Deccan Chargers have won the IPL-2009 Trophy

JOHANNESBURG: Deccan Chargers captain Adam Gilchrist was over the moon because his side had scripted a major turnaround. The DLF Indian Premier League title triumph on Sunday culminated a wonderful journey for Gilchrist & Co. And he did not hesitate to share the journey with the media.

Excerpts from his interaction with the media:
On Symonds being left out by Australia and coming good for Chargers: Yeah, I was surprised. But it is not my job to pick the team for Australia. And Andrew Symonds is that sort of a player – he has been such a team man and he gets the great spirit in the team. We saw a little glimpse of that in the last season of the IPL where he got just four games and what he added there. The respect he got from the international and Indian players and that is what he got this time too. He became instant favourite when he joined the squad. He is a great personality and a wonderful talent on the cricket field. He can turn matches.

On what was more satisfying – the three World Cup wins or IPL: Yeah, I think one was better than the other. But this is the only cricket I play now – Twenty20. Given what we went through last year. I think a lot of credit goes to the franchise for turning it around but obviously the World Cups are also important for one’s career. I think one of my catch phrase for this tournament to the players was to make sure that every ball – the very next ball – is the most important thing of their lives at the moment. And sounds quite dramatic but there is nothing else going on in the life at that moment so if you can make that thing important – then that’s trying to get them focused and that is what you do – the World Cups when it was required and tonight. It has just been a great experience.

On Rohit Sharma and Pragyan Ojha doing well this season: Both are immensely talented cricketers. I have really enjoyed working with Rohit as vice captain. I am trying to inculcate the leadership role. I hope he learns some leadership skills on the way which I think he will. I think he wants to take on that role. His cricket speaks for itself. He is a talented cricketer. As far as Pragyan is concerned, he has a desire to learn and absorb as much as he can from the people with experience around. They will be wonderful cricketers for India. I have no doubt about that.

On Royal Challengers Bangalore doing well and on Kumble: I think credit goes to them and their franchise for the way they turned it around. It requires a lot of pain and discipline to change the fortunes from last year. I think no one sitting in the press conference here would have thought that the teams which played for wooden spoon last year will play for the title. We have seen in this tournament that a lot of experienced players have adapted well in the conditions and they leveled the teams a little bit and evened up the battle between the bat and the ball. It is no surprise that a guy like Anil Kumble comes up with a standout performer in this tournament. And his leadership is I think from an outside observer looking in both in this competition and when he was leading the national team, he looks to me like a natural leader, a guy that defends everyone, makes them feel comfortable, makes them feel part of the set-up. So no surprise that the team did well under his guidance.
On whether he predicted another victory: (laughs) You all think I am nuts but I woke up this morning at 2.30. I just couldn’t sleep, I was quite excited, bit nervous. My mind was racing…. At 3.16 I decided I am going to make another bold prediction and I wrote down that Pragyan Ojha would be the Man of the Match. And I thought he was close with three for 24 off four overs. I thought he did a wonderful job. It just goes to prove that I am human…I can’t predict everything (laughs). He did really well but Anil’s contribution was a standout performance in this match.

On last year Deccan Chargers not doing well despite having a strong team: I think we had a team which was strong on the papers. We had individual players who played well for their respective countries. But I think Shane Warne’s team which was the least favourite to win the tournament changed that and they won it. May be the same can be said about us. By seeing the record of the last year we came here as one of the least favourites to win. We were happy with not many expectations from us. As we had to start again and rebuild the team. But last year we just didn’t adapt to what we needed to this form of the game as well we should have. It is not because of only one person or one leadership group or we as a collective group just didn’t get down and do what is required. The way we made changes in coaching everyone just poured in thereafter. VVS Laxman who went through a lot obviously emotionally as he had the captaincy taken away from him and he has been here and played just five games. We told him that we did not need him in the end of the tournament. But we wanted him to contribute – his vast knowledge, experience and another thing that is a wonderful example that not only Twenty 20 players but also a senior player like him wants to learn how to play Twenty20 format. He has worked with our fitness trainer, fielding coach and Darren as our head coach. So, that is exciting to see that VVS epitomises what the franchise has been this year. 

On the changes he made this year: I guess last year’s just a very hollow feeling. It was a great learning experience for me. Because I have been lucky to play in a lot of successful teams in the Australian set-up. And to go on that sort of losing streak was new to me, and I think…I knew that at the time, I wanted to just embrace it and work out, why and what and that’s what everyone did. Couple of personnel changes. We needed a lit bit more strike power in our bowling and we got that in the form of Fidel Edward and then Ryan Harris when he got his opportunity, and yet we played Chaminda Vaas in couple of games and he had a huge impact in those conditions, when he had his chance. But that was probably the major personnel change, we just needed a little bit more firepower to try and support RP Singh. He did a great job last year, of course did it again this year, winning the Purple Cap. He had that little bit of support around him. And then…that was probably the main thing. But then just trying to create the culture of learning from our mistakes last year and trying to play smarter brand of Twenty20 cricket rather than walking out and trying to literally just fire from ball one all of us and all of a sudden we would be four for 30, yeah we just got to get smarter about it I think.

On whether the players in IPL will have an advantage in ICC World Twenty20: I think so, as long as they get a little bit of time to freshen up. I really do. Obviously India is the only national team, that had every member of their T20 World Cup squad playing in this tournament. As long as....that's an advantage. But as long as they get that chance just to freshen up, whether it be five-six days away from cricket. I know it's hard for them to do when they go back to their home cities in India. They tend to sort of keep high profiles and lower profiles, because of the passion for the game. I can't wait to watch, it's going to be interesting to see, how it goes. Having been in Twenty20 mode, that's going to help a lot of the players.

On Gibbs’ knock in the final: That was the sort of rock that we formed our foundation around, he was very clever. He is such an instinctive sort of natural strokemaker. And takes it on, but yeah brave innings from him, symbolic of where he is at in life at the moment. He has admitted to a lot.... been a very honest about his life in recent times. He has come out of the other side really well, so I am really proud of him. And I think, as you say, shows sort of in a cricketing sense, how he has matured and come to terms with things.

On why this has been a left-handers’ tournament: If you say like that yes (laughs). I haven't sat back to think about it, but yeah I don't know. There seems to be more left-handers around in general whether it is batting or bowling than I can ever remember. As a youngster you were bit of an alien to be a left-hander, now there seems to be..generally half a team is left-handers. I was the only one in our team I think...but oh Ojha bats left-hander. Yeah...it's.....I don't know. I haven't thought about it.

