1.   But it will need a collapse by one or other of dramatic proportions and this is unlikely on a wicket which still favors the batsmen.

2.   Despite the hard, green look that characterizes a typical Gabba wicket, the pitch is expected to favor the batsmen after the initial sting is gone.

3.   Earlier, India won the toss and captain Mohammad Azharuddhin put his team to bat at the Feroze Shah Kotla ground, which traditionally favors batsmen rather than bowlers.

4.   He sent the Sri Lankans on a day-long leather hunt on a WACA pitch that clearly favored the batsmen.

5.   On Wednesday, the two teams spent nearly two and a half hours practising at the M.A. Chidambaram stadium, where the wicket is expected to favor batsmen.

6.   The Trent Bridge wicket appeared firm with little movement, favoring the batsmen for the first of three one-day matches between the countries over five days.