The world is coming home - Part I

This is the season to find out the champion of champions in cricket. First it was, ICC Champions Trophy and now it is Champions League T20. While Australia won the Champions Trophy for the second time in a row, it remains to be seen, as to who actually wins the first ever global club/state/franchisee/city cricket tournament. Both these tournaments were delayed due to security reasons and now while one is complete, the other is ready to be welcomed by people all over the world.

While Indian Premier League belongs to India, this is a truly global tournament and in years to come, Champions League T20 would become one of the most important and sought out cricket tournaments that would be played every year. Cricket is taking big turns and this is the latest phase of cricket where clubs from all over the world will fight over 3 weeks for a total cash prize money of US $ 6 million.

Here is the preview of the teams fighting out in the inaugural edition of Champions League T20.

GROUP A

DECCAN CHARGERS

The champions of IPL 2009, Deccan Chargers should definitely feel that they have the chance of winning this tournament also without the services of Herschelle Gibbs and Dwayne Smith.

Deccan Chargers

Led by the charismatic, Adam Gilchrist, Deccan Chargers possess quite an envious batting line up that has Rohit Sharma, Scott Styris and Andrew Symonds in the middle. This time around, the local talent should raise their hands up to cover up the absence of the mercurial Gibbs and Smith. Tirumalasetti Suman, Venugopal Rao, Azhar Bilakhia and VVS Laxman will have an important role to play in this edition’s CLT20.

Fidel Edwards, Chaminda Vaas, Ryan Harris and RP Singh will join together to torment the batsmen in Indian conditions.

Pragyan Ojha will probably be Gilchrist’s trump card this year. Ojha had a wonderful time in IPL and it remains to be seen if he carries the same form into Champions League.

The Chargers will more often than not, depend on Gilchrist to provide the momentum to carry on. Andrew Symonds will love to be in limelight after a long time. As a team, they have been the champions of one of the world’s costliest leagues. Now, it remains to be seen whether Gilchrist can take Deccan to the next level by winning Champions League T20 also. If he does, the whole of the home crowd will go berserk!

Even Chiranjeevi will…

DECCAN CHARGERS SQUAD – Adam Gilchrist, Azhar Bilakhia, Fidel Edwards, Harmeet Singh, Ryan Harris, VVS Laxman, Pragyan Ojha, Rohit Sharma, Shoaib Ahmed, RP Singh, Scott Styris, Tirumalasetti Suman, Andrew Symonds, Chaminda Vaas and Venugopal Rao.

PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR – Andrew Symonds, Fidel Edwards, Pragyan Ojha

SOMERSET CCC

Marcus Trescothick is the name on everyone’s lips nowadays. After he decided to travel to India for this event, Somerset has been one team most Indians want to know about. Much like Sussex Sharks, Somerset also have a bulk of imports in the form of Omari Banks, Zander de Bruyn, Alfonso Thomas, Charl Willoughby and most importantly, their captain, Justin Langer.

Langer, Trescothick, Hildreth, Kieswetter will form the backbone of Somerset’s batting. Zander de Bruyn could be useful with both ball and bat. Arul Suppiah, Wes Durston, Omari Banks and Max Waller form the main spinners in the team.Though Somerset has got spinners in their line up, most of them are inexperienced and could land up in trouble if they don’t gauge the pitch conditions correctly.

Most of the fast-bowlers in the Somerset line up are more suited for gentle swing bowling. In Indian conditions, it remains to be seen how they can handle the pressure applied by the batsmen and the crowds.

Against Deccan Chargers, the odds are completely stacked against Somerset. However, if they beat Trinidad and Tobago, they might well book a slot for the Quarter finals against teams from Australia, England or South Africa.

Overall, Somerset need to pull off magical as a team to go till the business end of this tournament.

SOMERSET CCC SQUAD – Justin Langer, Omari Banks, Jos Buttler, Zander de Bruyn, Wes Durston, James Hildreth, Craig Kieswetter, Ben Phillips, Arul Suppiah, Alfonso Thomas, Peter Trego, Marcus Trescothick, Mark Turner, Max Waller and Charl Willoughby.

PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR – Marcus Trescothick, Zander de Bruyn, Alfonso Thomas.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO

Darren Ganga’s team from West Indies have already set their plans to rejuvenate the lost glory of West Indies by winning this tournament. Ganga does have the likes of Bravo brothers, Keiron Pollard, Lendl Simmons, Denesh Ramdin and Ravi Rampaul to do the work.

Trinidad, like Wayamba Elevens, are least expected to set the stage on fire. Only Ganga would know how much his team can do in this tournament. Rayad Emrit will be an important cog in Trinidad’s wheel. Trinidad could just unearth a big talent, if Adrian Barath clicks in this tournament. Barath and Simmons made bold statements with the bat when England last toured West Indies.

The batting remains their strength and if they need to succeed their batting needs to score heavily every time they bat and be confident of chasing any score while batting second. Pollard can also be devastating with the bat in the end overs.

Samuel Badree, Dave Mohammed and Sherwin Ganga would be important spin bowlers on pitches that would be slow and low.

The chances remain very slim for this team from West Indies to make it to the podium. In fact, it would be an achievement of sorts if Ganga can upset one or two teams in the league stage itself.

Rubbing shoulders with world’s best Twenty20 players would be a memorable occasion for players from West Indies whose cricket looks in total disarray.

TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO SQUAD – Daren Ganga, Samuel Badree, Adrian Barath, Dwayne Bravo, Darren Bravo, Rayad Emrit, Sherwin Ganga, Dave Mohammed, Sunil Narine, William Perkins, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Lendl Simmons, Navin Stewart.

PLAYERS TO WATCH OUT FOR – Darren Bravo, Dwayne Bravo, Adrian Barath