On another Aussie captain winning an IPL trophy: As I said it's not anyone person that's changed it. It's the whole franchise, our owners had to have faith in us and had faith in me when I requested some of the changes. It wasn't wholesale changes, but certainly there were some changes that I had suggested. And they showed faith in me and trust in me that it was the right way to go. Obviously I think, the main one was Darren Lehmann. I think he has just got a wonderful cricket mind. He was the first person I thought of when I sensed an opportunity to bring in some...bit of freshness and some new people. Mike Young, he has just been so successful with the Australian team and Steve Smith, he is a fitness guru that I have done a bit of work with over many years. And he has come in and the boys have just responded so well. So getting that support culture...the support group around to create the culture, that's all we tried to do. The players had to buy in. And as I said, from VVS Laxman down to Harmeet Singh, new young talent, they all bought in... The first thing that I said at the start of our first meeting, I stood up and I said ‘We are all in it together’. That was my first line of my first team meeting, and yeah…’we are going to enjoy this together’.

Delhi Daredevils get a place in Champions League: Modi

The inaugural edition of Champions League to be held in India from October 8-23 with record prize money of US $6 million at stake. A total number of 12 teams, with three from IPL scheduled to be part of the competition.

Rakesh Ahuja

JOHANNESBURG: If you thought you would take time off to recover from the pressure-packed action of DLF Indian Premier League, think again. For if you were on the edge of the seat with eight teams in competition, then brace yourself for this. Twelve of the best Twenty20 club sides from all over the world taking part in a fortnight's battle for the top prize, the Champions League Twenty20.

A total prize money of US $6 million will be at stake as the best sides in the world will vie for the crown and the right to be called the best Twenty20 side in the world. This would be the highest prize pool in cricket

At a press conference here on Sunday morning, hours before the grand final of DLF IPL, it was announced that 12 teams would be taking part in the in the competition. Announcing the launch of the competition, Chairman and Co-ordinator Lalit Modi informed that the 12 teams would be drawn from India, Australia, South Africa, West Indies, New Zealand, Sri Lanka and England.

“The venues will be finalised shortly. It will be announced with a draw on June 23 in London. There will be an official draw of the teams that are participating. And the final venues will be announced then. The 12 teams will be represented by two teams from Australia, two from South Africa,two from England, one each from West Indies, Sri Lanka and New Zealand. And three from India,” said Modi.

We all know that Royal Challengers Bangalore and Deccan Chargers qualify for being the finalists in this edition of DLF-IPL, but a third has been accommodated by the governing council of the Champions League which includes the member boards of India, South Africa and Australia.

So which is the third team? “The way the three teams will qualify from India is two teams that have reached the final. And the team that topped the league, that is Delhi Daredevils. Going forward from year two of Champions League and year three of the IPL, the teams will be determined on the basis of the two finalists and the two other semifinal teams being involved in a play-off,” he added. 

The Chairman said that with IPL moving out of India this year, it became important that a top Twenty20 tournament like Champions League was held in India to whet the appetite of the fans back home. The number of teams in Champions League has gone up from the eight scheduled to be part of the tournament in December 2008 before terrorist attacks on Mumbai forced the tournament to be postponed to October 2009.

This format is pretty simple and in some ways could be likened to the World T20 scheduled to be held next month in England. The 12 teams will be divided in four groups of three each. The top two teams from each group then qualify for a knockout stage, from where the top four enter the semifinal stage. A total of 23 games are scheduled to be held in the competition.

Champions League now part of ICC's FTP: Modi

JOHANNESBURG: The number of teams in the Champions League may have increased from 8 to12 in the very second edition but more teams could be part of the blue chip event in the coming years. According to Chairman Lalit Modi, it could be a case where the competition could be more broadbased and more teams could be part of it in years to come.

“We were always moving to 12 teams in the second year of operation as the first year had already been delayed. And we could not do it, we were always moving to 12, and we hope to increase it to more teams going forward,” he said .

The other added reason for the increase is the fact that the major countries in the world can all participate in the event.“We just want to broaden it for more and more countries, so that the true champion of champions is taking place. You will see more and more countries participating in the future,'' he added.

The biggest possible plus for Champions League this year could be the fact that the tournament has found a slot in ICC's Future Tours Programme (FTP) and there will always be a window for the event annually. “I think Champions League has already been slotted in as part of the FTP. IPL and other domestic tournaments around the world have to find their own windows. We haven't asked for an FTP commitment as far as that is concerned. But for an international tournament of this magnitude and this quality, we are working with all the member countries and the ICC and we have together come out with the dates of the Champions League to benefit everybody,” he revealed.

The other addition to the event's feature is that the tournament could move from country to country in the years ahead. “We have always envisaged movement of Champions League from country to country, and to showcase the best of the best playing in different parts of the world, so that fans across the world, can participate and be part of Champions League and also be part of the game. We are going to examine that. 

“This year it's in India,” he said. “Once we have the first inaugural season in India, we will take it forward, many countries have invited us already to take the tournament to their country. For example, South Africa has invited us to bring the tournament here next year. But we are going to examine, all these things after the first year.”

Deccan Chargers stay afloat in final

JOHANNESBURG: Left-arm spinner Pragyan Ojha claimed two wickets to keep Deccan Chargers afloat in a thrilling final of the DLF Indian Premier League against Royal Challengers Bangalore here on Sunday. 

Ojha saw the backs of Manish Pandey (4) and Roelof van der Merwe (32) to keep Royal Challengers down to 69 for three in 10 overs. Deccan Chargers had set a 144-run target. Jacques Kallis (16) was the first man dismissed by RP Singh who now has a record 23 wickets in the tournament. Dravid and Taylor are at the crease. 

Earlier skipper Anil Kumble took four wickets, including those of Adam Gilchrist Andrew Symonds and Rohit Sharmat to ensure that Royal Challengers Bangalore kept their nose ahead of Deccan Chargers. 

After Kumble decided to bowl first, Deccan Chargers made 143 for six, recovering a bit from 62 for three in 10 overs. Gilchrist was bowled for 0 in the third ball of the matche while Symonds, dropped by Rahul Dravid at slip off Vinay Kumar, played on in the ninth over. T Suman was the other batsman out, caught at covers of a skyer when he tried to hit Vinay out of the ground.

Symonds, dropped at 5, made 33 brisk runs but his fall meant that Herschelle Gibbs (53 not out) and Rohit Sharma (24) shouldered the burden of giving Deccan Chargers at least a fighting total But they may rue falling short of par score by at least 25 runs against a side that is high on confidence when chasing.

IPL II has been phenomenal experience: Gilchrist

JOHANNESBURG: Fortunes fluctuated but it was Deccan Chargers who held their nerves and defeated Royal Challengers Bangalore by six runs to win the DLF Indian Premier League 2009 at the Wanderers on Sunday.

Ecstatic captain Adam Gilchrist said that it was phenomenal on the part of his players as nobody gave them the chance to reach so far after the eighth placed finish last year. “It’s has been a phenomenal experience. Nobody gave us a chance to reach so far but we did it,” he said. “From being at the bottom of the table last year to being at the top is a journey well traversed. 

