Confident India have clear edge over England

Buoyed by the emphatic 2-0 Test series victory over Australia a few days ago, hosts India take on England in the first of the seven cricket One-Day Internationals here on Friday, hoping to continue their rich vein of form.

The euphoria over their triumph over the world champions is yet to die down, but Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men -- including those who were not part of the Test series -- know that England provide a new challenge in the limited-over format of the game.

kevin Pietersen -led England had reached this country when the fourth and final Test in the Test series for the Border-Gavaskar Trophy was heading towards its climax and must be aware of the enormity of the task that awaits them at the Madhavrao Scindia Stadium here.

Even in the absence of the Test stalwarts, including Sachin Tendulkar who has been rested for the first three games and injured new pace sensation Ishant Sharma, the hosts carry too many potent arsenal for the liking of England.

The home team will certainly miss Man of the Series against Australia, Ishant, who has been rested because of a slight ankle strain. But in the likes of Munaf Patel and R P Singh India have capable speedsters to deliver the goods in tandem with in-form spearhead Zaheer Khan.

The return of Virender Sehwag, who missed the ODI series in Sri Lanka that India clinched in August, will see the swashbuckler open the innings with his Delhi team-mate Gautam Gambhir who was forced to miss out the Nagpur Test because of the one-match ban imposed on him by the ICC and is now available to play.