Chennai Super Kings is fully geared up for IPL II . Everything is falling in place and with coach Stephen Fleming’s arrival, CSK look set to capture the heart of one and all, as it did last time. A 30-member strong team comprising players and support staff will assemble in South Africa where the team will train and play practice matches.

Most of the players including Fleming, Matthew Hayden, George Bailey, Manpreet Gony, Suresh Raina, Shadab Jakati, Joginder Sharma, Sudeep Tyagi, Parthiv Patel along with players from Tamil Nadu will leave for South Africa from the city on Wednesday. The rest will join them in the next few days.

VB Chandrasekhar (director, cricketing operations, CSK) while announcing the players list informed that Kiwi Jacob Oram will be playing the entire tournament. It is believed that Michael Hussey will play when he makes himself available.

Fleming on his first day as coach of CSK handled the media with ease.He was eager to play the new role of coach with perfection. He stated that he was clearly aware what his role should be.

Although he appeared to look gentle he made it clear that he will handle the team professionally and stressed that there was no place for sentiment.

“We have a balanced side. I am eager to perform my role to the best of my ability,” said Fleming.

The former New Zealand captain made it clear that the captain was the boss and his role would be that of a supplementary one. “I would prefer the captain to have the final say. My job would be to work with players and see to that each one gives his best and help the captain marshall resources in the best way,” said Fleming.

He also praised Dhoni for his excellent leadership skills.

When quizzed whether he believed in John Buchanan’s theory of four captains? “I do not believe in his (John’s) theory. I do not wish to make innovations for the sake of it. Things will be more or less the same like last time,” reflected the Kiwi.

On team composition, Fleming said: “We have to go there and see the conditions.

As far as I am concerned the best team would take the field according to the opposition. Reputations and names do not matter. I see this (IPL II) as excellent opportunity in particular for ‘home’ grown players to prove their mettle.” N Srinivasan, owner of CSK, was hopeful of a good show by his team.

He was happy that at last IPL II was happening and said the governing committee was doing everything to see to that the public in South Africa was aware what IPL was all about.
Source – expressbuzz.com