RAJKOT — Prolific middle-order batsman Cheteshwar Pujara, who slammed his career's second Ranji Trophy triple hundred on Thursday, may have to wait a little more to make his ODI debut, Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni indicated. “Well it (ODI debut) looks very unlikely as of now because we have to see the whole batting line-up the position he's ideally suited for and all those things. As of now, it looks very unlikely,” said Dhoni on the eve of the first ODI against England at the SCA stadium. “Let's see what happens tomorrow. If somebody gets unfit, we'll see...,” he added. Pujara, who notched up 352 in the Ranji Trophy quarterfinal match against Karnataka, has played nine Tests with distinction for the country and has scored three hundreds and a fifty in his fledgling international career. The 24-year-old cricketer has been included in the ODI squad for the first time in place of Virender Sehwag. Dhoni conceded that the lack of big opening partnerships has hurt the World Cup champions' chances in ODIs off late. Dhoni, however, sounded unfazed about the criticism he and the team had to go through after a series of losses. “It (criticism) is not something that's new to us. As Indian cricketers, you know you are supposed to do well. The moment we don't do well as an individual or as a team you know you'll get to face a lot of criticism,” said the skipper. New Zealand hopes to repel SA pace barrage New Zealand batsmen were subjected to a barrage of hostile deliveries from their own bowlers as they prepared to combat South Africa's formidable attack in the second and final Test against South Africa starting at St George's Park Friday. “Now that you know the challenge, the intensity and attitude that you put into training has to be as close to a match as possible,” said fast bowler Chris Martin in explaining his team's unorthodox preparation. New Zealand was blown away for 45 in the first innings of the first Test in Cape Town on the way to defeat by an innings and 27 runs. The damage was done by South Africa's pace trio of Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel. Although Philander will miss the second Test because of a hamstring strain, New Zealand's batsmen will again face a formidable challenge from Steyn, Morkel, Jacques Kallis and Rory Kleinveldt, who will replace Philander. The first Test ended inside three days. While the South Africans were given three days off before reassembling in Port Elizabeth Tuesday, the tourists were in the nets the day after the Test ended in an attempt to lift their game before the final match of the series. There is such a wide gulf between world champion South Africa and eighth-ranked New Zealand that the host nation will drop a point on the International Cricket Council rankings if it wins the series 1-0. — Agencies
