JOHANNESBURG, Nov 17: The odds seem stacked against India when a five-match one-day international series against South Africa starts at the Wanderers Stadium on Sunday.

India have won just three times in 16 one-day internationals against the host nation in South Africa and suffered a 37-run defeat in their only warm-up match against a Rest of South Africa team in Benoni Thursday.

Only captain Rahul Dravid of the Indian top order was able to handle the pace of Dale Steyn in Benoni and it will be a relief to the Indians that South Africa's fastest bowler is not in the national one-day team.

Even so, the tourists can expect some aggressive pace bowling from Makhaya Ntini, Shaun Pollock, Andre Nel and Jacques Kallis as South Africa seek to take advantage of the bounce and pace usually on offer from on home pitches.

Both Dravid and coach Greg Chappell said they expected an improvement on Thursday's performance, pointing out that the Indians had barely had time to adapt to South Africa conditions before playing in Benoni.

Chappell said Dravid, who made 79, had provided an object lesson to younger players in the side on the art of playing pace bowling in difficult conditions.

South Africa named the same 14-man squad that reached the semi-finals of the recent ICC Champions Trophy in India.

“We want to build up a winning momentum,” said South African coach Mickey Arthur, who said it was unlikely major changes would be made before the World Cup. —AFP