Winter Twenty-20 Bash

Cricket fans cannot ask for a better fare this winter. Sri Lanka’s tour of India concludes on December 27 but there are two Boxing Day Test matches to look forward to. Australia take on Pakistan in their annual Melbourne Test starting tomorrow while South Africa take on England at Durban. For Indian fans,there’s the ongoing Ranji Trophy quarterfinals.This is not all.The month long KFC Australian T20 Big Bash begins December 28 at Brisbane when Queensland and Victoria take on each other.Six teams,seventeen matches including a preliminary final (played by the second and third placed teams at the end of the league stage. Winner of this match qualifies for the final) and the final.

Melbourne Victoria

The first edition of this competition dates back to 2005 when the six teams were divided into two groups and the top four teams played the knockout semifinals.KFC entered as sponsor in 2006 and the ‘bash’ became bigger with teams competing on a round-robin basis.With teams now having the incentive of competing in the T20 Champions League,Cricket Australia has decided to make it a ‘bigger bash’ by allowing teams to sign up foreign players.This rule existed last year also but only Western Australia and South Australia chose to sign up Umar Gul and Sohail Tanvir respectively.Then New South Wales signed up Brendon McCullum as part of their plans for the T20 Champions League 2009. This time,all teams have signed up one or more foreign players. A look at the six teams:

1. RTA New South Wales Speedblitz Blues : Captains- Simon Katich, Stuart Clark, Moises Henriques. Wicketkeepers — Brad Haddin, Daniel Smith

The Sydney based Blues are the Australian equivalent of India’s Mumbai. Winners of the 2008-09 season, they halted Victoria’s unbeaten run since 2005. They went on to add another feather in their cap when they won the inaugural edition of the T20 Champions League. They are lead by Simon Katich who is yet another example of players who defy the notion that T20 is for youngsters. When he was with the international team last year, it was Dominic Thornely who took over but this year it is Stuart Clark who is given the responsibility. The injury he picked up during the ongoing domestic competition has paved the way for the young Moises Henriques to take over captaincy. Brendon McCullum’s contract has not been extended and after setting sights on India’s Rohit Sharma, Dinesh Karthik and Yuvraj Singh, the Blues have signed up West Indies and Deccan Chargers batsman Dwayne Smith.

International players include Nathan Hauritz, Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin. After expressing keenness to play in the IPL to hone his T20 skills, Clarke would be keen to use every opportunity available.

Players to watch out for — The team that has sent players like the Waugh brothers, Glenn McGrath, Brett Lee etc to the Australian team is never short of prodigious talent. Steven Smith, the legspinning allrounder, has been drafted into the Australian squad as cover for Nathan Hauritz. An explosive middle order batsman, the youngster could turn out to be the answer to Australia’s spin worries after Shane Warne if he could contribute with the ball. Josh Hazlewood, the tall and lanky teenager has a bowling action similar to that of Glenn McGrath and he has not fared badly in the few opportunities he got this year. Selected in the Australian under-19 team, he will use this as an opportunity to impress.Apart from these two, opposition bowlers would be keen to see off the opening combo of David Warner and Phillip Hughes.

2. VB Victoria Bushrangers : Captains–Cameron White, David Hussey, Andrew McDonald. Wicketkeeper : Matthew Wade

The most powerful team that had an unbeaten run since 2005 winning every single match till 2007 until their first loss in the 2008 season. Cameron White’s impressive record as captain has seen him elevated to the post of Australian T20 vice-captaincy though their coach, Greg Shipperd (who also coaches the Delhi Daredevils) believes he is captaincy material. White is one among the Big Three, the other two being Brad Hodge and David Hussey, the highest and second highest run getters in the T20 format, respectively. Hodge has been the pillar of the Bushrangers’ batting and his early dismissal is something which other teams crave for. The 2008 edition saw them playing the preliminary final against Queensland, a match that saw the absence of White and Hussey, who were with the Australian team then. Hodge anchored the Bushrangers to victory on a bowler friendly track where even a target of 118 was a huge ask. The big three missed the final but it was not easy going for the NSW Blues who stole a last ball win. Dwayne Bravo, Muttiah Muralidaran and Sohail Tanvir are the foreign signings for this season. Murali and Tanvir will miss this season due to injuries while Bravo is expected to make it.

Peter Siddle and Clint McKay are the international players. While Siddle is expected to be playing the Tests against Pakistan, McKay is likely to be released for Victoria if he is not considered in the XI for Australia.

Players to watch out for — Apart from the Hodge-Hussey-White trio, Rob Quiney is an explosive opener. Andrew McDonald’s allround abilities were on display during the Champions League. He has the ability to make batsmen cramp for room and is very effective in the death overs. Pacer James Pattinson (brother of Darren, who played one Test for England last year) took six wickets in the recent one-day match against NSW. The biggest bowling threat lies in the form of Clint McKay who has recently been elevated to the Aussie ODI and Test teams.

