So Stephen Fleming will not be available for the rest of the tournament leaving due to personal reasons (birth of his child) as per reports. This will be a bit of a blow - losing our accomplished, experienced opening batsman on the eve of the semifinals. At the same time he hadn't really set the world on fire as yet but I for one was banking on him to come good.
So what are our options now ? Do we go for a replacement foreign player as we can ? However I do think it will be too much to get a newcomer in at this late stage and ask him to gel with the team. We have the option of going in with either Vidyut or Aniruddh of course, but I for one would be interested in Chamara Kapugedara.
I know he didn't quite impress in whatever chances he got but I have seen him play for Sri Lanka and when he gets going, he can be a class player.
What are your thoughts ? How do we go about this problem ? How do we replace Fleming ? Looking forward to hearing from you guys.
So what are our options now ? Do we go for a replacement foreign player as we can ? However I do think it will be too much to get a newcomer in at this late stage and ask him to gel with the team. We have the option of going in with either Vidyut or Aniruddh of course, but I for one would be interested in Chamara Kapugedara.
I know he didn't quite impress in whatever chances he got but I have seen him play for Sri Lanka and when he gets going, he can be a class player.
What are your thoughts ? How do we go about this problem ? How do we replace Fleming ? Looking forward to hearing from you guys.
10 comments:
Hayden & Hussey is coming back to the team. becoz they have a break for next test match.
ha ha not really..!
but i think kapugadera maybe a right choice.. international opening batsmen. dont want to fail once again. he will prove if he gets a chance. mu choice is Kapu.
Gaurav, I have no idea as to which match you have seen him "getting going", because he always scores below 20, and perhaps, once every 13-15 innings, he makes a 50! :(
I think Vidyut would be a better choice, because he looked quite good as an opener till he was pushed down to three.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OU_Z1QZwbp8
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KuWTb_UskJ8
http://www.hilalscricket.com/2008/04/video-chamara-kapugedera-95-vs-west.html
I think Kapu is the choice. He can be use as a opener as well and give license to play his natural games.
In his first T20 domestic match Kapu scored a 96 of 53 balls for colombo cricket club. Chennai needs a rapid start at the top if they are to overcome powerful Punjab. Dhoni should be at 4,then Morkel and Badrinath. If they have a very good start Dhoni and Morkal can be moved further up as well
I consider that it is a blessing in disguise that Fleming will not be available. He was sluggish on the field, a slow starter for 20 X 20, and at times exposing his Butter fingers. We will think of replacements a little later. Should we have Ntini in the team?
Taking that we need to replace both Fleming and Ntini, the Choice could be from Anirudh, Vidyut, Palani or Napoleon. A choice of all rounders at this time will provide a great depth in batting- say upto No.9 ( Including Goni as a pinch hitter). Every batsman must plan, either he hits 16 to 20 in 12 balls or he gets out making way for another hitter.Come what may, the run rate must be maintained. Every batsman must have confidence in other batsman, and should not play a safe Game. We do not want walls, we need sloggers. The mind set is very different in 20 X 20. One should maintain a strike rate of 8.5 or 9 up tp 16 the over and end up with 220 or 230. This is a winning score. ( However the Bombay pitch is a new one, and one need to factor the pitch charecteristics.
Bowlers must also think and Bowl; they mst aim for, short of good length ( Good length is a treat to sloggers, while short pitch makes an ordinary batsman great). Speed and Bounce are not required in a 20 X 20, mild swing- going away ball is ideal. We need Pollocks, McGraths, or Thornlys and not Lees, or Bonds or Ntinis.
Yeah, Kapu is the logical choice.
Though, I came to know that Abhinav Mukund is an opening batsman. I fancy taking a risk with him as the opener and Kapu as No.3
Or Anirudh also seems to be an explosive t20 opener, though he dint fire in the one opportunity he was given.
....well, depends on the pitch :)
batting pitch....have Anirudh or Abhinav open.
bowling pitch.....Kapu as the opener.
Hayden has been ruled out of Aus test series...what a pity v had to miss Hayden for all our matches becoz of dat series and in the end he wont be playing there...but if da injury is not really serious, Hayden cud fly back to mumbai...he cud just do what Asif did in DD v/s DC match... sit aside and relax during fielding claiming injury but come out to bat... however it seems for now thats not possible...
According to me, both Capugedara and Vidyut shud play...Abhinav mukund who played da last match shud sit out... If Joginder sharma is fit, then his presence will be very crucial esp in the last overs...he shud replace Balaji who seems out of sorts...Playing X1 in that case wud be
Patel,Vidyut, Raina, Badri, Dhoni, Morkel, Capugedra, Goni, Balaji/Joginder, Ntini& Murali
da best combination to open da innings wud be Patel and Vidyut...Vidyut cud go about throwing his bat playing an attacking game and Patel cud play second fiddle...Raina cud come in at no 3 and step up da gas... Badri @ no 4 follwed by Dhoni,Morkel and capugedera can complete da batting line up... Joginder and Goni can also bat to an extent...So our batting line up will be reinforced with batsmen until no 8...
In da bowling dept, Ntini or Goni have to strike early to get Marsh and Hopes oe else it cud rain sixes in mumbai to leave csk 'marshy' and they will be left without any 'hopes' of victory...
batches and batches of kings X1 pom-pomp gals cud dance to da tunes of pomersbatch's bat...
the batsmen better watch out for the kings X1 as they boast of a 'powar'ful bowling attack with 'pathans' (warriors)...kings X1 cud get closer to winning da first ever IPL title after their victory and be crowned 'yuvraj' before da final...
But as one of the banners in chennai- mohali match read "U may be kings but v are super kings" lets just hope v can pull it off ...
kapu will be right choice becoz he is right hander also. it will make some difference i think.
looks like there is quite a bit of support for kapugedara except from the sri lankans ;)
well i think kapu shud play - not necessarily open ... maybe vidyut could do that ... or abhinav .. i have never seen abhinav bat so i have to go by what you guys think abt him ...
also on the mumbai wicket i would aim for 180. i dont really subscribe to the hit out or get out view expressed by some here because we have seen that that has often reduced us to 30/3 or 40/4 and it has been such an uphill battle from there.
Vidyut has to be picked. He has already played couple of good knocks in the tournament. Why risk bringing in kapudegara. Moreover left arm spin is definitley a better option than average medium pace!
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