Cricket: Desperate Black Caps to face resurgent Rahul

COLOMBO - A Sri Lankan limited overs cricket novice undermined New Zealand's Tri-Series campaign on Tuesday - now an Indian past master of controlling an innings threatens to derail it.

While Thilan Samaraweera is still adjusting to the role of middle order run accumulator despite his match-winning 104 in his 22nd ODI on Tuesday, Rahul Dravid has long perfected the art.

One of the elder statesmen of Indian cricket, Dravid marks his return to one-dayers in this tournament, a preamble to the Champions Trophy in South Africa from September 22.

The former ODI captain's comeback is scheduled for tomorrow's match against New Zealand at R Premadasa Stadium (9pmNZT).

The 36-year-old thought his 333-match ODI career was over when he was confined to test duty after a poor series against Australia almost two years ago.

But he was summoned after the next generation failed to make an impression during June's ICC World Twenty20 and the subsequent tour of the West Indies.

Dravid played the last of his ODIs at Nagpur in October; his last against New Zealand was on neutral ground in Harare in September 2005.

The technically correct right hander will never replicate the hitting power of the injured Virender Sehwag but throughout a career that has amassed 10,585 runs at 39.49, he has proved adept at manipulating the strike and keeping runs ticking over.

Dravid owes his call-up after the out-of-form Rohit Sharma managed only 15 runs in three ODIs in the West Indies, and 43 against major opposition in the World Twenty20.

Dravid's form in the second IPL season with Bangalore in South Africa convinced the selectors to tap his durability and technique.

India also have Sachin Tendulkar available after he skirted the Caribbean ODIs. Suresh Raina, impressive in the Twenty20s and ODIs in New Zealand last summer, also returns from a fractured thumb.

Dinesh Karthik replaces Sehwag, though coach Gary Kirsten would not specify who would open the batting with Gautam Gambhir.

"We'll decide on the day," he said.

"Obviously missing Sehwag is huge but we have got a lot of depth in the team. We have got a good batting line-up which is quite flexible in the middle. We would like to mix it up during the series."

The prolific Tendulkar, though, is the likely candidate.

India have not played an ODI since beating the West Indies 2-1 and only arrived from Delhi late yesterday after practising in a week-long Corporate Trophy competition.

But India's inactivity may not benefit New Zealand or Sri Lanka, given their record against their Tri-Series rivals.

Ominously, India have won five successive bilateral ODI series - Sri Lanka have been beaten twice on home soil in the last two years while New Zealand lost 1-3 in March.

New Zealand coach Andy Moles said his side must show greater application if they were to take advantage of being based here since last month.

"We've been over here for a month and obviously we're used to the conditions but we have to make sure we apply ourselves better than we did (against Sri Lanka)."

While the bowlers loosened their grip after Sri Lanka were in trouble at 38 for four, it was the manner of New Zealand's unsuccessful run chase that irritated Moles.

"We need to be more balanced in the way we approach chasing," he said, after New Zealand's dropped two wickets in the fifth over and three more in the 19th of a chase that ended 97 runs short.

Despite that unsatisfactory performance New Zealand should name an unchanged line-up.

Fast bowler Kyle Mills is back to full health but it would be tough on his stand-in Daryl Tuffey if he made way after taking one for 35 from nine overs against Sri Lanka.

Butler took two for 55 from his 10 and may be the most vulnerable if Moles and captain Daniel Vettori alter their seam attack.

- NZPA