2013 Champions League T20 team preview: Perth Scorchers

Perth Scorchers

Perth Scorchers, a consistent T20 team from Australia’s premier T20 tournament, the Big Bash League, has always been in the shadows of other teams that are based in Melbourne and Sydney.

Scorchers are not a star studded team but they use their available resources wisely and succeed, which other teams fail to do so. They qualified for the 2013 Champions League T20, as they finished second in the previous edition on BBL. They defeated the tournament favourites Melbourne Stars in the semi finals but failed to get past the eventual champions Brisbane Heat in the finals.

This is their second appearance in the global T20 carnival. Last year they couldn’t play to their potential and failed to get past the first round. This year, however, they are a bit weaker when compared to their BBL squad as they will miss the services of Mike Hussey and Mitchell Marsh but their skipper, Simon Katich, is a veteran at inspiring his players and making them perform well above their potential.

Here is the preview of Perth Scorchers’ side for the 2013 CLT20.

Squad:

Captain: Simon Katich.

Coach: Justin Langer.

Batsmen: Simon Katich, Shaun Marsh, Liam Davis, Sam Whiteman.

All Rounders: Adam Voges, Hilton Cartwright.

Bowlers: Ashton Agar, Michael Beer, Brad Hogg, Alfonso Thomas, Burt Cockley, Jason Behrendorff, Joel Paris, Ashton Turner.

Wicket Keeper: Tom Triffitt.

Strengths:

• Good top order
• Right mix of youth and experience
• Scorchers are a good fielding side
• Alfonso Thomas can be lethal with the new ball as well as in the slog overs
• Presence of Good spinners in their line-up

Weakness:

• Many players are new to the Indian conditions
• Their fast bowling solely depends on Alfonso Thomas
• Lack of quality all-rounders
• Absence of their star players – Mike Hussey and Mitchell Marsh
• Loss of early wickets could dent their run rate in the death overs

X-Factor: Simon Katich

The fortunes of Perth Scorchers in this year’s CLT20 lie in the hands of their skipper Simon Katich. Katich, former Aussie opener, will miss the services of his good old friend Mike Hussey and the younger of the Marsh brothers, Mitchell Marsh. In Hussey, the Scorchers are set to lose out a dependable batsman and with the absence of Marsh, the balance of the side is set to take a major blow.

The tall all-rounder has been the vital cog in the wheel of the Scorchers line-up for the past two years. Hussey is representing Chennai Super Kings whereas Marsh is out with an injury. But Katich, the veteran cricketer, has the ability to keep things simple. He has taken part in CLT20 thrice and had even led New South Wales Blues to triumph in the inaugural edition of the tournament. He is no stranger to the Indian conditions and his inputs will be valuable to his teammates, who are playing in these conditions for the first time.

Apart from his captaincy, he will be looking to get some runs under his belt. He will be expected to lead from the front and his team will look to emulate their BBL performances.

Players to watch out for:

Shaun Marsh: Can he carry the Scorchers’ batting on his shoulders?

Spin bowling is an art that has its own value irrespective of the format. Even in T20’s, the spinners have a huge impact in the outcome of the game. Some teams use their spinners to open the bowling while others use them in the slog overs to reduce the flow of runs.

The conditions in India will be well suited for the spinners. The Perth Scorchers will land in India with three leading spinners, who are not only capable of checking the run flow, but also are capable of picking crucial wickets. Their spinners – Michael Beer, Ashton Agar and Brad Hogg have represented Australia in the past and with the exception of Agar, are experienced in Indian conditions.

Agar, however, will be buoyed by his performances in the two Tests for Australia in the recently concluded Ashes series. Beer will open the bowling with Alfonso Thomas whereas Agar and Hogg will be operating in the middle overs. The Scorchers will be looking forward to their spinners to deliver in the conditions that are suitable for them.

The spin line-up of the side looks threatening but the same can’t be said for their fast bowling and batting. Their batting department will solely rely on Shaun Marsh. Without Mike Hussey, Mitchell Marsh and Herschelle Gibbs the batting line-up looks too weak. So, the responsibility to carry the Scorches innings forward will be in the hands of the elder Marsh brother.

Shaun Marsh, the left handed opening batsman, is one of the better batsmen around the T20 circuit. Marsh, who has represented for Kings XI Punjab in the IPL, has tons of runs under his belt and knows the Indian conditions very well. He will be expected to give the side a good start and carry the innings forward in the middle overs and set the platform for Adam Voges to finish off the innings. In the past, he has proved that he is a consistent performer in the T20 circuit and is equally good against the pacers and the spinners. The Scorchers will hope that Marsh finds some form before the CLT20 and lead them forward in the tournament.

Possible Playing XI: Sam Whiteman, Liam Davis, Shaun Marsh, Simon Katich, Adam Voges, Tom Triffitt, Jason Behrendorff, Ashton Agar, Michael Beer, Brad Hogg, Alfonso Thomas.

Perth Scorchers Schedule:

Monday 23 September v Lions in Ahmedabad

Wednesday 25 September v Qualifier in Jaipur

Sunday 29 September v Royals in Jaipur

Wednesday 02 October v Mumbai in Delhi