India v England: Tourists in need of win to keep ODI series alive
England head into the second ODI against India, live on Sky Sports 2, needing a victory to keep the series alive.
Centuries from Virat Kohli and Kedar Jadhav helped India to a three-wicket win in Sunday's first ODI and the hosts, having already triumphed 4-0 in the Test series, can secure the one-day trophy with a repeat result.
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Live One-Day International Cricket
India vs England
January 19, 2017, 7:30am
Having posted 350 batting first and still come out second best, England know they face a tough challenge to overcome a buoyant India side.
The bowlers, in particular, look set for another difficult encounter with flat pitches, shorter boundaries and fans keen to see the ball sailing into the stands. However, England seamer Jake Ball is happy trying to "spoil the party".
"It's the modern game isn't it...looking at 350 and thinking 'have we got enough?'," said the 25-year-old Nottinghamshire paceman.
"The average score is just going to keep getting higher and higher and when you're playing on the flat pitches we seem to be playing on, with the smaller boundaries, the bar's only going to get higher.
Highlights of the first ODI between India and England in Pune
"It's a funny one because you're in an entertainment industry and fans like to see the ball going for four and six but we're just trying to spoil the party. It's about trying to stay calm and just stick to what you're good at.
"If you bowl a ball you think is a good ball and they hit it for four or six you have to hold your hands up and say well played at times. It's difficult as a bowler but we're working on things."
Of those things, a plan for bowling to Kohli is sure to be a high priority. The India captain has been in remarkable form over the past 12 months and stopping him could be key to England's chance in Cuttack.
"He's obviously an unbelievable player, the best player in their team, but we're working on plans for him and hopefully we can put them into practice," Ball added.
Virat Kohli was in sparkling form, hitting 122 as India won in Pune (Credit: AFP)
"Bowling at the likes of Kohli you learn a lot about yourself and your mentality. It's something that I'm looking to build on and hopefully I can take the learning experience into the next game.
"The best practice is in the nets when you're bowling at the likes of Jos Buttler and Ben Stokes, who are right up with him as 'death' players, hitting the ball out of the park.
"It's something you relish getting in the nets, saying 'try and hit me out of the park'."
Watch the second ODI between India and England from 7.30am on Thursday, Sky
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