Week 2 - Match 2 - Rajasthan Royals vs Chennai Super Kings BOTH TEAMS SUBMITTED

Welcome to the Sawai Mansingh Stadium, home of the Rajasthan Royals

Form

Rajasthan Royals - D

Chennai Super Kings - W

Pitch Conditions: Slow and a batting paradise, however will have slow spin throughout with the slow bowlers becoming more and more effective as the game goes on

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Please post tactics below:

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Chennai Super Kings

Toss: Bat first

1. Vijay
2. Badrinath
3. Mike Hussey
4. Suresh Raina
5. Srikkanth
6. Dhoni (c)(wk)
7. Afridi
8. Southee
9. Ashwin
10. Ajmal
11. Mendis

As you can see, I have gone with one seamer for this matchup in Tim Southee, with Mike Hussey providing an alternative (following his recent heroics in the Aus vs Sri Lanka Test!) if Southee has any success with his variations on this pitch. However, given the turning nature of the track I have gone with a full spin attack of Mendis, Ajmal, Ashwin, and Afridi, all completely different types of spinner who are bound to cause endless problems. Ajmal is going to open the bowling alongside Southee, as he has done for Pakistan and Worcester on numerous occasions in this format, as he has had a lot of success in doing so and may make it more difficult for the opening batsmen to get off to a flier with his guile and changes of pace.

The middle overs will be completely spin dominated, with the possibility of a Hussey/Raina over in order to change things up if a wicket is needed. Mendis Ashwin and Afridi will rotate before Ajmal and Southee are brought back for the final overs.

In terms of batting, I have packed the top 7 with very accomplished players of spin, just in case we are asked to bat last when more turn is present, but also with big hitters in the form of Hussey, Raina, Afridi and Dhoni to make the most of this good batting track. Lower order slogging is provided by Southee and Ashwin, each of which know how to hold a bat.

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Rajasthan Royals

1 Watson
2 Dravid
3 Sangakkara (w)
4 Uthappa
5 Suman
6 Ross Taylor
7 Menaria
8 Chavan
9 Warne (c)
10 Nehra
11 Junaid Khan

Toss - bat

Selection - Sangakkara preferred over Ponting due to spinning nature of pitch. Chavan over Chahar for the same reason.

Batting - Good players of spin throughout the line up due to Chennai's spin reliant bowling options. Taylor to operate as the designated 'finisher'. Dravid will look to anchor the innings while others attack. He will look to rotate the strike against the spinners. The team has capable batsmen down to Warne at 9.

Bowling - Three spinners and three quick bowlers included in the line up. Watson will open the bowling aiming to test out the weakness of Vijay and Badrinath against good quality pace bowling. Nehra will share the new ball. Raina will be targeted with short ball as will Srikanth and Dhoni. Spinners will come on when powerplay finishes. Menaria will only be used if one of the other bowlers has a shocker.

Watson - 4 overs (1,3,5,7)
Nehra - 4 overs (2,4,17,19)
Junaid - 4 overs (6,10,18,20)
Chavan - 4 overs (8,12,14,16)
Warne - 4 overs (9,11,13,15)

CSK team submitted. Time for the spinners to make hay.

A bit light on batting with Afridi at 5 and Jakati at 7.But bowling is just irresistible.But I really have no idea why you need 6 bowlers particularly with Raina and Hussey offering part time options.

Yeah to be honest I was thinking about adding another batsman in, and probably will do so. I went with fewer batters due to it being 'a batting paradise' and would therefore expect Afridi etc to make runs. I will review my options.

I dont trust Afridi even on a batters' paradise tbh.

Srikkanth has been brought in for Jakati. I made an error by playing 6 bowlers, didn't mean to play that many! Bowling attack of Southee/Ajmal/Mendis/Afridi and part-time of Hussey/Raina. That should suffice, and offers me more batting depth.

shankythebiggestengfan wrote:I dont trust Afridi even on a batters' paradise tbh.

Afridi at 7 to provide some big lower order hitting now, that should be ideal.

I'm most excited about what Hussey, Dhoni and Raina can do on this pitch

have to say its gonna take something special to beat that side to be honest, hence why i think chennai are favourites.

1 Watson
2 Dravid
3 Sangakkara (w)
4 Uthappa
5 Suman
6 Ross Taylor
7 Menaria
8 Chavan
9 Warne (c)
10 Nehra
11 Junaid Khan

Toss - bat

Selection - Sangakkara preferred over Ponting due to spinning nature of pitch. Chavan over Chahar for the same reason.

Batting - Good players of spin throughout the line up due to Chennai's spin reliant bowling options. Taylor to operate as the designated 'finisher'. Dravid will look to anchor the innings while others attack. He will look to rotate the strike against the spinners. The team has capable batsmen down to Warne at 9.

