As the ashes series enters its one-day phase it seems a fitting time to reflect on a job well done by Andrew Strauss and Andy Flower's England.
Cricketers and fans, as we know, are obsessed with statistics. So here's some to ponder;
24 years- the gap between England wins in Australia.
24 years- the last time England beat Australia by an innings in Australia.
766- the number of runs Alastair Cook scored in the series, the second highest ever by an Englishman.
127- his average in the series, the second highest by an Englishman in an Ashes series.
2,171- the number of minutes Cook spent at the crease in the series, a world record.
6- the number of England batsmen in the top 10 run scorers in the series.
I could go on and talk about bowling and fielding and number of centuries and five-wicket hauls but the simple fact of the matter is, for this particular series, statistics are irrelevant. It doesn't take a vast array of numbers to point out the simple facts. England were the better side and deserved to win the series. They were clinical in everything they did from start to finish, and despite the slip up in Perth, they displayed precision and skill not seen from an England side for many years.
But what was most impressive was the mood and attitude throughout the entire squad. Steven Finn was England's most impressive bowler in the first three tests, taking 13 wickets, but he began to run out of steam and was replaced by Tim Bresnan. Stuart Broad then picked up an injury, bringing England's perennial twelfth man Chris Tremlett to the fore. The Surrey paceman may not have been part of the eleven so far, but he came into the side and performed like he'd been playing for years and Bresnan produced spells of such dominance over the Australians that he continued to keep Finn out of the side, even though the young Middlesex seamer was fit again to play. To be able to make such drastic changes to a bowling attack mid series without affecting the performance of a side makes being a coach and a captain a whole lot easier.
Flower has had his own trials to overcome whilst in Australia, none more so than having a cancerous growth removed from his face, an ordeal of such worry which no-one can understand unless they have been through the same, but he has still been able to mastermind his side to glory.
Pundits and experts alike are murmuring about world domination for years to come, but for this England side there is still a lot to overcome. India and South Africa have just finished a test series in South Africa. India showed that they are dominant with the bat, Tendulkar recording his fiftieth test hundred, and South Africa showing that they have a bowling attack to be feared as Morne Morkel finally starts to fulfil his potential alongside the irrepressible Dale Steyn.
To achieve so called World Domination England must first overcome these heavyweights, no mean feat, but with Flower and Strauss as the helm one thing's for certain; they couldn't be led by anyone better.
Monday 17 January 2011
Thursday 16 September 2010
Time to say goodbye...
Today marked a sad, but no-less significant moment in recent history of English cricket. The King has finally ended his reign. Freddie will never again step foot on the hallowed cricketing turf (unless someone organises a charity game of course, in which case I'm sure some form of alcoholic medication can be administered!) At 32 most cricketers would be starting to wind down their career, Mark Ramprakash and Marcus Trescothick aside, but due to injury Andrew Flintoff decided to call it a day and focus on his media career.
Born in Preston in 1977, Flintoff has always commanded a place at the top of cricket’s rankings, both in test and the limited overs game. A right-hand, devastating lower order batsman and talismanic bowler, he has shown passion and determination hardly ever seen in the sporting arena, taking the role of the figurehead for both England’s successful Ashes victories in 2005 and 2009.
Since his debut in 1997 he has cemented himself a permanent place in the England setup, going on to captain and vice-captain the side, finishing with test averages in the early 30s with both bat and ball. Although these may not seem world beating, it's the timing and nature of his performances that have made him indispensible to his country.
After a shaky start to his career, as the butt of many jibes from the press box about his size and fitness, Flintoff made an effort to change his ways and during the 2003 season made great leaps with both bat and ball against the West Indies, New Zealand and India. His performances were rewarded with the Professional Cricketer's Association Player of the Year Award, and the inaugural ICC One-Day Player of the year award.
The start to 2005 was somewhat stressful for Flintoff. Surgery following the test series in South Africa gave way to doubts that he would be fit for the Ashes, but thanks to a fitness programme he returned ahead of schedule and made an appearance for Lancashire in April.
Flintoff had always endured comparisons with the great Ian Botham, but had not really warranted them. In the 2005 Ashes he began to show why. In the second test at Edgbaston he broke Botham's record of 6 wickets in an Ashes test, taking 10 for 141. He scored invaluable runs throughout the series, but it was his bowling that earned him accolades from all sides.
He bowled with unprecedented hostility and accuracy, making the world's best batsmen look clueless at times. Never before or since has the word "bunny" been used to describe Adam Gilchrist, but no bowler has singlehandedly overpowered and out thought a single player. Gilchrist later described it as the moment that changed is career forever, and began a downward spiral which lead him to question his very desire to play the game.
A lot has happened since then. Gilchrist carried on playing test cricket and proved he still had "it", proving so quite emphatically when England travelled to Australia to defend the little urn in 2006/07 under the leadership of their talisman. The resulting five nil drubbing was nothing short of awful, casting a somewhat sombre shadow over the exuberant, alcohol fuelled celebrations of 2005.
The rest of the year didn't take make of an upturn. Demoted to vice captain, Flintoff failed with both bat and ball in the loss to New Zealand in the opening game. To drown their sorrows Flintoff and some of the other players and management went to a local bar. Several hours and drinks later Flintoff found himself in the middle of the sea, perched precariously on a pedalo. After being rescued Flintoff had the vice captaincy removed and received a lambasting from the British media in such stark contrast to the almost hero worship he had been treated to only two years earlier.
