Mercurial Gayle holds key to Windies chances
After a few one-sided, easy matches for the big guns against less strong sides of the tournament the real nerve tickling matches start off now. The first week-end of the tournament will see two big games in the real sense of it.
Host Sri Lanka take on South Africa in Hambantota and Australia will cross swords with one of the most sought after side in the tournament, West Indies, at Colombo.
The nature of the pitches in the tournament has brought the teams from outside the sub-continent also in to the picture.
The pitches are under the control of ICC and have been prepared by Mike Atkinson, for which there is more pace, bounce, carry and also movement of the pitch.
These are not the typical low-slow pitches of the sub-continent and to be very frank, turning pitches are not the order of the day.
If one looks back to the South Africa versus Zimbabwe, India versus Afghanistan or Australia versus Ireland match one will clearly understand what I am indicating at.
The Sri Lanka—South Africa match at Hambantota will test the might of both teams in their own way. South Africa looks a very balanced side.
Earlier they used to get on to the park with an extra bowler and whenever in crunch matches their top-order batting failed they used to get stuck for lack of depth in the batting order.
The team which the Proteas fielded against Zimbabwe seemed to have the right balance of having extra bowling option along with very good depth in batting.
If they can hold their nerve in big match situations then South Africa will be a side to watch out for in this tournament.
The South Africans will be tested by Ajanta Mendis, who I believe has added a dimension to the Sri Lankan unit.
The island country is a good unit on their home soil and Mendis coming back to himself is an added bonus for them.
The mystery bowlers are a key in T-20 format as batsmen take time to line them up, which is not easy and the variation they provide creates wicket taking opportunities.
People who romanticize cricket will be all eyes and ears for West Indies.
They are really a team to watch out for and this tournament could well mark for a West Indian revival led by the mercurial Chris Gayle. He is one guy who can destroy any sort of bowling single-handedly.
Having played lots of T-20 games all across the world Gayle has changed the pattern of his game. He now waits for his opportunity and whenever he hits it stays hit.
They will be up against a side who, probably after many years, are not considered favourites for the tournament. Australia has talent but one will need to see how they adapt to situations.
They will surely need to find a place for David Hussey in this side as the man is a power-house in the shorter format of the game.
He should be more handy than a Glen Maxwell, with his power hitting, terrific fielding and some overs of spin.
All set and done, cricket lovers should have an exciting weekend of cricket.
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