“I am proud of my boys who rallied throughout this tournament to win this title. It has been outstanding for us,” said Gilchrist, adding that the match could have gone either way today but Deccan Chargers came out on top by holding their nerves.

Gilchrist, who won the Player of the Series award said, Royal Challengers were brilliant throughout the tournament. “I guess they also felt the same disappointment last year as we did. That I think propelled us to go for the kill. Today Pragyan Ojha bowled an astonishing spell. His took crucial wickets at the right time and it helped building up the pressure. Gibbs was good and it was nice to see young Harmeet Singh vibrant on the field. He bowled well and he took a fantastic catch. It’s amazing to see these youngsters perform at such level.”

Anil Kumble, disappointed after coming so close to the victory, said that though they lost the match, he was proud of his boys who gave everything on the field. “We came so close but could not get it. Two weeks ago when we lost to Mumbai Indians, nobody gave us a chance to win all the five games. However, we managed to do it and reach so far,” he said.

“Though I am disappointed not to have won the final, I am nevertheless proud of what we have achieved this season. Both, Royal Challengers and Deccan Chargers were at the bottom of the table last year but we are the finalists this time. It’s incredible on part of the players,” said Kumble, adding that loss of Rahul Dravid, Ross Taylor and Virat Kohli took the match away from them.

Kumble, who bagged the man-of-the-match award for his astonishing figures of four for 16, said that he had backed himself up to bowl the first over as restricting Gilchrist was very important. “Getting Gilchrist in the first over itself was great. I backed myself up to bowl the first over and succeeded in my plan. Though my ploy worked against the Decaan Chargers during our bowling, we failed with our bat. It’s disappointing but the team have done exceptionally well and kudos to the players. But everything apart, all the credit to Deccan Chargers,” said Kumble.

It was also a great IPL for RP Singh as he won the Purple Cap for taking the most wickets this season. “I am enjoying the stardom and the award,” he said. “My performance in the IPL has helped me get a place in the Indian T20 squad and I could not have asked for more. I bowled in the right areas and that did the trick for me. 

“My captain and my coach had been of great help throughout the tournament,” said RP Singh, adding that he too loved this place as it was here that they had won the inaugural ICC World Twenty20. Today I wanted to bowl as many yorkers but changed my mind later. I am very happy and proud of my Purple Cap as my wickets have helped my team win the title. And today I bowled the crucial overs, so it makes it more special,” he said.

Rohit Sharma was doubly happy as apart from his team winning the trophy, he also bagged the best Under-23 player’s award. “It does feel good. More so when we have won the trophy. When I came to know that IPL has been shifted to South Africa, I was very happy about it because we had done very well here in the T20 World Cup. When the tournament started, the wickets weren’t easy. But with the progress of the event, it became slower and slower and I love batting in these kind of wickets. I just kept my basics right and I got the rewards,” he said.

Deccan Chargers top charts after heart-stopping clash

NEW DELHI: The heart pounded the chest relentlessly – from the time Anil Kumble bowled Adam Gilchrist to long after the entire Deccan Chargers dug out raced to the middle to celebrate a fairytale victory over Royal Challengers Bangalore in DLF Indian Premier League final on Sunday. It was a night when the Deccan Chargers refused to be tamed the Bull Ring.

The heart sought to gloss over Herschelle Gibbs's effort – painstaking and scratchy for the most past – when Deccan Chargers batted first. He finished with 53 not out off 48 balls. But the mind reminded the heart that it was perhaps the single most significant batting effort on a sluggish track in the grand final. Deccan Chargers ended up with 143 for six in 20 overs.

The heart cringed a bit when the vastly experienced Andrew Symonds chatted up Royal Challengers Bangalore young opener Manish Pandey but it also knew that the teenager will have grown up considerably. Pandey, of course, heard more of Symonds and faced the attack less as had got to play but seven deliveries before being dismissed by Pragyan Ojha.

Ojha took a leaf out of Kumble's book, put his hand up for his team and finished with three for 28 to play the lead role in Deccan Chargers' spectacular defence of the low score. Of course there were others who made it work for the team that drew on the twin fuels of hunger and self-belief as they pursued their goal with single-mindedness.

Ryan Harris starting the proceedings with a maiden over to Jacques Kallis; little-known Punjab fast medium bowler Harmeet Singh showing character under pressure and claiming two for 23; Andrew Symonds returning to scalp the dangerous Ross Taylor and Virat Kohli; RP Singh conjuring Kallis' dismissal and finishing with 4-0-16-1.

There was more. A spectacular catch by Harmeet Singh, who sprinted from long leg and lunged forward to get his hands under the skyer to dismiss a defiant Vinay Kumar in the 19th over. Gilchrist himself contributed with two wonderful stumping dismissals to curtain the innings of Roelof van der Merwe and Kohli. 

The sum of such wonderful parts was beautiful. 

Then again, it was hard for the heart not to reach to the gallant Anil Kumble. It is not often that a man does everything he could possibly do – bowl with the new ball and claim Adam Gilchrist, come back to pick up the wickets of Andrew Symonds and Rohit Sharma at critical junctures – and end up having to watch his team fall short by six runs.

Two teams that had finished eighth and seventh last season fought every inch and one had to run out winner at the end of a stunning game that climaxed a wonderful tournament. Believe me, the heart hasn't stop pounding through the writing of this piece; the words flowed even as a spectacular closing ceremony that followed such a breathtaking match.

That was quick

For an all-too-brief while, Shane Bond was the world's finest fast bowler, shattering stumps and scaring batsmen. Now at ease with not gracing the main stage anymore, he looks back at his career

Log on to Youtube and you may get to see the ball that changed Shane Bond's career: a searing yorker that knocked out Adam Gilchrist's stumps in a VB series game in 2002.

On the morning of the match Bond threw up at breakfast - a side effect of nervousness that he only managed to get rid of years later. The very good players tend to be nervous wrecks before big games. Sachin Tendulkar can't sleep, George Headley's bowel movements used to change during a Test; for Bond it was throwing up.

"If you are not nervous, I don't think you can get the best out of yourself," Bond says. "You need to be on the edge to perform against the best guys. Even during the warm-ups I used to be tense, but as soon as I got the ball in the game, I would relax. Outwardly you try to show you are calm but I think every one is nervous. You do bluff a bit.

"I remember walking back to the mark after that wicket and telling myself, 'Look, I'm good enough to be here.' That one ball changed my whole thinking. Before that I was still intimidated and thinking, 'Don't get hurt here.' From that point my self-belief went up there. Rather than thinking about don't do this, don't bowl a half-volley, don't get hit, the focus shifted to 'Do this now.' I thought I could be the best bowler in the world and set out to do what was required."

He held that title, for a while at least, and has the records to prove it. Bond's strike-rate of 27.5 is still the best in the history of one-day cricket. He was the fastest bowler to 100 wickets in terms of number of deliveries bowled. In Tests, he has the fourth best strike-rate of all time.

