Ganguly hopeful of regaining form in fourth one-dayer

Kanpur, India, January 27: A fit-again India captain Sourav Ganguly hopes to return to his big-scoring ways in the fourth one-day international against England here on Monday.

Ganguly, ruled out of the third match against the tourists at Madras on Friday because of a hamstring injury, denied he was under pressure despite his poor run in Test cricket.

"I am fit and ready to play and get runs," said Ganguly, who has made just three half-centuries in his last 27 Test innings.

"But, I have not failed in a one-day series for five years," he said. "I got 42 runs, took a wicket and a catch in the first match. There is no pressure on me and I go into every match with a positive frame of mind."

India are currently leading 2-1 in the six-match series after victories in the day-night games at Calcutta and Madras. Their lone defeat came in the second match at Cuttack.

Ganguly said he was satisfied with his team's performance and hoped to gain an unbeatable lead with a victory at the Green Park here.

"Everybody is in good form and we hope to put in a consistent batting performance," he said.

India made one change from the squad named for the first three games, including middle-order batsman Mohammad Kaif in place of an out-of-form Venkatsai Laxman.

"It is sad that Laxman has been left out," Ganguly said. "But he is a class player and will be back soon. It is a question of time. Kaif has bright chances of playing on his home ground."

The 21-year-old Kaif has played four Tests, but is yet to make his debut in one-day internationals.

England coach Duncan Fletcher said inexperience was one of the main reasons for his team trailing in the series.

He, however, said it was too early to say whether experienced middle-order batsman Graham Thorpe and paceman Andrew Caddick would get a chance to play their first match of the series here.

When asked whether Thorpe would replace opener Nick Knight who scored 24 in three matches, Fletcher said: " I think it is not right to make judgements after only three matches. Thorpe has to earn his place.

"Hoggard (Matthew) has bowled more than Caddick and is in touch, so he will be favoured."

India (from): Sourav Ganguly (capt), Sachin Tendulkar, Dinesh Mongia, Virender Sehwag, Hemang Badani, Mohammad Kaif, Ajay Ratra, Anil Kumble, Javagal Srinath, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ajit Agarkar, Sarandeep Singh, Sanjay Bangar.

England (from): Nasser Hussain (capt), Andrew Caddick, Paul Collingwood, Andrew Flintoff, James Foster, Ashley Giles, Darren Gough, Matthew Hoggard, Ben Hollioake, Nick Knight, Owais Shah, Jeremy Snape, Graham Thorpe, Marcus Trescothick, Michael Vaughan.

Umpires: I. Sivaram (Ind) and G. R. Mohite (Ind).

Match-referee: Denis Lindsay (Rsa).