The following years were less than kind to Preston's favourite son, injuries to ankle, knee, side and hip, before a torn meniscus in his right knee finally spells the end. Complications arose after the surgery, the reported final nail in the coffin being a bout of deep-vein thrombosis sustained after surgery to the troublesome knee.
Ending his statement by saying that he would be taking a break to decide "which future direction to take," Flintoff was magnanimous to the end, "thanking Lancashire Cricket Club, England, all my sponsors, friends and advisers" for the help they had given him throughout his career, and lastly he said he was "indebted to the encouragement and support I have always received from England's magnificent supporters."
England has lost one of its greats. Not so much his talent, that can be replaced, but his passion, sense of theatre and ability to provide that spark can not, and never will, be replaced. England has lost its golden arm, but let's be honest, Flintoff and Warne in the commentary box is something I personally can't wait to hear!
Born in Preston in 1977, Flintoff has always commanded a place at the top of cricket’s rankings, both in test and the limited overs game. A right-hand, devastating lower order batsman and talismanic bowler, he has shown passion and determination hardly ever seen in the sporting arena, taking the role of the figurehead for both England’s successful Ashes victories in 2005 and 2009.
Since his debut in 1997 he has cemented himself a permanent place in the England setup, going on to captain and vice-captain the side, finishing with test averages in the early 30s with both bat and ball. Although these may not seem world beating, it's the timing and nature of his performances that have made him indispensible to his country.
After a shaky start to his career, as the butt of many jibes from the press box about his size and fitness, Flintoff made an effort to change his ways and during the 2003 season made great leaps with both bat and ball against the West Indies, New Zealand and India. His performances were rewarded with the Professional Cricketer's Association Player of the Year Award, and the inaugural ICC One-Day Player of the year award.
The start to 2005 was somewhat stressful for Flintoff. Surgery following the test series in South Africa gave way to doubts that he would be fit for the Ashes, but thanks to a fitness programme he returned ahead of schedule and made an appearance for Lancashire in April.
Flintoff had always endured comparisons with the great Ian Botham, but had not really warranted them. In the 2005 Ashes he began to show why. In the second test at Edgbaston he broke Botham's record of 6 wickets in an Ashes test, taking 10 for 141. He scored invaluable runs throughout the series, but it was his bowling that earned him accolades from all sides.
He bowled with unprecedented hostility and accuracy, making the world's best batsmen look clueless at times. Never before or since has the word "bunny" been used to describe Adam Gilchrist, but no bowler has singlehandedly overpowered and out thought a single player. Gilchrist later described it as the moment that changed is career forever, and began a downward spiral which lead him to question his very desire to play the game.
A lot has happened since then. Gilchrist carried on playing test cricket and proved he still had "it", proving so quite emphatically when England travelled to Australia to defend the little urn in 2006/07 under the leadership of their talisman. The resulting five nil drubbing was nothing short of awful, casting a somewhat sombre shadow over the exuberant, alcohol fuelled celebrations of 2005.
The rest of the year didn't take make of an upturn. Demoted to vice captain, Flintoff failed with both bat and ball in the loss to New Zealand in the opening game. To drown their sorrows Flintoff and some of the other players and management went to a local bar. Several hours and drinks later Flintoff found himself in the middle of the sea, perched precariously on a pedalo. After being rescued Flintoff had the vice captaincy removed and received a lambasting from the British media in such stark contrast to the almost hero worship he had been treated to only two years earlier.
The following years were less than kind to Preston's favourite son, injuries to ankle, knee, side and hip, before a torn meniscus in his right knee finally spells the end. Complications arose after the surgery, the reported final nail in the coffin being a bout of deep-vein thrombosis sustained after surgery to the troublesome knee.
Ending his statement by saying that he would be taking a break to decide "which future direction to take," Flintoff was magnanimous to the end, "thanking Lancashire Cricket Club, England, all my sponsors, friends and advisers" for the help they had given him throughout his career, and lastly he said he was "indebted to the encouragement and support I have always received from England's magnificent supporters."
England has lost one of its greats. Not so much his talent, that can be replaced, but his passion, sense of theatre and ability to provide that spark can not, and never will, be replaced. England has lost its golden arm, but let's be honest, Flintoff and Warne in the commentary box is something I personally can't wait to hear!
Saturday 11 September 2010
One word; perspective!
This week saw the start of the next stage in Pakistan's ritual humiliation at the hands of England and the ICC. Forced to play two International Twenty20s and five One Day Internationals their players, already physically tired after seven tests in 10 weeks, and surely mentally jaded from the constant suspicion surrounding their comrades, the team have produced what can only be described as inept displays. They lost both Twenty20s in poor fashion, producing only slightly better in 50 over game at Chester-Le-Street (I refuse to call it the Durham Emirates International Cricket Ground!)
In the process England recorded their record seventh straight limited overs victory, a fine achievement. But let's remove the rose-tinted Oakleys and look at the results objectively. We are World Twenty20 champions, so we should have beaten Pakistan seeing as we beat them in the Super 8 stages of the competition in the Caribbean, and combine with that the troubles that the team has both internally and the worry for their relatives at home, the performances begin to take a lightly different gloss.