Bond, still boyish-looking, doesn't seem a fast bowler. Nor does he look a cop. He was both.

Shy by nature, he transforms into an animated character while talking about fast bowling. Sitting in his hotel room, watching on the telly as Zaheer Khan harasses the Australians, he brightens up: "Ah that was good. How did he bowl that? … C'mon, the batsman should have seen that coming." Bond is in India playing in the ICL and watches the Test series when he can.

I is for injury
"It's easy to say that you want to be the best but it's difficult to go out and do it," he says. Train hard, work hard when no one is watching you. For me, I had the desire to do it even when no one was watching."

Never was that desire more severely tested than in 2004, Bond's annus horribilis. He had a back operation - the hipbone was grafted into the vertebra and secured with bolts and wire - and things didn't look too good. It was three weeks before he was able just to touch his toes, seven before he could walk for ten minutes at a stretch. The surgeon told him that his fast bowling was a thing of past. The future was a blur. Bond had a young family to support. Somehow he had to find a way. He did.

	You hit them on the thigh or back side, you see them grimace and you go, 'That's good!' I don't like to see them hit on the head and hurt or something. I am the first one to run across. But the times when they are jumping around, you walk back to your mark with a smile

He began to walk, went swimming, and changed his fitness training. He slogged through four sessions a day: ten overs of bowling in the morning, followed by an hour of weights. Then a half-hour of rest before a 40-minute run. He ended the day with a session of boxing training. No one was watching.

Knowing that he did his best to overcome his body is what has allowed Bond to come to terms with thoughts of what could have been. His bid for a spot on the list of the greats will always come with an asterisk: he played only 17 Test matches, the footnote will say.

Bond doesn't think too much about how his career would have shaped if not for all the injuries. "I don't see my cricket career as a 'but' now. I have worked really hard on my game, especially on my fitness," he says. "That was the whole point for me. If I got injured, I got injured, but I did everything possible to take care of myself."

On tours, when team-mates went out to party, Bond would usually stay back at the hotel. He didn't drink a lot, or indulge in anything that could later give cause for regret. "I did everything I could, but I still got injured. For me, it was just not meant to be."

'No mate, you've got to be the best'
Bond first dreamed of playing cricket for New Zealand at the age of five. When he was 12 he met his hero Richard Hadlee.

He was 16 when he decided he had to improve his bowling. "I picked up the phonebook, dialled Dayle Hadlee [New Zealand's bowling coach then] and asked him whether I could come to his house and have a chat, have a look at my video. As I grew a bit older, he was in charge of the academy and we shared a great relationship."

During his time in the police force, "raiding houses and chasing bad men", Bond would save his seven-weeks' holiday to play cricket in the summer. And when he did, he bowled fast and blew teams out in club cricket. After one such annihilation, his first-class coach Gary McDonald said, "That's the quickest going on in New Zealand. I'm going to call up Richard Hadlee."

Bond played for New Zealand A on a tour of India in 2001, during which he picked up a bunch of wickets. Later that year he made his international debut, against Australia.

It was a conversation with Chris Cairns shortly after that gave Bond direction. Cairns asked the debutant about his plans. "I said I want to take wickets and try to stay in the team, and he said, 'No mate, you've got to strive to be the best bowler, the No. 1 bowler in NZ, and soon the best bowler in the world." After I played in the first part of that VB series, I thought he was right: I want to be the best bowler in the world."

Bond didn't have a great start against the Australians, though. He remembers standing in the nets, watching the mighty Aussies go about their task. "All the stars were there. I thought, this is the best team in history and I'm going up against them, but the good thing is that it's never going to get harder.

"I didn't pick up many wickets but I went past the bat a few times and it gave me confidence that I could compete against these guys. Then Bangladesh came along, which was a good thing. I picked up wickets and my confidence grew. Then the VB Series, which was the turning point for me."

There's something about the Australians that brought the best out of Bond. In 11 ODIs against them he has taken 34 wickets at 13.88, with a best of 6 for 23. "They can make you look stupid if you don't bowl well," Bond says. "And I always felt a lot of buzz when going against them. They like to attack and come after you, but it gives you a chance to pick wickets. I used my swing, bowled fast and kept it full outside off. I'm lucky that I swing the ball. I always believed that I could bowl the ball that can get somebody out. Good luck to them if they keep coming hard."

Thinking 'em out
Brain triumphs over brawn for Bond. Talk about his famous yorkers and he'd rather tell you about the thought-out dismissals that he cherishes more.

Brian Lara was a prized victim. When he was new at the crease, Lara would move back and across in an exaggerated manner; but rarely had he been bowled around his legs. Bond stored that movement in his head.

The opportunity came in a Test in Auckland. In the first innings Lara was out cutting Bond to point. In the second innings Bond fired his first ball in full, fast and swinging. Lara walked across and his leg stump was out of the hole. "That felt great," Bond says.

He was never the sledging fast bowler. The odd stare or the occasional wry smile to suggest he had got the better of the batsman was more his style. "I just concentrated on keeping at the batsman. Even if he hit me for a four I would be at him the next ball. He would know that I was not going to give up, that I'd keep knocking till I got him out."

Some good-old quick bowler's meanness does trickle out, though. Bond says with a smile that he loves to see batsmen hop - though he doesn't like to really hurt anyone. "You hit them on the thigh or back side, you see them grimace and you go, 'That's good!' I don't like to see them hit on the head and hurt or something. I am the first one to run across. But the times when they are jumping around, you walk back to your mark with a smile. No one enjoys facing fast bowling."

Who were the good batsmen he liked bowling against, who he felt weren't too comfortable playing him? "Sourav Ganguly." A few at his ribcage and then slip in a yorker? He nods. "And I always thought I had a chance against [Virender] Sehwag. I used to swing the ball back in and he had problems with it. [Herschelle] Gibbs always felt that when he was on song he could play me, but I liked bowling to him. Graeme Smith played me well, but then I got my own back."

Who was difficult to dislodge? "I've got to say [Matthew] Hayden. If you are swinging into him he has problems, but my strength was swinging away from the left-hand batsmen and so I never had a great chance of bowling him or getting him lbw. Similarly [Shivnarine] Chanderpaul. He knows his off stump and doesn't give you much chance."

	Knowing that he did his best to overcome his body is what has allowed Bond to come to terms with thoughts of what could have been

It was in the Auckland game where he got Lara twice that he thinks he produced his best spell of Test bowling. "We were defending 290 they were nearly 150 for none. [Chris] Gayle and [Daren] Ganga were playing well. Ganga got out and I hit [Ramnaresh] Sarwan with a bouncer and bowled Lara around his legs. The ball started to reverse and I got three more wickets. It was my best-controlled spell: I got players out when and in the way I wanted. I remember the previous night telling myself tomorrow is a big day and I am going to go good." Bond's figures read 5 for 69 and West Indies fell 28 runs short.

