P17-Cric Layout 1
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25, 2015 India reaps tri-series benefits SYDNEY: India’s team director Ravi Shastri dis- neighbors-Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh- missed the tri-series in Australia preceding the crashed out in the quarter-finals, India remain World Cup as a complete waste of time and the only team from the sub-continent to make energy for a side defending their world title in the last four, and make it in style. They have less than two weeks’ time. The former India cap- looked a completely transformed side under tain seemed to have a point as the team, since Mahendra Singh Dhoni as India became the first landing in Australia in late November, could not team to claim 70 wickets in seven matches and register a single win in the four-test series and remained unbeaten going into Thursday’s semi- finished the subsequent tri-series, also involving final against Australia. England, in similar manner. “They’ve just played a lot more cricket here Certainly not an ideal build-up for a team and getting used to the lengths you need to bidding to join West Indies and Australia as the bowl,” Australia opener Aaron Finch said yester- third nation to successfully defend their World day. “It’s no rocket science, they’re bowling well, Cup title. they’re batting well, they’re going to be tough to But what India gained, and Shastri over- beat,” the right-hander said. Dhoni too admitted looked that point, is valuable knowledge of local the tri-series served an important purpose for his conditions in the four months which made them side.
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