By Jamie Alter
Four points separate defending champions CSK from the top spot, and this isn’t what the franchise owners would have had in mind when they forked out big bucks to retain the nucleus of what was looking like the best T20 club in the business.
Published: Apr 24, 2011, 05:04 PM (IST)
Edited: Apr 24, 2011, 05:04 PM (IST)
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By Jamie Alter
Chennai: Apr 24, 2011
Four points separate defending champions and pre-tournament favourites Chennai Super Kings from the top spot, and this isn’t what the franchise owners would have had in mind when they forked out big bucks to retain the nucleus of what was looking like the best Twenty20 club in the business.
Currently languishing at second last in the league table, though tied on four points with three other teams, CSK have a few issues to address as we enter the half-way stage of the tournament.
Statistics don’t always tell the true story but in CSK’s case, there is much to be gauged. No CSK batsman is in the top ten run getters of IPL 2011 – Subramanian Badrinath clocks in at 11 with 161 at 80.50 – and in the bowlers’ list Suraj Randiv also comes in 11th with five from four matches.
CSK have managed 25 wickets in five matches, fourth best in the league behind Mumbai Indians (35), Kolkata Knight Riders (34), Deccan Chargers (30) and Pune Warriors (26). Their bowlers have, in chronological order, defended 153 with one ball to spare, failed to defend 188, bowled out Royal Challengers Bangalore for 162 defending 183, conceded 135 in 15 overs to hasten defeat, and allowed Mumbai Indians to score a match-winning 164.
Tim Southee looked the best of the pacers but has been sidelined with the arrival of Doug Bollinger. Ravichandran Ashwin and Shabad Jakati have been particularly disappointing, as has Albie Morkel. The batting has also not been nearly as convincing as in previous seasons. Badrinath is the only batsman to manage two half-centuries, Suresh Raina hasn’t been nearly as fluent as he’s capable of, Murali Vijay is also under-performing, while MS Dhoni has yet to reach fifty.
PW – the most expensive franchise – have had their balloon burst with two defeats in a row, after they began with two wins. They have played only four matches, the least for any team, and so have an extra match to pick up form.
With CSK’s bowlers struggling, PW will fancy their chances despite the batting not firing in the last match. Robin Uthappa and Jesse Ryder have been the most successful batsman without getting any massive scores, and Yuvraj Singh showed what he can do against Delhi Daredevils, though he went for 0 in the last match. These three are the ones the team looks to for big runs, especially in the absence of an injured Graeme Smith.
PW’s middle order looks a bit thin, with little in terms of power to come after Yuvraj. The fact that Manish Pandey’s four-match ban is over means he should be welcomed into the playing XI in place of Mithun Manhas who has batted at No 3 in each match.
Teams:
CSK (Probable): Murali Vijay, Michael Hussey, Suresh Raina, Subramanian Badrinath, MS Dhoni (c&wk), Srikkanth Anirudha, Albie Morkel, Shadab Jakati, Suraj Randiv, Ravichandran Ashwin, Doug Bollinger.
PWI (Probable): Jesse Ryder, Tim Paine (wk), Manish Pandey, Yuvraj Singh (c), Robin Uthappa, Mohnish Mishra, Wayne Parnell, Murali Kartik, Rahul Sharma, Alfonso Thomas, Shreekant Wagh.
Time: 20.00 local (14.30 GMT)
(Jamie Alter is a freelance cricket writer, having worked at ESPNcricinfo and All Sports Magazine. His first book, The History of World Cup Cricket, is out now. His twitter feed is @jamie_alter)
Pictures © Getty Images
