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Players to watch out for in CLT20

September 13, 2014

Raina CLT20

Sep 13: Many call it a sidekick to the Indian Premier League. But for individual players, the Champions League Twenty20 is another platform for players to make a mark in the shortest format of the game. As the tournament moves into its sixth edition, many players from different clubs have come together for this event over the years. This time too, it promises to be no different and its primary focus remains entertainment.

Gocricket.com analyses a few key performers who can make this edition of the CLT20 a memorable one with their exploits with both bat and ball.

Suresh Raina (Chennai Super Kings) - Raina has been the leading run-scorer across all seasons of the Indian Premier League with 3325 runs at an average of over 35. Recently, his presence in India's one-day squad against England changed the outlook of the side which received a mauling in the Test series. Ever since his comeback in the limited-overs fixture after being dropped from the New Zealand ODI series, Raina has looked more determined and equally assured. His CLT20 stats read 608 runs from 19 matches. He is a live wire on the field and possesses a canny ability to pick up wickets - as seen during the England ODIs.

Faf du Plessis (Chennai Super Kings) - Du Plessis might not be the best technically-sound batsman but he surely is one of the most improved cricketers over the last few months. In the recently-concluded tri-series in Zimbabwe, the 30-year-old batsman amassed a mind-boggling 464 runs in five games: three centuries and a 96. Du Plessis has managed 121 runs from four matches in the only edition of the CLT20 he participated in and hasn't played many games in the IPL too. But considering the kind of form he is in, Du Plessis presents a strong case for a sure-shot inclusion.

Kane Williamson (Northern Districts) - New Zealand great Martin Crowe recently tipped Williamson to be one of the four young batsmen who will rule Test cricket in the coming decade. However, that doesn't demean the 24-year-old's credentials in the shortest format. Williamson scored 107 runs in the three matches (highest of an unbeaten 79 against Otago Volts) he has played for the Northern Districts, who won the HRV Cup earlier this year.

Williamson's reputation has improved over the past year and he is seen as one of New Zealand's most consistent batsmen. He has been scoring runs across all three formats and must continue to do so in order to see his side go through.

Mitchell Marsh (Perth Scorchers) - Marsh recently caught the attention of the Australian selectors during a tri-series match in Zimbabwe, where he smashed Dale Steyn for three consecutive sixes in an over. In the absence of his brother Shaun Marsh, Mitchelll will have plenty of responsibilities on his shoulders when the Perth Scorchers - winners of Big Bash League - begin their campaign on September 20 against the Dolphins.

Marsh scored 215 runs in 10 games for the Scorchers during the BBL and later build on that promising gush with the bat during the tri-series. His 211 for Australia A against India A in a first-class match was encouraging. He is also coming off a Sheffield Shield season that brought 493 runs at 37.92 for him, more runs at a better average than his brother.

Ben Dunk (Hobart Hurricanes) - Dunk owned the BBL 2013/14 season with a staggering 395 runs from 10 matches and was named Player of the Tournament. He excelled as an opener for the Hurricanes and made two of the three highest scores during the tournament - 96 against the Sydney Thunder and 87 against the Brisbane Heat. He got just three matches for MI during IPL 7 and he failed to impress. The Hurricanes are among the weaker squads in the tournament but Dunk's presence gives the team a lot of hope.

Kieron Pollard (Mumbai Indians) - Appointed skipper of the Mumbai-based franchise, no ground is too big for Pollard. He is coming off a match-winning 89 against Bangladesh in the first ODI, in addition to a successful CPL campaign, where he led Barbados Tridents to their first title. Pollard has a healthy record with MI: 96 matches, 63 wickets, over 1,700 runs with more than 100 sixes - 29 of which came in the 2013 season of the IPL. And now since he is in charge, we might just see him bat higher.

Corey Anderson (Mumbai Indians) - A little over a month after Anderson broke Shahid Afridi's 18-year-old record of the fastest ODI century, he was roped in by MI in a move than wasn't considered a wise one. Anderson didn't do well in the first half of IPL 7 as MI lost their first six matches. But as the side bounced back in the second half, so did the New Zealand allrounder. His epic 44-ball 95 helped MI go through to the playoffs against Rajasthan Royals in a nerve-wrecking contest. Since then, Anderson hasn't played much. He was replaced by fellow New Zealand allrounder Jimmy Neesham in the Guyana squad three weeks before the CPL after the board expressed concerns over Anderson's fitness.