Don't misunderstand me. Too quickly in this country we jump on the back of our national sides when things go wrong, myself included, but we still have a long way to go before we can consider ourselves worthy of beating Australia on their patch.
As far as Pakistan are concerned things are looking slightly less rosy. Their captain and two premier fast-bowlers have returned home under somewhat of a cloud, lambasted by their countrymen for letting their people down in a time of great crisis. But let's be honest. The last thing I would be feeling if I was a victim of severe flooding would be disappointment at Jimmy Anderson taking a bung to bowl a couple of no-balls.
And that's all it was, a couple of no-balls. Mohammad Amir is a huge talent that needs to be nurtured so that he can carry on doing to everybody else what he did to England in that fateful day at Lords. He showed why he so highly rated in international cricket by bowling of the best spells that Old Father Time will have ever witnessed. But in a split second the winds changed and there was talk of him being banned from cricket for life. The sport that saved him from a life of poverty and deprivation. He has already overcome dengue fever to be where he is now, and to deprive such a talent of fulfilling his potential because he was exploited would be a far greater loss.
Asif and Salman Butt are another matter. Let's start with Asif. This is not the first, and dare I say it won't be the last, time that he has been on the ICC's radar. IN 2006 he was suspended, along with Shoaib Akhtar, for taking performance enhancing drug Nandrolone. Both men were later acquitted, blaming a lack of knowledge in Asia about protein powders and vitamins for their indiscretion.
Salman Butt took on the captaincy after Shahid Afridi stood down, and received a glowing reference from the man he replaced.
"Salman is showing his maturity. He's good enough to take over this team as captain."
Well that may be so, but it seems he may have used his new-found responsibility in the wrong way. Should these three men be dealt the same cruel blow? Should they all be tarred with the same sticky brush? Because let's face it, something like this will never leave you alone.
If it is proven that they bowled deliberate no-balls then yes, a ban is necessary, but so is support and help to ensure it doesn't happen again. If the uglier spectre of match-fixing materialises then we have a bigger tragedy, and life-bans may be more appropriate. But let's look at the bigger picture. It was three runs. Three runs that made no difference to the outcome of that game.
Cricket has suffered a mini-crisis, but surely a bigger one would be to lose a talent like Amir because he didn't receive the support he needed, and we all got a horrible case of tunnel-vision. Cricket is not dead or decaying, let's face it, until one of the players fakes an injury or sleeps with a prostitute, it will always be in third place on the tabloid league.
In the process England recorded their record seventh straight limited overs victory, a fine achievement. But let's remove the rose-tinted Oakleys and look at the results objectively. We are World Twenty20 champions, so we should have beaten Pakistan seeing as we beat them in the Super 8 stages of the competition in the Caribbean, and combine with that the troubles that the team has both internally and the worry for their relatives at home, the performances begin to take a lightly different gloss.
Don't misunderstand me. Too quickly in this country we jump on the back of our national sides when things go wrong, myself included, but we still have a long way to go before we can consider ourselves worthy of beating Australia on their patch.
As far as Pakistan are concerned things are looking slightly less rosy. Their captain and two premier fast-bowlers have returned home under somewhat of a cloud, lambasted by their countrymen for letting their people down in a time of great crisis. But let's be honest. The last thing I would be feeling if I was a victim of severe flooding would be disappointment at Jimmy Anderson taking a bung to bowl a couple of no-balls.
And that's all it was, a couple of no-balls. Mohammad Amir is a huge talent that needs to be nurtured so that he can carry on doing to everybody else what he did to England in that fateful day at Lords. He showed why he so highly rated in international cricket by bowling of the best spells that Old Father Time will have ever witnessed. But in a split second the winds changed and there was talk of him being banned from cricket for life. The sport that saved him from a life of poverty and deprivation. He has already overcome dengue fever to be where he is now, and to deprive such a talent of fulfilling his potential because he was exploited would be a far greater loss.
Asif and Salman Butt are another matter. Let's start with Asif. This is not the first, and dare I say it won't be the last, time that he has been on the ICC's radar. IN 2006 he was suspended, along with Shoaib Akhtar, for taking performance enhancing drug Nandrolone. Both men were later acquitted, blaming a lack of knowledge in Asia about protein powders and vitamins for their indiscretion.
Salman Butt took on the captaincy after Shahid Afridi stood down, and received a glowing reference from the man he replaced.
"Salman is showing his maturity. He's good enough to take over this team as captain."
Well that may be so, but it seems he may have used his new-found responsibility in the wrong way. Should these three men be dealt the same cruel blow? Should they all be tarred with the same sticky brush? Because let's face it, something like this will never leave you alone.
If it is proven that they bowled deliberate no-balls then yes, a ban is necessary, but so is support and help to ensure it doesn't happen again. If the uglier spectre of match-fixing materialises then we have a bigger tragedy, and life-bans may be more appropriate. But let's look at the bigger picture. It was three runs. Three runs that made no difference to the outcome of that game.