Like his idol, Hadlee, Bond charged himself up by setting targets of wickets and averages. "When I was playing ODIs, I set two wickets a game. I wanted four runs per over and to keep my average under 20. Similarly in Tests I wanted to keep it under 20. I was driven by trying to just keep it there. Stats are not going to define you as a player but I used it to get the best out of myself. I pushed myself to wanting to be the best and get my ranking higher and higher."

And so he rose before injuries pulled him down and the decision to play in the ICL finally froze his international career. He has no regrets about that choice - "When I joined the ICL I thought I could play both and it was just common sense as far as financial reasons go" - but when he eventually hangs his boots up for good he knows he will miss the big time. "Like winning, especially against Australia at their home in front of huge crowds. They give you tremendous stick and when you do well it gives you great adrenalin. Nothing is going to beat that. Life is going to be a bit boring!"

'I've always felt comfortable in tight situations'

The master finisher talks about the art of pulling off impossible chases, and his less-than-stellar record in the long form

Interview by Sriram Veera November 14, 2008

Michael Bevan was the world's best one-day batsman for a decade, orchestrating many close successful chases for Australia. Picking the gaps, running hard and knowing the right moment - and place - to hit a boundary were the hallmarks of his success. In a freewheeling chat with Cricinfo, he talks about the secret of his success in ODIs and dwells on his failures in Test match cricket. You had a great ODI career. But there was a perception that you had a problem against the short delivery in Test cricket.  A lot of people felt I couldn't play the short ball. Maybe I put too much pressure on myself to play the short ball well. If I had my time again, I would approach it a little bit differently. I think I didn't learn much at the start of my career. I think I suffered from the same mistakes over and over again. I think I learnt a lot in the latter part of my career, and I was probably good enough to play for Australia, but I just didn't get the opportunity as I was labelled with the short-ball weakness. I don't necessarily see it as a big deal, but I could have made a better fist of it. How did you put pressure on yourself? I tried to prove to people that I could play, and I put too much pressure on myself and never allowed myself to make mistakes. All those things made it hard for me to move on and get over it. I tried to change later in my career but it was a bit too late. You hired a US biomechanical coach and learned how to hook and pull all over again. Did the acknowledgement that you had a problem with the short ball happen then, or did it come earlier, when you were in trouble early in your career? No, not really. Even when I was dropped originally, in 1994, I went back and practised the short ball a lot. But the practice was a technical thing. I think the problem was more of a mental thing for me. It was not until 1997 that I realised it was a mental thing. When I hired the biomechanist it was because I had decided that they weren't picking me in the team because I was ducking and weaving from the short deliveries, and they still thought I had the problem. All I wanted to do was to change the defensive into an attacking option. Later the head of selectors, Trevor Hohns, said your 'contribution to the one-day side had decreased', and you were cut out of the team.  I was pretty disappointed. I felt that I hadn't done much wrong. I had a couple of bad games. But given that I had 230-odd for my country, I thought it was a harsh call. But to be fair, I could see the writing on the wall when they only gave me one year in the last contract meeting. It was pretty obvious that they were looking to move me out. I was very disappointed because the whole decision revolved around the 2007 World Cup, and they didn't think I would be there. I felt that I should have been given a reasonable period where I didn't perform. So I was pretty angry about it. You have been spoken of as an aloof person. Jamie Cox, your team-mate, said about you: 'I played under-age cricket with Michael and even then he had the aloofness, if you like, that a lot of special players have… There's this zone where they go and you wonder what they're thinking. You look at them and you know they're ready to go.' No, not really. It's a decision other people make. Some people can also say you are arrogant. I was quite shy and maybe that can be misinterpreted. Another quote on your 'volatile' temperament, from the Victoria captain Darren Berry: 'Although a mild-mannered man, his often violent temper was a room-clearer whenever he got out. He made a mess of many cricket coffins and on occasions would shove his bat and pads down the toilet, flush the button and walk away as he battled his inner demons.' I don't necessarily remember that happening but I was always quite an angry person. I tended to get very frustrated after getting out. I did do lots of things that I regret doing at the start of my career and I made a conscious decision that I had to change in the latter half.     I felt I had lots of scoring options in ODI cricket, which helped me to get pressure off myself. Pressure is the thing that makes people make mistakes and costs matches   What were the things you regretted?  I was getting too angry and aggressive, and getting out was too frustrating for me. That's just part of the game; you are always going to get out. How would you react now as a coach when you see someone like you - a young Bevan? I always try to find what their goals are - what they want to achieve. It's about achieving team goals and creating awareness about the things that will help them get there. I tend not to offer suggestions. I try to get a feel for the player. Only then I can help them.  You were known to pull off incredible wins in ODIs from lost situations. How much does that come down to planning?  I felt that was a strength of mine - planning, strategy and making the right decisions. Even when it looks hard to score, it's about being disciplined and carrying out your plans. One of my goals was to be there till the end. I figured that if I was there till the end we would win more matches than we lost. Of course, I didn't score a run a ball every minute, but that was my goal. What exactly do you mean by planning? It's a fairly complex process but it's about playing to your strengths. Choosing the right ball to fit into your strengths, understanding the situation - who is bowling, how is the wicket, what is the match condition - and making the right decisions. Why were you so much better than the rest in those situations? When I started playing ODIs I felt that I had a good range of scoring options - very similar to an Andrew Symonds or a Michael Clarke. That's what sets them apart. In that era I felt I had lots of scoring options in ODI cricket, which helped me to get pressure off myself. Pressure is the thing that makes people make mistakes and costs matches. I always try to say to myself that we are going to lose some matches. So I never try to put too much pressure on myself. So in those extreme chase situations the pressure goes off you?  That's right. I had my personal goals - run-a-ball and this is the way I'm going to do it. That used to be my focus. You always feel a bit of pressure. Its okay to be nervous but you just try to focus on the next ball. When the pressure gets so much that you can't handle it, then it becomes a problem. Ian Chappell wrote about you, 'I have never seen Bevan yorked. He often manages to whack attempted yorkers to boundaries.' Do you get a sense of where the ball is going to be in some situations? That's right. Based on the experience of playing in ODI cricket, the field settings, the type of bowler, you do get a feel of where it's going to pitch. So it's about having a plan when it pitches there. Talk us through that game against West Indies in 1996 where you hit a boundary on the last ball off Roger Harper. You were 74 for 7 chasing 173.  You probably think you don't have much of a chance. It's great to be positive and all those sorts of things, but you can't think that far ahead because it feels too big a job. So what you try to say is, 'Just get through the next period. Try to continue to rotate strike, and give yourself a chance.' You tend to bat well in that circumstance as you are relaxed. It's not until you get close to the end of the match and you understand you have a chance of winning or losing that you get nervous again. Glenn McGrath was with you in the final over of the game. What were you thinking? The key for Glenn was to get off strike and run quickly. It's very important to be clear how you are going to approach it. He knew what was expected of him and how we were going to do it. As opposed to the situation in the semi-final of 1999, when the South Africans [Lance Klusener and Allan Donald] didn't have a plan in the same situation. McGrath took a single of the fourth ball. The fifth, you jumped out but drove straight back to Harper. Then there was almost a minute before the next ball. The crowd was screaming and chanting. What was going through your mind there? I think the second-last ball I had a pretty good idea where I wanted to go: straight. That was my best opportunity, given where I thought he was going to bowl. He bowled a real good ball; if he had bowled another ball like that it wouldn't have happened. I moved slightly leg side, gave myself some room and was just lucky that it landed on the right spot really. Even early in my career, when a game went down to the wire… I have always felt comfortable and good in those situations. Can you practise for these situations? Of course, mate. You can practise anything in cricket. It's about creating good habits, understanding how to make good decisions and taking pressure off yourself. Which one of those last-gasp victories do you cherish the most? There was the game against New Zealand in Melbourne. We needed 240 or 250 runs and we were six for something. So it was quite a lot of pressure. I thought that situation made it really tough. There was another game against South Africa in the late 90s, where it was another big total - 280 or 290-odd - and we needed to win that to win the series. I made 90 or 100 and was really, really happy. But pound for pound the best innings I have played is for Rest of World against Asia [Dhaka, 2000], for the kind of shots and how I hit them. That was a bit of a buzz. I remember coming out - we needed seven an over and I came in in the third or fourth over. They had lots of spinners, like Murali and Kumble. So there were lots of slog-sweeps and down-the-ground strokes.     I was always quite an angry person. I tended to get very frustrated after getting out. At the start of my career I did lots of things that I regret doing, and I made a conscious decision that I had to change in the latter half   After you were dropped from the Australia team you had a great year with Tasmania, averaging 97, and you made a domestic-record 1464 runs in the Pura Cup, including eight hundreds.  I just had a number of things that I wanted to achieve. I think I had got a little bit defensive and become a bit too mechanical. I just wanted to relax and see what I was capable of - dominating the bowlers. Those were very good years for me. What would you say was the difference between the young Bevan and the mature version?  There is no difference. I mean, what I did in 2004, where I averaged 97, I did at the start of my career. I was coming full circle. It was about understanding why I did what I did early in my career. I didn't understand then. When I was young I was confident, positive, and was trying to take the bowlers on. I didn't have any expectations. I didn't realise that at the start of my career, but by 2004 I did. That's the reason I did well. Earlier, I used to practise in the nets a lot, but I was practising for no reason. I didn't have focus. Towards the back-end of my career I didn't practise as much because I felt I didn't need it as much. When I did practise, I really used it well and had goals. It was about working on your technique, getting your body position right or about the match situation. I had great times in my career. I used to have good years and poor years. My ODI career was great. I also had good times in Tests. I had great series against Pakistan and West Indies. With me it was about frustration when I didn't do well. It was about understanding why I didn't do well and putting things in place to change that. I really enjoyed my career lot more after the age of 27.

