Week 1 - Match 2 - Kochi Tuskers vs Delhi Daredevils - Both teams submitted

Welcome to the Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, home of the Kochi Tuskers.

Pitch Conditions = Low uneaven bounce, batting difficult until the batsman has got himself in. Ball will seam around as well. Not much spin.

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Kochi Tuskers

1) Mahela Jayawardene (c)
2) Phillip Hughes*
3) Brendon McCullum (wk)
4) Brendan Taylor*
5) Parthiv Patel
6) Ravindra Jadeja*
7) Ramesh Powar
8) R.P Singh*
9) Vinay Kumar
10) Sreesanth
11) Chris Tremlett

Bowl first if we win the toss. Batting second will be an advantage with a captain like Jayawardene in the team. He has an ability to adapt and is a brilliant tactician so he is able to make decisions about the batting.

Batting
We have looked to mix it up with experienced players capable of building an innings as well as big hitters who will look to build big scores quickly. Mahela Jayawardene will look to get a good start in the powerplay overs playing attacking but smart enough to minimise risk. He will look to build a solid score without risking too much. Brendon Taylor will also look to do this unless both are in at the same time when Taylor attacks. Hughes will look for space for bigger shots when bad balls come in. Batsmen 5,6,7 average 61 in Twenty20 matches each with a strike rate of over 100 so if needed our lower order can perform

Bowling
Chris Tremlett is really awkward to deal with and him and RP Singh will look to bowl with inswingers when facing Sewhag looking to get the danger man out. Through 5-12 we will look to keep the Batsmen on their toes. Sree, Jayawardene + Kumar can all switch the speed around and are accurate. Powar will look to switch it up bowling with Singh, while we end with Kumar + Tremlett.

Chris Tremlett (1,3,17,19)
RP Singh (2,4,14,16)
Sree (5,7,9,11)
Jayawardene (6,8)
Kumar (10,12,18,20)
Powar (13,15)

Delhi Daredevil's

1) Virender Sehwag ©
2) Tamim Iqbal
3) David Warner
4) James Taylor
5) Wasim Jaffer
6) Irfan Pathan
7) Naman Ojha (WK)
8) Morne Morkel
9) James Anderson
10) Varun Aaron
11) Ashok Dinda
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Toss – Bowl first

Bowling
– On a seemingly bowler friendly pitch, it makes more sense to put the Tuskers in and put their top order under immediate pressure. With the
pitch offering little help to the spinners, I’ve opted to place the sole tweaking responsibilities at the door of captain Sehwag who offers a
very handy part time off spin option, leaving more emphasis on the Daredevils strong, first choice seam bowling department. With the pitch
offering uneven bounce, the prospect of facing the new ball pair of Anderson and Morkel who can utilise all aspects of seam bowling and
really give batsman trouble in all aspects of the game. Morkel would bowl two of the power play bowlers, as would Anderson, who would bowl
his spell straight through. Varun Aaron would be my change bowler, utilising his exceptional pace to pin back Kochi’s big hitters and
amplify the pressure allowing Anderson to turn the screw further. Aaron would bowl two overs, coinciding with the conclusion of Anderson’s
spell, leading to the introductions of Irfan Pathan, who’s left handed bowling would pose different challenges for the batsman and Ashok Dinda.
Should the batsman have the upper hand then Sehwag could be introduced to slow down the pace and encourage the batsmen to play to the now
expansive field. This would take Delhi to the final four, bowled by Morkel and Aaron, Morkel getting the last over.

Bowling Composition
Morkel – 4
Anderson – 4
Aaron – 4
Pathan – 4
Dinda – 2
Sehwag – 2


Batting-
In my opinion the top 3 of Sehwag, Tamim and Warner is quite possibly one of the most imposing and destructive in the competition with all 3
players having excellent t20 averages and strike rates. With the Tuskers restricted by a hostile bowling performance, I’d be hoping for a target
of 120ish, and providing the top 3 could negotiate an unpredictable spell from Tremlett, I’d back them to chase down the target with
well-timed shots and devastating boundary hitting. Should it arise that two of the top 3 are lost, then James Taylor would be able to come in
and provide a different challenge, offering expansive shots and quick running forcing opposition field changes, allowing his partner to target
the gaps and keep with the run rate. The top 4 are ably assisted by Wasim Jaffer, Pathan and Ojha, whom all have decent t20 strike rates
that would enable the Daredevils to get over the line and get the all-important first win of the tournament.