Cricket has suffered a mini-crisis, but surely a bigger one would be to lose a talent like Amir because he didn't receive the support he needed, and we all got a horrible case of tunnel-vision. Cricket is not dead or decaying, let's face it, until one of the players fakes an injury or sleeps with a prostitute, it will always be in third place on the tabloid league.
Sunday 22 August 2010
Summer takes sour turn for Strauss and England
Sunday saw the first defeat for Andrew Strauss and England in test matches in 6 games, and only their third in the last year. On the batting pitch in the country, at the Brit Oval, England were bowled out for under 240 twice by a rejuvinated and revitalised Pakistan.
Salman Butt is the first to say what all England fans have been thinking since this test began. When it comes to Australia, will we have the firepower, both batting and bowling, to win downunder for the first time in 24 years. Salman seems to think not.
"If this is the English bowling they will find that hard in Australian conditions," he said. "England are best in their conditions but anywhere else you play I think Australia have the edge."
He also thinks that Australia will benefit from being at home.
"In my experience Australia are a much better side in their home conditions. The ball doesn't swing as much and the bowlers have to work hard."
Not an exclusive opinion by any stretch of the imagination. Jimmy Anderson is one of the best bowlers in the world at the moment, but he has been playing in favourable conditions, and when the ball stops swinging, or refuses to reverse swing, he seems slightly devoid of variations to trouble test-quality batsmen, and on the flat, hard pitches in Australia it could be a long series for the Lancashire paceman.
Amid a turbulant week in English cricket, Ricky Ponting added his own measure of fuel to the flame, claiming that the team that welcomes England to it's shores in just 100 days has the same chance of completing a whitewash that the side had in 2006/7. A bold claim, baring in mind that side had two of the greatest bowlers ever to hold a cricket ball, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.
Strauss dismissed these claims as silly, but after the way his side have been beaten over the last four days, some doubts must surely be planted firmly in his unconcious.
One positive to come from The Oval is the return to form of Alistair Cook. The young opener has had a dry summer against Bangladesh and Pakistan, but he proved yesterday why he is tipped to be at the top of England's lineup for years to come. A nervy start, not entirely unexpected, gave way to a Cook of old, belligerant in defence, punishing anything too short or full, a glorious off drive against Wahab Riaz, the shot of the day. Despite the slightly comical way his hundred arrived Cook must feel that he has recovered at least a modicum of form, and more importantly confidence, with only one test remaining between now and the first match against the old enemy.
Worthy victors this week, Pakistan must feel they have banished the demons of the first two tests, the 72 and 80 all outs forgotten blips in the development of a young side. However, the influence of Mohammad Yousuf cannot be underestimated, and the return of the exiled batsman must have made a huge difference to the whole side. In what is an extremely tough time for the whole of Pakistant, the side shoed unity and a team spirit strong enough to overcome any obsticle put in front of them. Their fielding has improved dramtically, and in Mohammad Aamir they may well have unearthed a cricketing gem, the likes of which we have never seen. The next Wasim Akram? Why limit him to just that?
Combine that with the unreadable Saeed Ajmal and the simply outstanding Mohammad Asif and you have possibly the best bowling attack on the planet right now. Underestimate Pakistan at your peril.
Salman Butt is the first to say what all England fans have been thinking since this test began. When it comes to Australia, will we have the firepower, both batting and bowling, to win downunder for the first time in 24 years. Salman seems to think not.
"If this is the English bowling they will find that hard in Australian conditions," he said. "England are best in their conditions but anywhere else you play I think Australia have the edge."
He also thinks that Australia will benefit from being at home.
"In my experience Australia are a much better side in their home conditions. The ball doesn't swing as much and the bowlers have to work hard."
Not an exclusive opinion by any stretch of the imagination. Jimmy Anderson is one of the best bowlers in the world at the moment, but he has been playing in favourable conditions, and when the ball stops swinging, or refuses to reverse swing, he seems slightly devoid of variations to trouble test-quality batsmen, and on the flat, hard pitches in Australia it could be a long series for the Lancashire paceman.
Amid a turbulant week in English cricket, Ricky Ponting added his own measure of fuel to the flame, claiming that the team that welcomes England to it's shores in just 100 days has the same chance of completing a whitewash that the side had in 2006/7. A bold claim, baring in mind that side had two of the greatest bowlers ever to hold a cricket ball, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath.
Strauss dismissed these claims as silly, but after the way his side have been beaten over the last four days, some doubts must surely be planted firmly in his unconcious.
One positive to come from The Oval is the return to form of Alistair Cook. The young opener has had a dry summer against Bangladesh and Pakistan, but he proved yesterday why he is tipped to be at the top of England's lineup for years to come. A nervy start, not entirely unexpected, gave way to a Cook of old, belligerant in defence, punishing anything too short or full, a glorious off drive against Wahab Riaz, the shot of the day. Despite the slightly comical way his hundred arrived Cook must feel that he has recovered at least a modicum of form, and more importantly confidence, with only one test remaining between now and the first match against the old enemy.
Worthy victors this week, Pakistan must feel they have banished the demons of the first two tests, the 72 and 80 all outs forgotten blips in the development of a young side. However, the influence of Mohammad Yousuf cannot be underestimated, and the return of the exiled batsman must have made a huge difference to the whole side. In what is an extremely tough time for the whole of Pakistant, the side shoed unity and a team spirit strong enough to overcome any obsticle put in front of them. Their fielding has improved dramtically, and in Mohammad Aamir they may well have unearthed a cricketing gem, the likes of which we have never seen. The next Wasim Akram? Why limit him to just that?