Glenn Maxwell (Kings XI Punjab) - Maxwell had an explosive beginning to IPL 7, setting the stage on fire in the UAE leg with scores of 95 (CSK), 89* (RR), 95 (Sunrisers Hyderabad) and then continued the fireworks when the event moved to India - 90 (CSK). However, he lost his momentum thereafter as the event progressed and finished third in the leading run-scorers list. Recently, Maxwell scored 93 against Zimbabwe but couldn't quite carry it forward in the next few games.

What keeps him in good stead for the CLT20 is the fact that his recent List-A outings have been quite impressive. He's scored two centuries - 146 for Hampshire against Lancashire in the Royal London one-day Cup and 107 for Hants 2nd XI against Kent 2nd XI in a South Division game.

Sunil Narine (Kolkata Knight Riders) - The wily West Indies spinner continues to bamboozle oppositions and his wicket-maiden super-over for the Guyana Amazon Warriors in the Caribbean Premier League is just another example of how difficult he is to face. With a total of 27 wickets from 15 matches, Narine remains one of the few bowlers with an economy rate of under 4.50 in CLT20. After shepherding Kolkata Knight Riders to two IPL titles in the last three years, it will be interesting to see if Narine can finally spin KKR to their first CLT20 glory.

Lasith Malinga (Mumbai Indians) - Two-time CLT20 winners and defending champions Mumbai Indians received a huge boost when Malinga opted for the Reliance-owned franchise over his Sri Lankan side Southern Express. Malinga didn't have the best of seasons in IPL 7 (16 wickets from 10 games with a best of 4/23) and left the side midway for national duty. Hence, he would be keen on making amends this time around. Despite being far from his best in the two ODI series against South Africa and Pakistan, Malinga remains a key for player for MI if they are to go beyond the qualifiers and win the tournament for a third time.

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Agencies
August 9,2020

Manchester, Aug 9: Chris Woakes and Jos Buttler played knocks of 84 and 75 respectively as England gained an improbable three-wicket win over Pakistan in the first Test of the three-match series here at the Emirates Old Trafford.

England chased down a total of 277 on the fourth day of the first Test.

Chasing 277, England openers Rory Burns and Dom Sibley put on 22 runs for the first wicket, but Mohammad Abbas finally provided the breakthrough to Pakistan as he had Burns (10) adjudged leg-before wicket in the 12th over.

Skipper Joe Root came to the crease next, and he along with Sibley ensured that the side does not lose any more wickets before the lunch break, and England went into the lunch break at 55/1.

Sibley and Root eventually put up a 64-run stand, but their partnership was finally brought to an end by Yasir Shah as he dismissed Sibley (36) in the 36th over. Soon after, skipper Root (42) was also sent back to the pavilion by Naseem Shah, reducing England to 96/3 in the 39th over.

All eyes were on all-rounder Ben Stokes (9), but Pakistan's Yasir Shah sent him back to the pavilion in the 42nd over, and England was left in a spot of bother. Shaheen Shah Afridi, then also got among the wicket-taking charts as he scalped the wicket of Ollie Pope (7), reducing England to 117/5 in the 45th over.

Chris Woakes and Jos Buttler then got together at the crease, and the duo played in an aggressive manner to retrieve the innings for England. The hosts went into the tea break at 167/5, still, 110 runs away from the target with five wickets in hand.

Buttler and Woakes continued their march to frustrate the Pakistan bowling attack and the duo brought the target within the grasp of England. Both batsmen put up a stand of 139 runs, however, with just 21 runs away from the target, England lost the key wicket of Buttler (75) as Yasir Shah had him trapped in front of the wicket.

With England just needing four more runs for the win, Yasir Shah dismissed Stuart Broad (4), but in the end, Woakes and Dom Bess ensured England's win by three wickets.

For Pakistan, Yasir Shah was the pick of the bowlers as he scalped four wickets.

Earlier, resuming day four at 137/8, Yasir Shah (33) along with Mohammad Abbas (3*) and Naseem Shah (4) added 32 more runs to the overnight score to give England a target of 277 to win the first Test.

Stuart Broad was the pick of England bowlers as he scalped three wickets.

