The Caribbean Premier League, a T20 extravaganza that is about to get underway for the 2016 edition, has made the game more popular in the West Indies, and has infused life in the fans of the game who saw the national team fight regularly with the West Indies Cricket Board over various issues.
With six teams vying for the top spot, it is one of the many exciting T20 tournaments that have sprung up post the success of the IPL. The Caribbean setting adds more colour to it.This time, a number of foreign superstars will be turning out wearing CPL outfits. We look at 11 of these, who can make a huge impact on their respective sides’ fortunes.
#1 Martin Guptill
The New Zealander, known for his free-flowing strokeplay at the top of the order, has been part of the Caribbean Premier League since 2013. He has represented the Guyana Warriors and the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots, compiling a total of 821 runs from 28 games. The first person to score an ODI century for New Zealand on debut, Guptill has been phenomenal at the top of the order for the Black Caps.
He has been named the captain of the Guyana Amazon Warriors, and will be expected to carry on with his fireworks at the top of the order with Dwayne Smith. It’ll also be interesting to see how he handles the young leg-spinner Adam Zampa, who’ll be playing his first CPL T20.
#2 Brendon McCullum
He might have retired from international cricket earlier this year, but the aura of this hard-hitting Kiwi never ceases to dim. Having revolutionized the art of T20 hitting, McCullum is known for his sensational bat-speed and brazen strokeplay at the top of the order. He has held this role for New Zealand for years now, and will don the same avatar for Trinbago Knight Riders.
This happens to be his debut season in the Caribbean, but he isn’t short of match practice, having recently represented the Gujarat Lions in the IPL and Middlesex in English County.
#3 Faf du Plessis
Another CPL debutant on the list, duPlessis has made a name for himself in the cricketing circles with his versatile batting and calm head. With the ability to change gears as and when the situation demands, he improvises according to the conditions and situation of the game, whatever be the format.
His IPL stint this year was cut short due to injury, but Du Plessis is ready to don the captaincy role for the St. Kitts and Nevis Patriots. The side has an impressive mix of T20 specialists in the squad, and he will be banking on them to claim their maiden CPL title.
#4 Kumar Sangakkara
Having recently crossed the milestone of 19,000 First Class runs, Kumar Sangakkara continues to score runs as he did in his pomp. His retirement from international cricket, in the middle of a purple patch last year, has failed to diminish his appetite for runs. He wasn’t part of the IPL this time, but played the Cricket All Stars and Masters Champions League in recent months. He also represented Surrey in the English County Championships.
Sangakkara makes a return to CPL this year with the Jamaica Tallawahs, a team that won the title in 2013 in which he was a marquee player. He will be playing under Chris Gayle this time.
#5 AB de Villiers
When de Villiers is on song, words fail to describe his batting. A pioneer in improvising batting in the modern game, De Villiers can conjure unbelievable shots in any conditions and on any pitch. He had a phenomenal run with the Royal Challengers Bangalore in the recently concluded IPL, but looked off color in the Tri-Series that followed.
This being his maiden CPL stint, De Villiers would be looking to create an impact straight away. He is representing the Barbados Tridents, champions of the 2014 edition, and would be playing under the leadership of Kieron Pollard.
#6 Shane Watson
The World T20 might have been his international swansong, but the recently retired Watson can still fit into a T20 side with his power-packed batting and effective medium pace. He was a vital cog for the Royal Challengers Bangalore in this edition, taking 20 wickets from 16 matches.
With no prior experience of playing the CPL, he will make his debut under the captaincy of Darren Sammy for the St. Lucia Zouks, and would be hoping to catapult the fortunes of a side that has a poor track record in the tournament.
#7 David Miller
Another T20 specialist who can single-handedly change the course of the game with his power hitting, Miller came in the limelight for making the third fastest century in IPL history in 2013. Although he had a poor season with the Kings XI Punjab, and was sacked as captain midway, there is no doubt about his abilities with the bat.
He will join the St. Lucia Zouks this time, and would be looking to anchor the middle order to release pressure on the captain, Darren Sammy. On the slow pitches of the Caribbean, the left-hander can surely turn the heat on the opposition.
#8 Shakib Al Hasan
Part of the Jamaica Tallawahs this time, Shakib Al Hasan is not new to the format, or the CPL, having already played eight matches for the Tridents and having picked up 11 wickets. Six of those were snapped in a sensational spell of bowling in 2013 against the Trindad & Tobago Red Steels, when he finished with figures of 6 for 6 from his quota of four overs.
Shakib has been an effective player in this format, having recently represented the Kolkata Knight Riders, where his assured hitting in the death overs and his wily left-arm spin made him an important member of the team. He will be playing under the leadership of Chris Gayle this time around.
#9 Adam Zampa
The young leg-spinner turned heads with an astonishing spell of 6-19, the second best figures ever in the IPL while representing the Rising Pune Super Giants against the eventual champions, Sunrisers. He was subsequently drafted into the Australian squad for the Tri-Series in the Caribbean, and impressed one and all with his clever variations.
Zampa will ply his trade under Martin Guptill for the Guyana Amazon Warriors, and would be looking to extend his successful run on the slow West Indian wickets.
#10 Morne Morkel
Another debutant on this list, the 31-year old Morkel is one of the most difficult bowlers to face in this format, having the ability to extract pace and bounce out of any surface. He uses his height to ping and dart the ball into the batsmen, hardly giving them room to go for their strokes. In 39 T20Is for the South Africans, he has claimed 45 wickets.
He will be making his debut for the Zouks, and under the captaincy of Darren Sammy, would be looking to hand them their maiden title. A veteran of 71 Tests and 108 ODIs, Sammy would be banking on him for bringing in experience to the side.
#11 Dale Steyn
A return from injury hasn’t been the best for Steyn, who has looked off color in recent months, but there is no denying the fact that he is still a potent force with the ball, irrespective of the format. Having recently turned 33, a well rested Steyn will be looking to out all guns blazing when he turns up for the Jamaica Tallawahs.
His control over the ball, both new and old, and his ability to bowl relentlessly at searing pace makes him a standout performer for any team. Under Chris Gayle’s captaincy. Steyn will be the ideal bowler to provide quick wickets at the top. His experience is another factor that works in his favour.
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