3. XXXX Queensland Bulls : Captain–Chris Simpson, Wicketkeeper : Chris Hartley

Loss of key players has not dented the Bulls’ hopes and they continue to be in fine form in the ongoing domestic competitions. Nathan Hauritz moved to NSW way back in 2006. Last year Mitchell Johnson moved to Western Australia to be with his partner. Shane Watson moved to NSW this year for the same reason. Ashley Noffke ditched the Bulls for opportunities with Western Australia. But the replacement players have all stood up to the challenge.Above all they have the services of James Hopes and Andrew Symonds, whose Bulls contract was terminated at the same time his Cricket Australia contract was done so but he has been offered a limited overs contract for this year. Daniel Vettori is the only foreign signing who is expected to feature in two matches this season.

Players to watch out for — Captain Simpson is a part-time spinner who can get wickets. Chris Hartley made it to the Australian side as cover for Graham Manou during the Ashes. The two Nathans, Reardon and Rimmington, are useful medium pacers and featured in this year’s exhibition match for the ACA XI under Shane Warne at the Gabba. Lee Carseldine with a T20 average of 50+ is the key allrounder who also has a Rajasthan Royals. Alister McDermott, son of Craig, has earned a place in the Australian U-19 team for the coming world cup.

4. PKF Tasmanian Tigers : Captain–George Bailey, Wicketkeeper–Tim Paine

Daniel Marsh, son of the legendary Rodney, stepped down as skipper after the last season to make way for George Bailey and the latter has not done badly in the ongoing Test and one-day tournaments. His explosive batting came to the fore in the Indian Premier League 2009 when he shone for the Chennai Super Kings in the few opportunities he got. Stumper Tim Paine has been highly impressive for Australia in the ODI series against England and in the Champions Trophy earlier this year. Pacer Brett Geeves has been on the sidelines of the Australian Test side for some time and was given a chance in the T20 team in South Africa. He got the wicket of Herschelle Gibbs off the very first ball he bowled and is the key pacer. Xavier Doherty is a left arm spinner who will look to make use of every opportunity to get noticed as an answer to Australia’s spin worries. Most importantly Daniel Marsh continues to be in the side mentoring his teammates and he is someone who is looked up to. Above all, international commitments permitting, Ricky Ponting will feature for the Tigers. He may have retired from the international T20 scene but has the Tigers and Kolkata Knightriders as options. Their foreign signings include Lasith Malinga who will miss this season due to his Sri Lankan commitments and his place has been taken up by Dimitri Mascarenhas.

Players to watch out for — George Bailey, Tim Paine, Daniel Marsh and Ben Hilfenhaus.

5. Westend South Australian Redbacks : Captain and wicketkeeper–Graham Manou

South Australia has been the team with probably the least number of international players like Darren Lehmann and Jason Gillespie who have been impressive at the highest level. Callum Ferguson, the key player who is out due to injury and won’t feature for the rest of the season, has earned special praise from Ricky Ponting who considers him a future Australian Test player. However they pipped NSW to sign up the explosive Kieron Pollard after his fireworks against NSW in the T20 CL. The other foreign signing is Shahid Afridi who will be available for the entire season as he is not in the Pakistani Test team.

Players to watch out for : Graham Manou, Kieron Pollard, Shaun Tait

6. Retravision Western Australia Warriors : Captains–Marcus North, Adam Voges. Wicketkeeper–Luke Ronchi

Shaun Marsh and Luke Pomersbach were the poster boys of the inaugural IPL but they have not been able to translate the form into successful outings with their state team. While Marsh was sidelined with injuries, Pomersbach’s chances suffered a serious blow when he was axed from the team for missing a mandatory practice session. Matters turned worse when he was fined by the Perth police for drunken driving. This has paved the way for Shaun’s brother, Mitchell Marsh, to impress. The partnership, the Marsh brothers put together in the one-day match against NSW has won Mitchell the captaincy of the U-19 team. Luke Ronchi has returned to form with some centuries this season and Adam Voges has not shied away from responsibility in Marcus North’s absence. Ashley Noffke, who came in from Queensland, has cemented his place in the side and cannot be ignored. Theo Doropoulos fielded as substitute in the Perth Test against the Windies. Chris Gayle is their foreign signing for this season.

Players to watch out for–The Marsh brothers, Luke Ronchi, Adam Voges, Michael Hussey

All the six teams appear strong on paper but the T20 format has shown that no team is invincible. A place in the final two will be the goal of every team since that itself guarantees a place in the Champions League. The challenge for NSW would be to defend the title while Victoria would be looking to resume their golden run. Others would be keen to get into the final two. IPL franchisees will be closely watching the tournament to sign up players. Expect a month full of excitement starting December 28.