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News Network
June 9,2020

Jun 9: Former West Indies skipper Darren Sammy has released a video, alleging racism within the SunRisers Hyderabad camp. Last week, Sammy had lost his cool after learning the meaning of the word "Kalu", which he alleged was directed at him during his Indian Premier League (IPL) stint with the SunRisers Hyderabad. The T20 World Cup-winning Windies skipper had said that he along with Sri Lanka player Thisara Perera were sometimes called that word when they played for SunRisers Hyderabad. However, Sammy did not specify as to who directed these slurs at him, but now the player has released a video, saying he will message all those who called him that word.

"I have played all over the world and I have been loved by many people, I have embraced all dressing rooms where I have played, so I was listening to Hasan Minhaj as to how some of the people in his culture describe black people," Sammy said in a video posted on his Instagram account.

"This does not apply to all people, so after I found out a meaning of a certain word, I had said I was angry on finding out the meaning and it was degrading, instantly I remembered when I played for SunRisers Hyderabad, I was being called exactly the same word which is degrading to us black people," he added.

Sammy said that at the time when he was being called with the word, he didn''t know the meaning, and his team-mates used to laugh every time after calling him by that name.

"I will be messaging those people, you guys know who you are, I must admit at that time when I was being called as that word I thought the word meant strong stallion or whatever it is, I did not know what it meant, every time I was called with that word, there was laughter at that moment, I thought teammates are laughing so it must be something funny," Sammy said.

"Now, I realise it was degrading, I will be texting you guys and I will ask you as to when you called me with that name, did you all mean it in any bad way or form? I have had great memories in all my dressing rooms, so all those who used to you call me with that word, think about it, let's have a conversation, if it was in a bad way then I would be really disappointed," he added.

The former Windies skipper has been a vocal supporter of the protests that are currently going on in the United States over the death of an African-American man named George Floyd.

Sammy had also made an appeal to the ICC and other cricket boards to support the fight against social injustice and racism.

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Agencies
April 14,2020

Tokyo, Apr 14: Tokyo organizers said Tuesday they have no B Plan in the event the Olympics need to be postponed again because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Masa Takaya, the spokesman for the Tokyo Olympics, said organizers are proceeding under the assumption the Olympics will open on July 23, 2021. The Paralympics follow on Aug. 24.

Those dates were set last month by the International Olympic Committee and Japanese officials after the coronavirus pandemic made it clear the Olympics could not be held as scheduled this summer.

We are working toward the new goal, Takaya said, speaking in English on a teleconference call with journalists.

We don't have a B Plan. The severity of the pandemic and the death toll has raised questions if it will even be feasible to hold the Olympics in just over 15 months. Several Japanese journalists raised the question on the call.

All I can tell you today is that the new games' dates for both the Olympic and Paralympic Games have been just set up, Takaya said.

In that respect, Tokyo 2020 and all concerned parties now are doing their very best effort to deliver the games next year." IOC President Thomas Bach was asked about the possibility of a postponement in an interview published in the German newspaper Die Welt on Sunday.

He did not answer the question directly, but said later that Japanese organizers and Prime Minister Shinzo Abe indicated they could not manage a postponement beyond next summer at the lastest.

The Olympics draw 11,000 athletes and 4,400 Paralympic athletes and large support staffs from 206 national Olympic committees.

There are also questions about frozen travel, rebooking hotels, cramming fans into stadiums and arenas, securing venues, and the massive costs of rescheduling, which is estimated in Japan at 2 billion- 6 billion.

Tokyo 2020 CEO Toshiro Muto addressed the issue in a news conference on Friday. He is likely to be asked about it again on Thursday when local organizers and the IOC hold a teleconferene with media in Japan.

The other major question is the cost of the delay; how much will it be, and who pays? Bach said in the Sunday interview that the IOC would incur several hundred million dollars in added costs. Under the so-called Host City Agreement, Japan is liable for the vast majority of the expenses.

This is impossible to say for now, Takaya, the spokesman said.

It is not very easy to estimate the exact amount of the games' additional costs, which have been impacted by the postponement."

Tokyo says it's spending 12.6 billion to organize the Olympics. But a Japanese government audit published last year says the costs are twice that much. Of the total spending, 5.6 billion in private money. The rest is from Japanese governments.

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