Delhi Daredevil's

1) Virender Sehwag ©
2) Tamim Iqbal
3) David Warner
4) James Taylor
5) Wasim Jaffer
6) Irfan Pathan
7) Naman Ojha (WK)
8) Morne Morkel
9) James Anderson
10) Varun Aaron
11) Ashok Dinda
____________________________________________________________

Toss – Bowl first

Bowling – On a seemingly bowler friendly pitch, it makes more sense to put the Tuskers in and put their top order under immediate pressure. With the pitch offering little help to the spinners, I’ve opted to place the sole tweaking responsibilities at the door of captain Sehwag who offers a very handy part time off spin option, leaving more emphasis on the Daredevils strong, first choice seam bowling department. With the pitch offering uneven bounce, the prospect of facing the new ball pair of Anderson and Morkel who can utilise all aspects of seam bowling and really give batsman trouble in all aspects of the game. Morkel would bowl two of the power play bowlers, as would Anderson, who would bowl his spell straight through. Varun Aaron would be my change bowler, utilising his exceptional pace to pin back Kochi’s big hitters and amplify the pressure allowing Anderson to turn the screw further. Aaron would bowl two overs, coinciding with the conclusion of Anderson’s spell, leading to the introductions of Irfan Pathan, who’s left handed bowling would pose different challenges for the batsman and Ashok Dinda. Should the batsman have the upper hand then Sehwag could be introduced to slow down the pace and encourage the batsmen to play to the now expansive field. This would take Delhi to the final four, bowled by Morkel and Aaron, Morkel getting the last over.

Bowling Composition
Morkel – 4
Anderson – 4
Aaron – 4
Pathan – 4
Dinda – 2
Sehwag – 2


Batting- In my opinion the top 3 of Sehwag, Tamim and Warner is quite possibly one of the most imposing and destructive in the competition with all 3 players having excellent t20 averages and strike rates. With the Tuskers restricted by a hostile bowling performance, I’d be hoping for a target of 120ish, and providing the top 3 could negotiate an unpredictable spell from Tremlett, I’d back them to chase down the target with well-timed shots and devastating boundary hitting. Should it arise that two of the top 3 are lost, then James Taylor would be able to come in and provide a different challenge, offering expansive shots and quick running forcing opposition field changes, allowing his partner to target the gaps and keep with the run rate. The top 4 are ably assisted by Wasim Jaffer, Pathan and Ojha, whom all have decent t20 strike rates that would enable the Daredevils to get over the line and get the all-important first win of the tournament.

this would be a tight game, but i think kochi might just edge it

Please elaborate?

Hmmm another tough one to call, both teams have strong bowling attacks, but a little weak in the batting IMO (the n°6 batsmen both look a place too high IMO). Surprised that Kochi are going to opt to bowl Jayawardene ahead of Jadeja. A lot may depend on how well the top 3 of Delhi (who are indeed destructive) fare.

I think Sainty will win and win comfortably.

Not quite sure why Jayawardene is bowling for Kochi

He's not a bad One day bowler actually http://www.espncricinfo.com/srilanka/content/player/49289.html

Yes but when was the last time he bowled?

IPL4 I think mate

Personally I feel it's just slightly strange that he's bowling someone who bowls rarely and not a genuine bowler.

IPL4 was last year, right?

IPL4 was this year mate

Ah right, haha. Thanks mate

Dehli Daredevils win- Stronger top order and very dangerous overseas players.

I don't think the conditions help the Delhi top order though, whereas Jayawardene is a classy batsman who will do his bit in all conditions...

Jaywardene as Shanky has elaborated on has poor records overseas, not so much in India but still Kochi have 1/2 match winners in there side while Dehli have lots