‘Spin’ seems to be the in thing in T20 today. Many IPL matches had a spinner opening the innings. In the ICC T20 World Cup matches also, spin seems to have a major role to play. Pitches in the West Indies look favourable for spin and India and Pakistan with their quality spinners may have a distinct advantage over the others. Even our own captain, Mahendra Singh Dhoni had underscored the importance of spinners in the press conference before the team's departure to the West Indies by saying that “spinners would play a crucial role on the slow pitches and would be the team's major weapon”. The matches played against Afghanistan and South Africa were at the Beausejour stadium in St. Lucia. Playing here for the Indians is like playing at home. The pitches here are slow and ideal for the spinners. In the tie against Afghanistan, spinners bowled half of the designated 20 overs. "If you have them, flaunt them", decided Dhoni in the next match against South Africa. As a result, the craft of spin was in full display. Spinners Harbhajan Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Yusuf Pathan and Piyush Chawla were given a free rein. They bowled 15 overs, a rare occurrence surely. India won both the matches. But now the situation is no longer the same. India has qualified for the Super 8 matches. Its first Super 8 match against Australia on May 7th. On May 9th, India will play the West Indies. The tie with Sri Lanka will be on the 11th. So what is different? These matches will be held not on the friendly St. Lucia pitch, but on the fast and bouncy pitch of Kensington Oval in Barbados also known as the "Mecca of Cricket". It is known to favour pace and seam. Spin may not bring the required result. Even 2 spinners may be one too many. It will all depend on the nature of the pitch on that day and the team's requirement of variety in the bowling attack. Will the spin quartet be replaced by a triple edged pace attack? Will the concerted effort of Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra and Praveen Kumar, weave some magic and help India waltz to the semi-finals ? Will the team management unleash the new face, pacer Vinay Kumar, on an unsuspecting opposition, … [Read more...]
T20 World Cup preview: South Africa Vs India
South Africa will open their campaign against India at the Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia on Sunday and this could be a tough assignment first up for the Proteas. The Proteas will have the benefit of a couple of extra day’s preparation and the opportunity to watch their opponents in action the day before this game. Venue and conditions: Thunderstorms are forecasted so it could rain here at St Lucia. The two games played at Beausejour stadium, Gros Islet on Saturday the stats suggested another sluggish surface. The five scores in the previous five one-day internationals were: 186, 172, 257, 149 and 177. The lowest total in that grouping came from South Africa against Australia when they cracked under the pressure of a World Cup semi-final. India beat West Indies there by six wickets in 2009 with Ashish Nehra taking 3-21. Trivia: Saint Lucia was founded in 1886 by Sir Arthur Sidders when he set sail from the port of Bristol. Team News: South Africa: South Africa are able to field probably the most formidable front four in the tournament. Graeme Smith, Jacques Kallis, Herschelle Gibbs and AB de Villiers ensure that the quality keeps coming. Smith and Kallis have fine records in the Caribbean. Dale Steyn was rested in the warm-up victory against Sri Lanka but he is expected to return. Rory Kleinveldt, Charl Langeveldt and Morne Morkel all hit superb touch against the Lankans. Only Albie Morkel, Kallis and Steyn were the only regular starters for their IPL franchises. Kallis and Steyn performed with great credit for the Royal Challengers as did Albie Morkel who was part of the victorious Chennai Super Kings team. Barring injury there are a few selection dilemmas, Gibbs or Bosman, Morne Morkel or Rusty Theron, but the whole squad are proven performers in this format. Does Kallis open the batting as he did so effectively for RCB in the IPL? India: India, who kicked off their campaign against Afghanistan on Saturday, give one the feeling that they don't really want to be there, moaning about niggles and heavy schedules. Still, the … [Read more...]
