Which IPL franchise will you be supporting?

[KiWiNiNjA]

Kolkata

A top 4 of Gayle, McCullum, Ponting, Ganguly is like a wet dream when it comes to 20-20.

Wow that is awesome actually.

Probably as Ret will tell you though is that it's unlikely those first 3 will play cause you can only have 4 Internationals.

Cheers.

Actually, I think its highly likely that those 3 play a lot together. The other internationals are D Hussey, Gul and Akhtar.

I would rather have Gayle, McCullum, Ponting and Gul/Akhtar over just 2 of the batsmen plus both Gul and Akhtar. Take into account that both Ganguly and Gayle can be considered all-rounders.

You could have a line-up like this

1. Gayle
2. McCullum (wk)
3. Ponting
4. Ganguly
5. xxx
6. xxx
7. xxx
8. Agarkar
9. Kartik
10. Gul/Akhtar
11. I Sharma

Strong and explosive top 4 with Sharma, Gul, Agarkar, Kartik, Gayle and Ganguly as the bowlers.

 

[KiWiNiNjA]

Am hoping the New Zealanders perform well - McCullum could prove a particularly good buy. Will be behind Chennai though, with both Fleming and Oram and a host of other quality players (Hayden, Albie Mørkel and Murali).

Yeah, with Fleming and Oram, I will be supporting Chennai as well.

 

[NUFAN]

Actually, I think its highly likely that those 3 play a lot together. The other internationals are D Hussey, Gul and Akhtar.

I would rather have Gayle, McCullum, Ponting and Gul/Akhtar over just 2 of the batsmen plus both Gul and Akhtar. Take into account that both Ganguly and Gayle can be considered all-rounders.

You could have a line-up like this

1. Gayle
2. McCullum (wk)
3. Ponting
4. Ganguly
5. xxx
6. xxx
7. xxx
8. Agarkar
9. Kartik
10. Gul/Akhtar
11. I Sharma

Strong and explosive top 4 with Sharma, Gul, Agarkar, Kartik, Gayle and Ganguly as the bowlers.

Yeah good point. I agree actually. I'm going for Bangalore but I don't think we exactly have the best lineup. I'd like to see the full squads before I can really say who should be favourites. That top 4 is very awesome.

 

[ret]

Jaipur is another squad that has got some not so good player in 20T context. Makes me Q the need for 8 teams in IPL, instead of something like 6. It appears as if not e1 is best equipped to make the right selection which makes having less number of teams and thus concentrating on quality somewhat a better option .... And if I m not wrong then Jaipur even got penalized for falling short to spend the minimum at the auction

Other thing that I find unacceptable is the lack of professionalism shown by guys like Langer and D Hussey. If Langer wanted to play in county then why did he sign up for IPL in the first place. May be this looks like a case of 'sour grapes'. Then D Hussey is contracted to play for a county which begs the Q as to why he had not clarified that b4. I m sure he would hv been worth much less, if had clarified that earlier

IPL is no joke. Lots of money is being involved, an entire new platform for international league cricket is being created, and just look how some of the teams and players hv approached it

cheers

 

[Jono]

Before the tournament is even starting you're wanting the teams to be cut down from 8 to 6?

You don't know for sure who is going to do well and who isn't. Games of cricket aren't won on paper.

 

[ret]

Before the tournament is even starting you're wanting the teams to be cut down from 8 to 6?

You don't know for sure who is going to do well and who isn't. Games of cricket aren't won on paper.

It's true that tournaments are not won on paper but still teams' composition gives u a general idea as to how the tournament could progress like ever fancy B'desh to win a major tourney?

after looking at some of the teams, i kind of feel that may be less # of teams would have been a 'better' option

just my 2 cents

cheers

 

[silentstriker]

It's true that tournaments are not won on paper but still teams' composition gives u a general idea as to how the tournament could progress like ever fancy B'desh to win a major tourney?

after looking at some of the teams, i kind of feel that may be less # of teams would have been a 'better' option

just my 2 cents

cheers

The difference in quality is nowhere near that. Plus four international players will help, but the majority of the sides are yet to be decided.

