first," Strauss said before joining his team at the nets for another grueling practice session on a cloudy afternoon.
Admitting that playing against India on its home turf where conditions were so different from those back home would be a challenge.
"Unlike Tests, one-day matches are high pressure games and every team has to give its best to win whether batting or bowling first. Though it's a huge game for us, we would love to spoil the Indian party in Bangalore," Strauss asserted.