Combine that with the unreadable Saeed Ajmal and the simply outstanding Mohammad Asif and you have possibly the best bowling attack on the planet right now. Underestimate Pakistan at your peril.
Thursday 11 March 2010
The Circus is back in town!
Friday March 12, 2010. The carnival that is the Indian Premier League returns to its spiritual home, and this year promises to be the biggest and most highly contested of the three years so far. To try and pick the wheat from the chaff, or the wides from the match winners, here is a run down of the eight teams vying for the Diamond, Ruby and Sapphire encrusted IPL Trophy.
Deccan Chargers
Owner; Deccan Chronicle
Kit; Blue
Captain; Adam Gilchrist
Coach; Darren Lehmann
Key players; Adam Gilchrist, RP Singh, Kemar Roach, Herschelle Gibbs, Chaminda Vaas, Andrew Symonds
Last Year; Winners
Odds; 6/1.
Defending champions Deccan go into the tournament on the back of a quite outstanding recovery from the first edition of the IPL. Their success has been attributed in no small part to the combination of captain Adam Gilchrist and coach Darren Lehmann. The two have instilled a winner’s attitude, something distinctly Australian, in a team that finished dead last in the inaugural tournament in 2008.
However, there are still questions looming over the home form of the Chargers. They are yet to win a game at home at the Rajiv Ghandi International Cricket Stadium as the tournament was held in South Africa last year, but this is an entirely new side with a great attitude and a great chance of retaining their title.
Adam Gilchrist, last year's player of the tournament, will lead the side with confidence and exuberance. The added experience of Gibbs, Symonds, VVS Layman and Vaas, and the raw talent and youth of Kemar Roach and local boys Harmed Singh and Bodipati Sumanth creates a team that must be feared by their opponents.
Prediction; Winners.
Kolkata Knight Riders
Owner; Shahrukh Khan, Juhi Chawla Mehta, Jay Mehta
Kit; Purple and Gold
Captain; Sourav Ganguly
Coach; Dav Whatmore
Key Players; Sourav Ganguly, Ishant Sharma, David Hussey, Brad Hodge, Owais Shah, Angelo Mathews, Ajantha Mendis, Chris Gayle
Last Year; 8th
Odds; 13/2
A team hounded by controversy, Kolkata has dropped from 5th in 2008 to dead last in 2009 amid claims of in-fighting, sacking of captain Sourav Ganguly and even suggestions of racism between staff and players. A good start last year saw the Knight Riders beat Kings XI Punjab in their second game, but then go on a run of 10 games without a win. Victories in their last two games showed what they can do, but a lot will rest on the shoulders of Brad Hodge, the big-hitting David Hussey and Chris Gayle, and Brendon McCullum when he returns from International duty with New Zealand.
Kolkata could be a force to be reckoned with, but their fate will depend on how they cope without their International stars. The pressure will be on their local boys like U-19 Harpreet Singh, and a top four place may be out of reach before the cavalry comes to their aide. The appointment of Dav Whatmore as coach can only be a positive, and his experience and ability to produce winning sides could prove to be the difference between success and yet more disappointment.
Prediction; 7th
Kings XI Punjab
Owner; Preity Zinta, Ness Wadia, Karan Paul and Mohit Burman
Kit; Light-Grey and Red
Captain; Kumar Sangakkara
Coach; Tom Moody
Key Players; Kumar Sangakkara, Brett Lee, Piyush Chawla, Ramesh Powar, Sri Sreesanth, Yuvraj Singh, Irfan Pathan, Mahale Jayawardene, Yusuf Abdulla
Last Year; 5th
Odds; 9/1
Just missing out on the semi-finals last year, Kings XI have an aura of glamour and royalty about them. Semi-finalists in the first year and fifth in South Africa has shown their inability to back up their high-profile billing, and a lack of new players or staff may make it unlikely that they can improve on their performance last year. The fitness and availability or Brett Lee could play a huge part in their success, but a team that comprises Sangakkara, find of the 2009 tournament Yusuf Abdulla and pin-up boy Yuvraj Singh cannot be ignored.
An inconsistent tournament last year saw Kings XI lose out on a semi-final place in their last league game with a loss to Chennai, but four wins and four losses in their previous eight games was not form worthy of a semi-final place.
Prediction; 6th
Chennai Superkings
Owner; India Cements Ltd
Kit; Yellow and Blue
Captain; MS Dhoni
Coach; Stephen Fleming
Key Players; MS Dhoni, M Muralidaran, Matt Hayden, Mike Hussey, Albie Morkel, Suresh Raina,
Last Year; 2nd, lost in semi-final to Bangalore Royal Chargers
Odds; 9/2
Beaten semi-finalists last year, and beaten finalists on the last ball of the inaugural IPL, Chennai are one of the most consistent teams in the league and are lead by the most expensive player from the first year of the tournament, Mahendra Singh Dhoni. They have explosive batting throughout their top and middle order, the charge being lead by Matt Hayden, who like Gilchrist seems to have taken rather well to international retirement. Combine that with the irrepressible Mike Hussey, the South African powerplay specialist Albie Morkel, the ever-improving Suresh Raina and the captain you have quite a formidable batting line-up.