 

[ret]

The difference in quality is nowhere near that. Plus four international players will help, but the majority of the sides are yet to be decided.

for me, there is a difference in quality even if u take the int players for e.g.

Weak teams
Jaipur ---- Langer, YK, Akmal, Katich, Warne, Smith
B'lore ---- Kallis, Cpaul, White, Bracken, Steyn, Boucher

Strong teams
Hybad ---- Gilly, Symo, Gibbs, Afridi, Styris, Vaas
Chennai ---- Hayden, Hussey, Flemings, Oram, Murali, along with Morkel & Nitini

Ofc, things could go differently if most of the above players don't play most of the games and once the complete line-ups are announced

But, usually, I m quick to jump the gun and my assessments are true

cheers

 

[Jono]

Bracken and Steyn could be a brilliant bowling partnership.

 

[ret]

Bracken and Steyn could be a brilliant bowling partnership.

Yep, but you hv to consider the playing X1 too, esp since Blore hv acquired Praveen Kumar

Now, if it is going to play Bracken and Steyn along with Boucher and Kallis as int [overseas] players and then hv Zak, Kumble, and Praveen, the bowling looks a little unidimensional

If it plays White as an all-rounder then it has 2 leg spinners in the line up, the other being Kumble

And lastly, ICL got big thumbs down coz of the low-scoring games so i expect good batting wkts for IPL, which means it's going to be more abt batting depth than anything else .... also a bowler can only ball 4 overs, which limits his effectiveness compared to a batsman who can potentially play the full 20 overs, so to me, it's who has the right batting combination that matters more

cheers

 

[Jono]

And lastly, ICL got big thumbs down coz of the low-scoring games so i expect good batting wkts for IPL, which means it's going to be more abt batting depth than anything else

Really? I didn't follow the ICL much bar the odd look at a scorecard, and when I felt like having a fun sports bet, but where did you read about the reaction being negative to low scoring games? I assume by low scoring you mean around 120-150.

.... also a bowler can only ball 4 overs, which limits his effectiveness compared to a batsman who can potentially play the full 20 overs, so to me, it's who has the right batting combination that matters more

Look, at first I thought that was true (and why I despised Twenty20 at first, now I wouldn't say I despite it, I just am not a fan) but bowlers do have a large say, and I reckon the bowling of Gul, Vettori, Pathan, Afridi and some others during the T20 World Cup show that good bowling can also win a match.

Personally I just wish that some bowlers could bowl a max of 6 overs. Like maybe two can bowl 6, but that's because I love the idea of bowlers working over batsman. 4 overs isn't enough for that to happen, and will always be why T20 cricket is a bit meh to me.

 

[ret]

Really? I didn't follow the ICL much bar the odd look at a scorecard, and when I felt like having a fun sports bet, but where did you read about the reaction being negative to low scoring games? I assume by low scoring you mean around 120-150.

Look, at first I thought that was true (and why I despised Twenty20 at first, now I wouldn't say I despite it, I just am not a fan) but bowlers do have a large say, and I reckon the bowling of Gul, Vettori, Pathan, Afridi and some others during the T20 World Cup show that good bowling can also win a match.

Personally I just wish that some bowlers could bowl a max of 6 overs. Like maybe two can bowl 6, but that's because I love the idea of bowlers working over batsman. 4 overs isn't enough for that to happen, and will always be why T20 cricket is a bit meh to me.

if I remember correctly, I read it on cricinfo abt negative reaction to ICLs low scoring games, which were partly due to the ground the tourney was played on. i guess, ICL couldn't get one of those BCCL grounds so went for something which had a not so good pitch, along with not too decent out field

http://www.indiancricketleague.in/fixtures/fixtures-icl-20-20-december.html

you are right that bowlers do hv a say but thats when they do well as an unit. Like the Ind bowlers did well coz RP, Pathan and co bowled well as a unit .... but remember, not all bowlers r going to hv a good day, so a batting side with depth can always make a come back despite a few hiccups

i know u r looking at this from B'lore's perspective. even though it has some good bowlers, it may not be able to field all of them and then its fielding would be a major concern with some aging players. Don't forget that for the bowling to be effective, the fielding as to be sharp and be able to create pressure

when we look at things in 360 degrees rather than taking the squad's strengths at face value then the equations look little different

cheers

 

[Jono]

Your point regarding fielding is a good one. Bangalore may struggle. Cam White in this regard will be vital.