Atapattu eyes international coach's role

Marvan Atapattu is aiming to build a new career as international coach if Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) lifts its sanctions on the country's ICL players on the lines of the BCCI's amnesty offer. SLC has said it is yet to discuss the ICL issue, but is keen to welcome the cricketers back into the system.

Atapattu plays for Delhi Giants in the ICL and recently completed a stint as batting coach of Canada, subsequently helping them qualify for the 2011 World Cup. The former Sri Lanka captain, who expects SLC to take a decision on its ICL players that benefits cricket, said it should now look at appointing a Sri Lankan as national coach.

Nishantha Ranatunga, the SLC secretary, indicated the board would take a decision on the ICL issue soon. "We feel that these cricketers should be taken back into the system because they have a wealth of experience and knowledge," Ranatunga told Cricinfo. "They would be very useful to the country in a coaching capacity or even as administrators. We are taking the issue very seriously and will discuss the matter soon before formulating a policy."

Atapattu, who retired from international cricket two years ago, admitted that his playing days are nearly over and any such official move would give him more options to enhance his coaching credentials. "I am 39 years old and not really keen to play competitive cricket, though I'm fit enough," he said. "My priorities are a bit different now; my first priority is my family. I don't think I will play full-time cricket again. But I am looking at a coaching option seriously."

That decision, if Atapattu has his way, will be with the SLC, which appointed Trevor Bayliss as national coach in 2007. "I firmly believe that we should have our own coaches simply because they know the players, the culture and how players come up to play in the national team," he said. "We can get expertise from outside as and when we want. But we have the quality in Sri Lanka to help and guide our own cricketers."

However, Atapattu will take a final decision on his future after consulting the ICL. "I wouldn't like to jump the gun because I haven't heard anything on this officially," he said. "I am still a contracted player with ICL, and I would like to hear from them too before I take any step."

Atapattu was among the five Sri Lankan cricketers associated with the ICL who were controversially allowed to play last year in a domestic competition by the previous SLC administration, under Arjuna Ranatunga. This decision, which went against a BCCI-backed worldwide ban on ICL cricketers, was subsequently overturned after Ranatunga was ousted as SLC chairman.

On Wednesday, the BCCI allowed Indian ICL cricketers to return to the official fold after cutting all ties with the unofficial league before May 31, when stringent ICC laws on unofficial cricket come into force. Atapattu welcomed the move but admitted that India's young ICL cricketers now face a touch choice. "Young cricketers always see themselves on the path to playing for their country. But for the older guys who will be playing short-term, it will not make much of a difference," he said.

But the ICL situation should have been sorted out long ago, he said. "It should never have led to this situation, to start with. It was basically an ego clash between individuals that led to all this. If everybody had worked together for a common cause, which is developing cricket, we wouldn't have been running into such conflicts. But what has happened has happened; hopefully, they will now help youngsters who want exposure and want to perform on the big stage. Hopefully, things will become better for them now.

Yousuf claims he has resigned from ICL

Mohammad Yousuf has claimed that he has "resigned" from the ICL after he decided last month that his priority was to play for Pakistan. The move potentially paves the way for Yousuf's comeback to the national side, as the PCB recently announced it was willing to talk to players who leave the ICL before the end of May and consider their cases for an international return on an individual basis.

"I spoke to Younis [Khan] about a month and a half ago and I resigned from the ICL after that," Yousuf told Cricinfo. "We both talked about how the country comes first and playing for them is the priority so I decided. I am available whenever the country needs me."

Reports had been swirling around Pakistan since the end of March that Yousuf and a group of other players were considering quitting the ICL after the March-April edition of the league was suspended. ICL players including Yousuf and Abdul Razzaq sought out Younis last month to try and find a way back into the national set-up, after fearing that the ICL - or at least their future participation in it after the deterioration in Indo-Pak ties - might present a tenuous prospect.