The bowling is where Chennai might struggle. Makhaya Ntini has fallen out of favour in South Africa after losing his pace, and he has never been the most devastating of limited overs bowlers. Muralidaran will of course be miserly and prove extremely affective in the shortest form of the game, but a lack of powerplay bowlers may prove to be their downfall.
Prediction; 5th
Bangalore Royal Challengers
Owner; Dr. Vijay Mallya
Kit; Red and Golden Yellow
Captain; Anil Kumble
Coach; Ray Jennings
Key Players; Anil Kumble, Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher, Rahul Dravid, Dale Steyn, Kevin Pietersen, RE van der Merwe, Cameron White, Eoin Morgan, Virat Kohli, Ross Taylor
Last Year; Runners up
Odds; 6/1
A poor first season was put firmly in the past last time out as Bangalore blazed a golden yellow trail to the semi-finals. An opening game win over the Rajasthan Royals was followed by four losses on the bounce under the leadership of top grossing player Kevin Pietersen, but when he left for international duty Anil Kumble took over and guided the team to seven wins in their next nine games, securing an unlikely semi-final place against Chennai Superkings. An unlikely victory over the strongly backed Kings set up a meeting with Deccan in the final, but Gilchrist's men were too strong for the Challengers, beating them by 6 runs.
The availability of previous captain Pietersen are unknown but judging by recent performances in Bangladesh he isn't in the greatest of form. One man who is certainly at the top of the one-day game at the moment is Eoin Morgan. Two devastating innings against Bangladesh earned him his place in IPL3.
Strength in depth is embodied perfectly in this squad. International star replaces international star, and with backup like India U-19 captain Ashok Menaria, it would take a brave man to bet against Bangalore being in at least the top four at the sharp end of the tournament.
Prediction; Runners up
Mumbai Indians
Owner; Reliance Industries Ltd
Kit; Blue and Dark Blue
Captain; Sachin Tendulkar
Coach; Robin Singh
Key Players; Sachin Tendulkar, Dwayne Bravo, Sanath Jayasuriya, Graham Napier, Kieron Pollard, JP Duminy, Zaheer Khan
Last Year; 7th
Odds; 5/1
Seventh last year was a poor return for the most expensive team in the IPL. Lead by the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, Mumbai lost their first four games, won their next six, lost the next three before winning their last. A record of seven wins seven losses was not anywhere near enough for a semi-final place, their inconsistency a real issue.
The purchase of Kieron Pollard is a huge bonus for Mumbai. The 6ft 5in West Indian has become one of the most destructive batsmen in world cricket, effortless sixes accompanied by maturity and intelligence make him a valuable acquisition for Mumbai, and one which could push them up the table. The talented duo of Harshal Patel and Abishek Nayar represent the local boys, so if Mumbai can tackle their inconsistency they could threaten the top four.
Prediction; Semi-finalists
Rajasthan Royals
Owner; Emerging Media, Shilpa Shetty, Raj Kundra
Kit; Blue and Gold
Captain; Shane Warne
Coach; Shane Warne
Key Players; Shane Warne, Graeme Smith, Morne Morkel, Munaf Patel, Michael Lumb, Damien Martyn, Shaun Tait
Last Year; 6th
Odds; 9/1
Inaugural champions, Rajasthan hail from the Princely state in India. They were unlikely winners in 2008 so much was expected in South Africa last year. Unfortunately they were also plagued by inconsistency. Shane Warne has bought in fellow Australians Damien Martyn and the electric Shaun Tait to bolster the squad for this year along with the powerful Graeme Smith and impressive Englishman Michael Lumb, it isn't inconceivable that Rajasthan could return to the top of the table, despite their long odds.
Rajasthan will be relying on their talismanic leader Warne to inspire them and instil that winning mentality, but the inclusion of Tait, Martyn and fellow Aussie Adam Voges will do wonders for the team strength. Local boy Swapnil Asnodkar was a revelation in 2008, and if he and fellow Indians Munaf Patel and Siddharth Trivedi
can provide support, Rajasthan could easily regain their title.
Prediction; Semi-finals
Delhi Daredevils
Owner; GMR Holdings
Kit; Dark Blue and Red
Captain; Gautam Gambhir
Coach; Greg Shipperd
Key Players; Gautam Gambhir, Dirk Nannes, David Warner, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Amit Mishra, Virinder Sehwag, AB de Villiers
Last Year; Semi-finalists
Odds; 7/2
Top of the league last year, Delhi were lead by AB de Villiers and Tillakaratne Dilshan with the bat, and the overseas talent of Glenn McGrath, Farveez Maharoof, Daniel Vettori and Mohammed Asif with the ball. The batting is still as strong, but the bowling is where Delhi may find life uncomfortable. Wayne Parnell is a vital acquisition, and when Daniel Vettori returns he could prove to be a miserly bowler, but the powerplay overs are vital in Twenty20 cricket, and Delhi may struggle to contain some of the powerful opening batsmen in this year's tournament.