 

[NUFAN]

for me, there is a difference in quality even if u take the int players for e.g.

Weak teams
Jaipur ---- Langer, YK, Akmal, Katich, Warne, Smith
B'lore ---- Kallis, Cpaul, White, Bracken, Steyn, Boucher

Strong teams
Hybad ---- Gilly, Symo, Gibbs, Afridi, Styris, Vaas
Chennai ---- Hayden, Hussey, Flemings, Oram, Murali, along with Mørkel & Nitini

Ofc, things could go differently if most of the above players don't play most of the games and once the complete line-ups are announced

But, usually, I m quick to jump the gun and my assessments are true

cheers

Still think your underestimating B'lore especially compared with Chennai.

I can't see how the seven Chennai names are better then the six B'lore.

At least with Bangalore these players will still be playing (International Cricket) over the next three years and are still at there peak.

 

[NUFAN]

Your point regarding fielding is a good one. Bangalore may struggle. Cam White in this regard will be vital.

Boucher isn't bad either.

Bangalore's fielding looks as good as Jaipur and Chennai for instance.

 

[Prince EWS]

Yep, but you hv to consider the playing X1 too, esp since Blore hv acquired Praveen Kumar

Now, if it is going to play Bracken and Steyn along with Boucher and Kallis as int [overseas] players and then hv Zak, Kumble, and Praveen, the bowling looks a little unidimensional

If it plays White as an all-rounder then it has 2 leg spinners in the line up, the other being Kumble

And lastly, ICL got big thumbs down coz of the low-scoring games so i expect good batting wkts for IPL, which means it's going to be more abt batting depth than anything else .... also a bowler can only ball 4 overs, which limits his effectiveness compared to a batsman who can potentially play the full 20 overs, so to me, it's who has the right batting combination that matters more

cheers

Why would good batting tracks made it about batting depth? If anything it'd minimise the need for the lower order and make the game more about clever bowling.

You really shouldn't need your #7 to score many runs if the pitch is a batting paradise and you only have 20 overs to bat.

Also, I don't get the point you continually make regarding Bangalore and the four internationals limit. The same limit will apply to every team, so you could say the same about all of them. The rule won't effect Bangalore more than any other team, unless of course their local players are of a weaker standard or something.

 

[ret]

Why would good batting tracks made it about batting depth? If anything it'd minimise the need for the lower order and make the game more about clever bowling.

You really shouldn't need your #7 to score many runs if the pitch is a batting paradise and you only have 20 overs to bat.

Also, I don't get the point you continually make regarding Bangalore and the four internationals limit. The same limit will apply to every team, so you could say the same about all of them. The rule won't effect Bangalore more than any other team, unless of course their local players are of a weaker standard or something.

minimizing the lower order is not a good idea coz u r not going to play the 20 overs of 20T like you play the 20 overs in a 50 overs game duh

on a batting paradise, the batters are going to play more freely and thus give more opportunities to the bowlers. the idea would be to play 35 of 20 balls kind of knocks by as many players as possible through out the inning, while someone is holding the other end. in trying to play those knocks, few are going to go back soon

coming to B'lore's 4 overseas guys limit .... well, what i found that some of the guys were taking the face value of the squad to judge Blore rather than that fact .... 2ndly, unlike some of the top teams, B'lore selection has not been something that balances the side. It already had the icon player in Dravid, who plays solid cricket so what it needed was to get players who would be little different from Dravid rather than like him. Blore's selection is like putting all eggs in one basket, so whats happening is that it is not able to utilize its overseas players properly

if it had Dravid, it would hv been better off spending a million on Gilly or Dhoni or Symo or Ponting than on Kallis and may be could hv got someone like Oram in place of Cpaul. Again with Zak in the squad, it could hv better invested its resources on someone other than Styen or Bracken as it is going to find it difficult to play both of them in the X1

So even though, every team has a 4 overseas players in the X1 limit, B'lore, in my humble opinion, is probably amongst the worst hit team coz of that limit

just my 2 cents

cheers

 

[TT Boy]

I like the look of Delhi, have a good composition of players but does anyone know who’s keeping wicket for them, Karthik or De Villiers?