It is believed that Younis made no recommendations or promises, only telling the players that the priority should be to play for Pakistan, whatever that involves. "Younis was of the view that as they hadn't come to him before they signed up for the ICL, he doesn't understand why they came to him when they wanted to leave it," a source present at the meetings told Cricinfo. "He also pointed out that he cannot guarantee selection as that is a decision in which other parties, and not just the captain, are also involved." After some consideration and communication with Pir Aftab Shah Jilani, Pakistan's sports minister, Yousuf resigned from the league, though no official public statement had been made, either by any of the players, or the ICL, until now.

There appears, however, to be some confusion over the exact nature of Yousuf's actions. Though Yousuf said his contract with the league was now "finished" the ICL maintains that he is still on contract, though he has been released to play for Pakistan. "Yousuf's ICL contract has not been terminated," Roland Landers, the ICL spokesperson, told Cricinfo. "We have given him a temporary release so that he can play for his country."

Though Yousuf appears to want to do exactly that, it is unclear what the PCB will do now. Yousuf claimed the board was aware of his decision, but officials couldn't confirm it. "If such a communication has been sent, it would've been to the chairman and much of the board has been busy with organising this series [against Australia] based in Dubai. At the moment we cannot say whether Yousuf has sent any such message," one official told Cricinfo. "Our statement is there now, so we will act according to that."

Yousuf's case is particularly convoluted, for he has left the ICL before, after he first joined the league in protest at being overlooked for Pakistan's squad for the 2007 World Twenty20. He was persuaded - with the dangling of an IPL offer - to quit soon after by the PCB, then under Nasim Ashraf's administration. The ICL took him to court for reneging on his contract and he was unable to play in the inaugural IPL season in 2008 because of legal complications.

He played for Pakistan through much of last year before abruptly deciding, in November, to move back to the ICL. The move caught Pakistan's administration off-guard, as he had been picked for the ODI squad for a series in Abu Dhabi against West Indies. This time, he said, he left because of differences with then-captain Shoaib Malik.

"I had a problem with the captain at that time so I left. I had issues with the previous board administration as well," Yousuf said. "But now I have no problems at all with Younis, or this board. The country comes first."

Though 34, if Yousuf is to come back, he could hardly do so at a more opportune time. Pakistan's batting has been engaged in a dire struggle against Australia in the UAE. In four matches so far, they have crossed 200 only once and only one batsman, Salman Butt, has scored a fifty. Most visibly, the absence of a 269-ODI veteran averaging over 40 was felt during the third ODI, when Pakistan collapsed from 95-0 to 171 all out, chasing 199. Since the 2007 World Cup and the retirement of Inzamam-ul-Haq, Yousuf has comfortably been Pakistan's leading batsman, averaging over 60 in 30 ODIs, but he played his last match in July last year

CAB ready to accept ICL players into Bengal fold

The Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) has said it is ready to accept all Bengal players who had joined the ICL into its fold. Arun Mitra, the CAB joint-secretary, who met four of the seven ICL players from the Royal Bengal Tigers squad -- Deep Dasgupta, Abhishek Jhunjhunwala,Subhomoy Das and Eklak Ahmid -- in an hour-long meeting on Monday said the players were welcome to return but would need to follow certain procedures to exit the ICL.

In fact, the CAB may also offer Deep Dasgupta the post of captain-coach of Bengal if he severs all ties with the unofficial league. "We had a long chat. Deep has a great cricket brain. It will be great for Bengal if he comes back to the fold. He has served Bengal well in the past and we still need him," Mitra told the Telegraph, the Kolkata-based daily.

"We had a long discussion on various issues. We discussed the coaching issue. All these players are Bengal cricket's assets. Once they get the release from the ICL, they'll be up for selection for the Bengal squad."

Some of the ICL players said they needed to apply for a no-objection certificate from the ICL and once they get it they might make their next move to return to the domestic fold. However, Mitra said the return of those players did not necessarily mean that they would play for Bengal straight away. "All of them will have to perform well in the local league to qualify as probables for the state side," Mitra was quoted by the Hindu.

Dasgupta said he was keen to make a comeback as a Bengal cricketer and termed the talks as very fruitful. "I am honoured to be called for a meeting by the CAB. I believe I still have two to three years of cricket left in me. I'm fit enough to play any format of the game," Dasgupta said.

"We discussed many things. It would be good to play mainstream cricket again. But I'm still undecided. I have four days in hand to make up my mind. I'm also really passionate about coaching. But at this moment, I have to wait and think about my next move."

The three other Bengal players who joined in the ICL -- Rohan Gavaskar, Subhajit Paul and Shibsagar Singh -- were not present at the meeting.

Lahore Badshahs v Pakistan

A fan dreams of a clash between the two teams that have brought Pakistan much joy over the last week

Memo to Moin Khan, manager of the Lahore Badshahs: "Congratulations. Your team has won the ICL tournament and made us proud. Now your captain has gone one better and challenged the Pakistan national side to a duel." We've just had a few terrific few days: both the Pakistan international team and their alter ego, the Lahore Badshahs, have scored a series of resounding wins. What could be better for the Pakistani game, and for the fans, than watching these two outfits do battle against each other?

Lately it's been so slow around here that you could be excused for forgetting that Pakistan is a full-member ICC nation, which has played over 300 Tests and nearly 700 ODIs, won a World Cup, and added a few names to the pantheon. These days all anyone seems to notice is that Pakistan is an agitated land boiling with a Taliban insurgency, exploding at random, and sitting on the cultural and ideological fault line of conceivably everything.

Pakistan haven't played a Test in nearly a year, and prior to the series in Abu Dhabi hadn't played any ODIs since July. With no sign of wood meeting leather, fans have instead occupied themselves with whatever cricketing scraps they could get their hands on - cricket board politics, firing and hiring the coach, the soap opera of the naughty-boy du jour (Mohammad Asif, Shoaib Akhtar, or Mohammad Yousuf - take your pick).

Then, one recent Abu Dhabi evening, Kamran Akmal hit those two last-over sixes for victory in the first ODI against West Indies. As the balls crashed into the stands behind long-off and point, it felt like the welcome patter of rain after a hard and bitter drought. West Indies had had the upper hand throughout the match until that point. Akmal reversed the momentum with a turnaround so energetic that Pakistan rode to a 3-0 series sweep.

Even the most unforgiving and sceptical followers were awestruck. I heard a female colleague, a trenchant critic who has never offered anything better than grudging praise, admire newcomer Khurram Manzoor as the great answer to Pakistan's incurable opening problem. An octogenarian fan, who has seen it all and loathes hyperbole, opined that Pakistan were turning a historic corner in the evolution of its cricket ethos. A friend who had supposedly given up following cricket altogether sent a text message, all in capital letters, that Sohail Tanvir's wicket-taking in-dipper to Chris Gayle in the second ODI was better than the best of Wasim Akram.