Adam Gilchrist did just that in last years semi-finals. The Australian led his team to an unlikely victory over the league winners, hitting the fastest IPL half century, just 17 balls. Nannes bore the brunt of the attack from the Deccan captain, and Andrew Symonds continued the attack on Nannes when Gilchrist was removed. If Delhi can restrict their opponents in the first six overs, then their batting is as good as any in the league , but for me they don't have any bowlers who can run through a top order.
Prediction; 8th
Deccan Chargers
Owner; Deccan Chronicle
Kit; Blue
Captain; Adam Gilchrist
Coach; Darren Lehmann
Key players; Adam Gilchrist, RP Singh, Kemar Roach, Herschelle Gibbs, Chaminda Vaas, Andrew Symonds
Last Year; Winners
Odds; 6/1.
Defending champions Deccan go into the tournament on the back of a quite outstanding recovery from the first edition of the IPL. Their success has been attributed in no small part to the combination of captain Adam Gilchrist and coach Darren Lehmann. The two have instilled a winner’s attitude, something distinctly Australian, in a team that finished dead last in the inaugural tournament in 2008.
However, there are still questions looming over the home form of the Chargers. They are yet to win a game at home at the Rajiv Ghandi International Cricket Stadium as the tournament was held in South Africa last year, but this is an entirely new side with a great attitude and a great chance of retaining their title.
Adam Gilchrist, last year's player of the tournament, will lead the side with confidence and exuberance. The added experience of Gibbs, Symonds, VVS Layman and Vaas, and the raw talent and youth of Kemar Roach and local boys Harmed Singh and Bodipati Sumanth creates a team that must be feared by their opponents.
Prediction; Winners.
Kolkata Knight Riders
Owner; Shahrukh Khan, Juhi Chawla Mehta, Jay Mehta
Kit; Purple and Gold
Captain; Sourav Ganguly
Coach; Dav Whatmore
Key Players; Sourav Ganguly, Ishant Sharma, David Hussey, Brad Hodge, Owais Shah, Angelo Mathews, Ajantha Mendis, Chris Gayle
Last Year; 8th
Odds; 13/2
A team hounded by controversy, Kolkata has dropped from 5th in 2008 to dead last in 2009 amid claims of in-fighting, sacking of captain Sourav Ganguly and even suggestions of racism between staff and players. A good start last year saw the Knight Riders beat Kings XI Punjab in their second game, but then go on a run of 10 games without a win. Victories in their last two games showed what they can do, but a lot will rest on the shoulders of Brad Hodge, the big-hitting David Hussey and Chris Gayle, and Brendon McCullum when he returns from International duty with New Zealand.
Kolkata could be a force to be reckoned with, but their fate will depend on how they cope without their International stars. The pressure will be on their local boys like U-19 Harpreet Singh, and a top four place may be out of reach before the cavalry comes to their aide. The appointment of Dav Whatmore as coach can only be a positive, and his experience and ability to produce winning sides could prove to be the difference between success and yet more disappointment.
Prediction; 7th
Kings XI Punjab
Owner; Preity Zinta, Ness Wadia, Karan Paul and Mohit Burman
Kit; Light-Grey and Red
Captain; Kumar Sangakkara
Coach; Tom Moody
Key Players; Kumar Sangakkara, Brett Lee, Piyush Chawla, Ramesh Powar, Sri Sreesanth, Yuvraj Singh, Irfan Pathan, Mahale Jayawardene, Yusuf Abdulla
Last Year; 5th
Odds; 9/1
Just missing out on the semi-finals last year, Kings XI have an aura of glamour and royalty about them. Semi-finalists in the first year and fifth in South Africa has shown their inability to back up their high-profile billing, and a lack of new players or staff may make it unlikely that they can improve on their performance last year. The fitness and availability or Brett Lee could play a huge part in their success, but a team that comprises Sangakkara, find of the 2009 tournament Yusuf Abdulla and pin-up boy Yuvraj Singh cannot be ignored.
An inconsistent tournament last year saw Kings XI lose out on a semi-final place in their last league game with a loss to Chennai, but four wins and four losses in their previous eight games was not form worthy of a semi-final place.
Prediction; 6th
Chennai Superkings
Owner; India Cements Ltd
Kit; Yellow and Blue
Captain; MS Dhoni
Coach; Stephen Fleming
Key Players; MS Dhoni, M Muralidaran, Matt Hayden, Mike Hussey, Albie Morkel, Suresh Raina,
Last Year; 2nd, lost in semi-final to Bangalore Royal Chargers
Odds; 9/2
Beaten semi-finalists last year, and beaten finalists on the last ball of the inaugural IPL, Chennai are one of the most consistent teams in the league and are lead by the most expensive player from the first year of the tournament, Mahendra Singh Dhoni. They have explosive batting throughout their top and middle order, the charge being lead by Matt Hayden, who like Gilchrist seems to have taken rather well to international retirement. Combine that with the irrepressible Mike Hussey, the South African powerplay specialist Albie Morkel, the ever-improving Suresh Raina and the captain you have quite a formidable batting line-up.
The bowling is where Chennai might struggle. Makhaya Ntini has fallen out of favour in South Africa after losing his pace, and he has never been the most devastating of limited overs bowlers. Muralidaran will of course be miserly and prove extremely affective in the shortest form of the game, but a lack of powerplay bowlers may prove to be their downfall.
