England consider Sidebottom and Swann for third India game

London/ Indore, India: England captain Kevin Pietersen was considering changes to his line-up for the third one-day international against India on Thursday, with bowlers Graeme Swann and Ryan Sidebottom both in contention.

Nottinghamshire team mates Swann and Sidebottom both last played a one-day international in the final match of the series against New Zealand in June.

"There's food for thought there definitely, but we'll just wait and see," Pietersen told the England and Wales cricket board website ahead of the match in Kanpur.

Swann could partner Samit Patel to provide England's spin option while Sidebottom, who has been suffering with prolonged Achilles problems, would be a contender to take the new ball.

Bid to resurrect form

Despite trailing India 2-0 in the seven-match series, Pietersen was confident his side could resurrect the form that saw them comfortably beat South Africa 4-0 in the five-match one-day internationals in September. "I just think we can be competitive and keep improving to get closer and win a couple of games," he said.

"We want to try to win this series because that's what we're here to do."

Both the Indian and England cricket teams arrived in Lucknow yesterday, two days ahead of the one-day international in Kanpur.

The English team moved to Kanpur shortly after landing here while India have made a brief stay in the city.

"The English team was escorted to Kanpur," said the additional superintendent of police, R.K. Singh.

The Indian team went to the Gomti Nagar to visit Rudra Pratap Singh's house, he added.

Rudra, a native of neighbouring Rae Bareli district, also owns a house in Lucknow.

"They will leave for Kanpur later in the evening," he said.

Both teams are due to have a practice session in the nets today.

The groundsman Shiv Kumar expected a tough contest in Kanpur.

"The pitch will offer good bounce, specially to pacers and we expect a good game here," he said.