This is just the second Champions League Twenty20 but it’s already built a strong perception: that the IPL teams are at a disadvantage because they are just mercenaries, ronins who assemble for two months a year. The real “teams” like Warriors or South Australia know each other better and gel with each other so well that they hold the edge. This second edition could make or break that cliché.
Stephen Fleming, Chennai Super Kings’ coach, is slightly nervous, since he too believes in that perception. Or so he says. “It’s a big challenge for the IPL teams. They [teams like Central Districts] hold the advantage. They play a lot of cricket together. We just come together for two months in a year. We have used this week [of preparation] to get up to the speed. The best catalyst for that will be a win tomorrow. If things don’t go well we have to work very hard to get back into the competition. Tomorrow is a very important day.”
It certainly is as Chennai have been slow starters in the last two editions of the IPL. Fleming says he is desperate to change that bad habit. In a short competition like this, and especially against a relatively weaker team like Central Districts, you can’t get off to a bad start.
There are a few other concerns. Some haven’t played much competitive cricket. “Some players like Matthew Hayden are coming out of the cold,” Fleming said. “So you work harder with them but they are experienced.
If you push too hard you are making too much of an issue of it. On one hand we are trying to be relaxed about what we need to do but as a coaching group you are bit nervous as you want to do a bit more.”
Not that their opponent Central Districts are riding a wave of confidence. Inclement weather hampered their preparations back home. They just have managed a week of proper practice, according to their new coach Alan Hunt. The injuries to Jacob Oram and Graham Napier, and the loss of Ross Taylor to Bangalore Royal Challengers have been huge setbacks.
Their strength is their mystery, their unknown quality. Even Fleming, a New Zealander, hasn’t seen many of their youngsters. Not that Hunt is expecting any miracles from his young team.
He sees this tournament as an opportunity for his boys get used to playing at this level, learn from the exposure, and go back home as a better team and better professionals. “If we can do that, I would be happy.” Not many expect much from them. It puts them in perfect position to hurt a bigger team by an upset win. (Cricinfo)