Prediction; 5th
Bangalore Royal Challengers
Owner; Dr. Vijay Mallya
Kit; Red and Golden Yellow
Captain; Anil Kumble
Coach; Ray Jennings
Key Players; Anil Kumble, Jacques Kallis, Mark Boucher, Rahul Dravid, Dale Steyn, Kevin Pietersen, RE van der Merwe, Cameron White, Eoin Morgan, Virat Kohli, Ross Taylor
Last Year; Runners up
Odds; 6/1
A poor first season was put firmly in the past last time out as Bangalore blazed a golden yellow trail to the semi-finals. An opening game win over the Rajasthan Royals was followed by four losses on the bounce under the leadership of top grossing player Kevin Pietersen, but when he left for international duty Anil Kumble took over and guided the team to seven wins in their next nine games, securing an unlikely semi-final place against Chennai Superkings. An unlikely victory over the strongly backed Kings set up a meeting with Deccan in the final, but Gilchrist's men were too strong for the Challengers, beating them by 6 runs.
The availability of previous captain Pietersen are unknown but judging by recent performances in Bangladesh he isn't in the greatest of form. One man who is certainly at the top of the one-day game at the moment is Eoin Morgan. Two devastating innings against Bangladesh earned him his place in IPL3.
Strength in depth is embodied perfectly in this squad. International star replaces international star, and with backup like India U-19 captain Ashok Menaria, it would take a brave man to bet against Bangalore being in at least the top four at the sharp end of the tournament.
Prediction; Runners up
Mumbai Indians
Owner; Reliance Industries Ltd
Kit; Blue and Dark Blue
Captain; Sachin Tendulkar
Coach; Robin Singh
Key Players; Sachin Tendulkar, Dwayne Bravo, Sanath Jayasuriya, Graham Napier, Kieron Pollard, JP Duminy, Zaheer Khan
Last Year; 7th
Odds; 5/1
Seventh last year was a poor return for the most expensive team in the IPL. Lead by the legendary Sachin Tendulkar, Mumbai lost their first four games, won their next six, lost the next three before winning their last. A record of seven wins seven losses was not anywhere near enough for a semi-final place, their inconsistency a real issue.
The purchase of Kieron Pollard is a huge bonus for Mumbai. The 6ft 5in West Indian has become one of the most destructive batsmen in world cricket, effortless sixes accompanied by maturity and intelligence make him a valuable acquisition for Mumbai, and one which could push them up the table. The talented duo of Harshal Patel and Abishek Nayar represent the local boys, so if Mumbai can tackle their inconsistency they could threaten the top four.
Prediction; Semi-finalists
Rajasthan Royals
Owner; Emerging Media, Shilpa Shetty, Raj Kundra
Kit; Blue and Gold
Captain; Shane Warne
Coach; Shane Warne
Key Players; Shane Warne, Graeme Smith, Morne Morkel, Munaf Patel, Michael Lumb, Damien Martyn, Shaun Tait
Last Year; 6th
Odds; 9/1
Inaugural champions, Rajasthan hail from the Princely state in India. They were unlikely winners in 2008 so much was expected in South Africa last year. Unfortunately they were also plagued by inconsistency. Shane Warne has bought in fellow Australians Damien Martyn and the electric Shaun Tait to bolster the squad for this year along with the powerful Graeme Smith and impressive Englishman Michael Lumb, it isn't inconceivable that Rajasthan could return to the top of the table, despite their long odds.
Rajasthan will be relying on their talismanic leader Warne to inspire them and instil that winning mentality, but the inclusion of Tait, Martyn and fellow Aussie Adam Voges will do wonders for the team strength. Local boy Swapnil Asnodkar was a revelation in 2008, and if he and fellow Indians Munaf Patel and Siddharth Trivedi
can provide support, Rajasthan could easily regain their title.
Prediction; Semi-finals
Delhi Daredevils
Owner; GMR Holdings
Kit; Dark Blue and Red
Captain; Gautam Gambhir
Coach; Greg Shipperd
Key Players; Gautam Gambhir, Dirk Nannes, David Warner, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Amit Mishra, Virinder Sehwag, AB de Villiers
Last Year; Semi-finalists
Odds; 7/2
Top of the league last year, Delhi were lead by AB de Villiers and Tillakaratne Dilshan with the bat, and the overseas talent of Glenn McGrath, Farveez Maharoof, Daniel Vettori and Mohammed Asif with the ball. The batting is still as strong, but the bowling is where Delhi may find life uncomfortable. Wayne Parnell is a vital acquisition, and when Daniel Vettori returns he could prove to be a miserly bowler, but the powerplay overs are vital in Twenty20 cricket, and Delhi may struggle to contain some of the powerful opening batsmen in this year's tournament.
Adam Gilchrist did just that in last years semi-finals. The Australian led his team to an unlikely victory over the league winners, hitting the fastest IPL half century, just 17 balls. Nannes bore the brunt of the attack from the Deccan captain, and Andrew Symonds continued the attack on Nannes when Gilchrist was removed. If Delhi can restrict their opponents in the first six overs, then their batting is as good as any in the league , but for me they don't have any bowlers who can run through a top order.
Prediction; 8th
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