Bowling - Three spinners and three quick bowlers included in the line up. Watson will open the bowling aiming to test out the weakness of Vijay and Badrinath against good quality pace bowling. Nehra will share the new ball. Raina will be targeted with short ball as will Srikanth and Dhoni. Spinners will come on when powerplay finishes. Menaria will only be used if one of the other bowlers has a shocker.

Watson - 4 overs (1,3,5,7)
Nehra - 4 overs (2,4,17,19)
Junaid - 4 overs (6,10,18,20)
Chavan - 4 overs (8,12,14,16)
Warne - 4 overs (9,11,13,15)

Rajasthan batting looks stronger to me.So toss could be crucial here.

i think chennai would win this game.

Short ball in a batting paradise to Raina? SIX.

Anyone else been massively impressed with him in this ODI series with England? Plays some incredibly clean shots, such a dangerous limited overs batsman.

The pitch will only turn as the game progresses.It will be flat early on.If Rajasthan win the toss and bat first I expect them to get a good score with their batting.And Warnie will come into play in the 2nd innings.If Chennai win the toss they should win this.

But against England he hasn't had Warne at first slip sledging him

if Chennai win the toss I think they'll win this fairly comfortably, as their batting is pretty strong and the Royals bowling, Warne aside, lacks a real X-factor to contain them on a good pitch. They'll therefore make a good score and with the pitch starting to turn it will prove too much for the Royals (Chennai's bowling looks very strong to me on a spinning pitch).

However, if the Royals win the toss it could be much more interesting. They have a strong batting line-up, and with the pitch not yet doing much could post a big score. And we all know how good Warne's record is at defending good scores...

Mad for Chelsea wrote:if Chennai win the toss I think they'll win this fairly comfortably, as their batting is pretty strong and the Royals bowling, Warne aside, lacks a real X-factor to contain them on a good pitch. They'll therefore make a good score and with the pitch starting to turn it will prove too much for the Royals (Chennai's bowling looks very strong to me on a spinning pitch).

However, if the Royals win the toss it could be much more interesting. They have a strong batting line-up, and with the pitch not yet doing much could post a big score. And we all know how good Warne's record is at defending good scores...

Same thoughts here too mate

Yeah pretty much agree. I'd back my spinners to do a good containing job whilst still taking wickets, though, regardless of what innings they bowl in.

We have to remember that a pitch doesn't change that much over 40 overs, it won't go from no spin to turning square. If there is spin then it'll spin from the start, in all likelihood.

I thought Warnie had retired from the IPL now? Shame, always enjoy watching him play even though he is miles past his magnificent best.

yeah Warnie retired at the end of this year's IPL I think, but we had to have him in our first season, the man's a legend

Agree the pitch won't change much, but it may change a little, even over just 40 overs. Also I think guys like Raina and Afridi are happier batting first than chasing, so that could make a difference too.

This should be Warne's last season.When next time we do this FL,warne will have to be released by RR and they will be given money for that.I hope this is fine with everyone.

Yeah got to love Warnie.

Dhoni and Hussey are my boys when the pressure is on in a chase, great finishers.

I like the Rajasthan team, a good balance of players that will prove difficult in any conditions to beat, though hopefully my spinners can take control of this one.

shankythebiggestengfan wrote:This should be Warne's last season.When next time we do this FL,warne will have to be released by RR and they will be given money for that.I hope this is fine with everyone.

Yeah I agree shanky, best to keep it current.

sounds fair Shanks. Though rumour has it Warnie could be lining up for one of the Melbourne sides in the BBL so in that case I think he should stay another season.

Our next season will be in another 6 or 8 months.By then the real RR would have picked a new player and officially released Warnie.So best for you to release him as well then.Dont worry you will get goofd money for Warnie.

how come warne was allowed in this if he's retired?

cricketfan90 wrote:how come warne was allowed in this if he's retired?

Cuz the actual RR franchise havent named a replacement yet.

i think rajasthan are more balanced, plus junaid khan is exceptional at the death of the innings.

ross taylor at 6?

rajasthan have a good chance if they can knock over the top order, then they are in business.

cricketfan90 wrote:ross taylor at 6?

He has mentioned Ross is gonna be used as a floater I think.

Fancy Chennai to won this game.

Depends on the toss.Rajasthan have a great chance if they bat first.

shankythebiggestengfan wrote:

cricketfan90 wrote:ross taylor at 6?

He has mentioned Ross is gonna be used as a floater I think.

Not sure that the toss is overly important. If it spins from the start I can't see a pitch deteriorating that badly in the space of 40 overs. We have to remember these are T20's, not Tests

When are the games being played do we know? I only ask because im away Thursday and Friday and may not have Internet access.

sangkarra would be key in your game, and ajmal would be for chennai, and also shane watson with bat and ball would be crucuial.