Thursday, April 24, 2008

Warne's Stumper

Two days ago, Adam Gilchrist faced up against Glenn McGrath in what could have been a battle of the giants in the on going Indian Premier League. However, Asif snared Gilchrist in the 2nd over and not much of Gilly vs Pidge was on display.

Tonight, if Gilchrist manages to get through the new ball attack of Munaf Patel and Shane Watson, he will come face to face with Shane Warne!

Just imagine - Gilly rips apart Patel and Watson. The Chargers race to 60 of 6 overs. Warne takes the ball in his hands. Gilly on strike. Warne on his run up. Will Gilly smash Warne all round the park? Will Warne get the better of Gilly? Which Aussie will come out on top?

This is an even bigger battle than the Gilchrist vs McGrath one.

Its common knowledge that Warne and Gilchrist didn't see eye to eye on a number of issues. It was Gilchrist to whom Warne lost the vice captaincy of the Australian team. And we all know that Warne has always held that grudge against the former Aussie stumper.

There is a lot of mutual respect between the two though, and both have come together hundreds of times to dismiss batsmen from around the world. Tonight however, the 2 come face to face as the Deccan Chargers take on the Rajhastan Royals.

The Chargers have one of the most dangerous batting line ups in this competition, but they haven't fired yet and the team from Hyderabad has lost both its matches. Gilchrist, Symonds, Afridi, R. Sharma, and Laxman on their day can destroy any attack - will they be up to the mark today against Warne's men?

The Royals have won 1 and lost 1. The team has been united and inspired under Warne's captaincy. Warne shouting out for the the young Ravindra Jadeja to pat the boy on the back after his match winning knock against the Kings from Punjab, just shows how Warne is as a leader.

They may seem like an Aussie outfit with Lehmann and Watson helping out on the field, but the young Indian stars are made to feel as much a part of the team as the others. Warne's confidence in the leg sipnner from no where, Dinesh Salunkhe, is what this team is all about.

The Royals have been strengthened with the arrival of Greame Smith and Younis Khan, but only one of them will play instead of Lehamnn probaby as Warne, Watson, and Akmal are sure starters.

Kamran Akmal keeping to Warne with Afridi on strike and Warne bowling to Symonds are other things to watch out for today.

But one that beats all is that Greame Smith will in all probability take the field under Shane Warne tonight. Both have crossed paths before in opposing sides and there have been plenty of verbal volley thrown at ach other. Tonight, however they both come together to try and script a vitctory for the Rajhastan Royals.

Where else will you get this?

No where but the IPL!

Its tonight and its at 230pm GMT. Don't miss it.

Make your pitch on this post...



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12 Pitched:

  1. Jrod said...
     

    It's almost as exciting as a state game in Australia now.

  2. Q said...
     

    The difference is, us outside Australia don't get the state game LIVE in our lounge.

    U guys might have seen Warne bowling to Gilchrist before or McGrath bowling to him. For us its something novel.

  3. straight point said...
     

    ...and you wont see it even in australia that an ausie and saffer standing together in same team plotting, clapping laughing together...

    take your own pick uncle IPL has everything which we were only dreaming till it happened...

    and some morons are saying that IPL is over hyped...what say Q?

  4. Q said...
     

    True that - Warne & Smith. You won't get that anywhere else.

    U know my thoughts on it being over hyped SP ;-)

  5. Anonymous said...
     

    They say old habits die hard. When Warne removes Gilchrist, I guess you would hear that immortal phrase from Gilly again."Well bowled Shane!"

  6. Q said...
     

    That'll be something Som.

  7. Anonymous said...
     

    I have been taken up so much recently by the IPL that when i first read Q's blog title "Warne's Stumper", i thought Q has written a blog about Akmal keeping up stumps for Warne, until i read the first few lines and knocked myself in the head saying, "...but ofcourse!"

    Nice blog though. I think your blogs should be more into the contest of teams rather than individuals. What say?

  8. Q said...
     

    Welcome to well pitched bilo.

    I have also been takne up by the ipl as u would have noticed from my blogs.

    I feel that it is the battle between these individuals and the interesting pairings of players that makes the ipl exciting. Hence the blogs.

    Thanks for the suggestion though. I think as the league progresses and teams establish their identities, I wud write more about the teams.

  9. Anonymous said...
     

    The difference between the talent and ability of Symonds and Afridi is even more apparent now that they are in the same batting line up.

  10. Anonymous said...
     

    The difference between Afridi and Symonds is the former can bowl and the latter can bat and they both suck in opposing roles.

  11. Q said...
     

    Well said Wasim.

  12. Q said...
     

    Well said Wasim.

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