Even if events in Abu Dhabi were not that earth-shattering, you could forgive the fans for feeling that way. After the sadness and disappointments of an extremely lean year, Pakistan came out keenly motivated and driving hard. The on-field body language, the most sensitive gauge to a team's rhythm, was amazing. Batsmen looked opponents in the eye, bowlers snorted and charged, and fielders (most of them, anyway - this is Pakistan we're talking about) flung themselves around. Even Shahid Afridi and Shoaib Malik, never known to see eye to eye, exhibited a surprising range of male-bonding rituals, including smiling, back-slapping, draping arms over shoulders, and generously patting hips.

The national side was motivated by deprivation and disappointment, the Lahore Badshahs by half a million US dollars, and the loss in the last season's final. It was noticeable that Inzamam-ul-Haq was bending his back in the field with an assiduousness that was perhaps not always seen in his playing days for Pakistan. Whatever works, said the fans, and cheered him and his team on. Lahore didn't receive much coverage in the press, but their games had fans riveted. Some of their players, such as Imran Nazir and Saqlain Mushtaq, are beloved figures. There was also the chance to behold partnerships between Mohammad Yousuf and Inzamamul Haq, an exquisite pleasure we thought we had lost forever.

	As Kamran Akmal's hits crashed into the stands behind long-off and point, it felt like the welcome patter of rain after a hard and bitter drought

Lahore have approached ICL with an arrogance that comes from a non-negotiable belief that you can hold your own against any team in the world. Last season's embarrassment, when they lost one of the finals in a bowl-out, only intensified their hunger. After a shaky start they peaked perfectly and entered the semi-finals at No. 2 on the points table. Sandwiched between the first and secondODIs in Abu Dhabi was the first match of ICL's best-of-three final, in which Lahore comfortably chased 170 against Hyderabad.

They were off-colour in the second match, but a stunning boundary catch from Justin Kemp had the unintended consequence of toughening their resolve immeasurably. Dean Jones called it the most awesome catch he had ever seen - check it out, it's not an exaggeration - but it stung the Badshahs, and from merely motivated they became menacingly murderous. The decider, held the same evening as the third Abu Dhabi ODI, featured a 44-ball detonation from Imran Nazir that fetched him 111 out of the winning total of 160.

Ultimately both Lahore and Pakistan were driven by revenge. The Badshahs wanted to scream in the PCB's face that their players, who are banned from playing for Pakistan, were as good as any. Pakistan wanted revenge against the geo-political winds, and the nameless and faceless terrorists that have led to their cricketing desolation.

How far the revenge motive was achieved, only time will tell. While it's been a good few days, prospects for international cricket in Pakistan are still shaky at best. The fans are slowly retreating to once again hiding their faces and licking their wounds.

So well done, Inzamam and Moin. Geo Super- our local sports channel - will televise it, the PCB will organise it (we'll talk to them very, very nicely), Cricinfo will spread the word, and the fans will cheer and chatter for a long time. Lahore Badshahs versus Pakistan could really kick-start the mood.

Bangalore look to upset the neighbours

Big Picture

Bangalore Royal Challengers' flagging campaign may have been boosted by the win over Kolkata Knight Riders but their chances of making the semi-finals remain slim. Their remaining three matches are all against tough opposition: Chennai Super Kings, Deccan Chargers and Delhi Daredevils. The main worry for them remains the inconsistent batting, particularly as they cannot expect to continue getting the freebies the generous Kolkata bowlers doled out to them.

Their first challenge is to end the winning streak of the Chennai, who after an indifferent start have strung together five successes in a row. To achieve that, they need to find a way to throttle the marauding Chennai top order: Matthew Hayden, Suresh Raina, S Badrinath and MS Dhoni have combined to ensure totals of at least 160 in each of the seven matches they batted first.

Dhoni, who was critical of his team's bowlers earlier in the season, will have little to complain about now. Albie Morkel has been providing breakthroughs in the first over, Muttiah Muralitharan has proven hard to get away and the Indian contingent of L Balaji, Shadab Jakati and Sudeep Tyagi is also firing. A win against Bangalore will push Chennai to the brink of a final four slot - they will remain in second place but will have at least a two-point cushion over the chasing pack.

Form guide (completed matches, most recent first)

Royal Challengers Bangalore - WLLWW After two demoralising defeats the win against Kolkata was the boost Bangalore needed. Problems persist though. The batting has been let down by the poor showing of the domestic batsmen with Robin Uthappa and Virat Kohli being particularly disappointing. The bowling at the death was clueless against a resourceful Brendon McCullum and needs improving, especially against a side like Chennai, where it is standing-room only when it comes to savage hitters.

Chennai Super Kings - WWWWW

With a form guide that couldn't get any better, Chennai are bursting with confidence having toppled dangerous opponents like Delhi , Rajasthan Royals and Deccan in their recent matches. The only area of concern during their four-day break would have been the fielding, with several catches going down in every match.

Watch out for

Ross Taylor: The relentless power-hitting during his onslaught against Kolkata was the breath of fresh air Bangalore needed, given that their line-up is packed with orthodox batsmen not renowned for clearing the boundary. Bangalore's progress in the tournament depends on how well Taylor fares against better attacks in the remaining games.

Albie Morkel: Regarded by some as the leading Twenty20 allrounder in the world, he has been adequate with the ball but hasn't found top gear yet with the bat. He had wowed the Chennai crowd with several hits clearing the roof of the Chepauk stadium last season and a return to form will strengthen an already fearsome line-up.

Team news

The big score continues to elude Jesse Ryder, but his frugal medium-pace bowling and the solid opening stand with Jacques Kallis against Kolkata should provide him another opportunity. B Akhil could make way for Praveen Kumar which will also give the side more batting depth.

Royal Challengers Bangalore (probable) 1 Jesse Ryder, 2 Jacques Kallis, 3 Robin Uthappa, 4 Rahul Dravid, 5 Ross Taylor, 6 Virat Kohli/Rajesh Bishnoi, 7 Mark Boucher (wk), 8 Praveen Kumar, 9 R Vinay Kumar, 10 Anil Kumble (capt), 11 KP Appanna/ Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Chennai are unlikely to make changes to a combination that served them well against Rajasthan Royals on Saturday.

Chennai Super Kings (probable) 1 Matthew Hayden, 2 M Vijay, 3 Suresh Raina, 4 S Badrinath, 5 MS Dhoni (capt & wk), 6 Albie Morkel, 7 Jacob Oram, 8 Sudeep Tyagi, 9 Shadab Jakati, 10 L Balaji, 11 Muttiah Muralitharan.

Head-to-head record

Chennai outclassed Bangalore when the two sides met earlier this season in Port Elizabeth, thumping them by 92 runs, the largest margin of victory in the tournament so far. The teams split their two contests last year: Bangalore caving in spectacularly at the Chinnaswamy Stadium to lose by 13 runs, Chennai returning the favour at Chepauk to go down by 14 runs.