 

[NUFAN]

minimizing the lower order is not a good idea coz u r not going to play the 20 overs of 20T like you play the 20 overs in a 50 overs game duh

on a batting paradise, the batters are going to play more freely and thus give more opportunities to the bowlers. the idea would be to play 35 of 20 balls kind of knocks by as many players as possible through out the inning, while someone is holding the other end. in trying to play those knocks, few are going to go back soon

coming to B'lore's 4 overseas guys limit .... well, what i found that some of the guys were taking the face value of the squad to judge Blore rather than that fact .... 2ndly, unlike some of the top teams, B'lore selection has not been something that balances the side. It already had the icon player in Dravid, who plays solid cricket so what it needed was to get players who would be little different from Dravid rather than like him. Blore's selection is like putting all eggs in one basket, so whats happening is that it is not able to utilize its overseas players properly

if it had Dravid, it would hv been better off spending a million on Gilly or Dhoni or Symo or Ponting than on Kallis and may be could hv got someone like Oram in place of Cpaul. Again with Zak in the squad, it could hv better invested its resources on someone other than Styen or Bracken as it is going to find it difficult to play both of them in the X1

So even though, every team has a 4 overseas players in the X1 limit, B'lore, in my humble opinion, is probably amongst the worst hit team coz of that limit

just my 2 cents

cheers

I've highlighted the terrible calls.

First you say that Bangalore haven't balanced there side and then you say they should have spent 1 mill on Dhoni when they already have Boucher!

Then saying Kallis is a poor choice if you already have Dravid is crazy. Kallis is a matchwinner of the highest order.

I also fail to see how pickign Steyn in the same team as Zaheer is a bad move in any way,can you explain why? Also picking Bracken isn't bad at all either.

 

[ret]

I've highlighted the terrible calls.

First you say that Bangalore haven't balanced there side and then you say they should have spent 1 mill on Dhoni when they already have Boucher!

Then saying Kallis is a poor choice if you already have Dravid is crazy. Kallis is a matchwinner of the highest order.

I also fail to see how pickign Steyn in the same team as Zaheer is a bad move in any way,can you explain why? Also picking Bracken isn't bad at all either.

1. I gave various options as too how Blore could hv better invested that million .... and isn't it understood that if B'lore went for Dhoni then it would not hv Boucher duh

2. all respect to Kallis and his match winning abilities, but he is not a hot commodity as far as 20T goes, imo. i guess, he was not selected even in the RSA 20T squad

3. I can very well understand that you fail to understand the point on overseas fast bowlers . let me make it american proof for you

B'lore's bowling attack
pacers - Zak, Praveen, Kallis, Steyn, Bracken,
spin - Kumble, White

now let's take the overseas players [we can only select 4 from it]
Kallis, Bracken, Steyn, White, Boucher and Cpaul

now let's build an X1

top ----> Jaffar, White, Kallis
middle ----> Dravid and Boucher
lower ----> Praveen, XXX, XXX

so how many bowlers do we have in it by now, eh? ----> Kallis, Praveen and White
now let's add the bowlers
bowlers ----> Zak, Bracken /[OR] Styen & Kumble

who is sitting on the bench? Cpaul & Bracken [OR] Styen

now let's twist the bidding here -
Lets say Agarkar in place of Bracken or Steyn

now let's take the new line up
top ----> Jaffar, Cpaul & Kallis
middle ----> Dravid and Boucher
lower ----> White, Praveen & Agarkar
bowlers ----> Zak, XXX and Kumble

who is sitting on the bench now? Bracken or Steyn

And because, Blore has both Bracken and Steyn NOW, it will now have to go for lesser known Indian batters, which might not be a good idea in 20T

Thats the reason why teams like Kol bid $900+ for an Indian bowler like Ishant duh, as it would hv Agarkar, Ishant, Murali as Ind bowlers, along with Gul/Akthar to help them out

Thats the reason why Mohali has Ind players like Sree, Pathan, Chawla, Powar

Hope you got the point [i can't simplify further ]

cheers