International Cricket Council lacks ‘common sense’, otherwise it would have created a separate window for the Indian Premier League, said spin legend Shane Warne.
A vociferous advocate of a separate window for the Twenty20 event, Warne said no international matches should have been scheduled for the month of April to allow all players compete in the cash-rich league.
“If the ICC had any common sense, they would create a window for the IPL,” Warne, who led the Rajasthan Royals to a fairytale victory in the inaugural edition of the league was quoted as saying by The Star.
Source – cricketnext.in.com
“I’m happy to be in the background,” he said about Warne hogging all the glory in the Twenty20 tournament.
Smith has also won new fans at home after he batted with a broken finger in the Sydney Test.
“When I came home, the reception I got . . . That was something special. I’ve had to come to terms with the fact that with me, there’s no balanced view. People either love me or hate me,” he said.
Rajasthan Royals captain and coach Warne, who shared a love-hate relationship with the south African crowd during his playing days, also looking to woo fans with the help of Smith.
“The public have booed me most of the time but, hopefully, playing with the Rajasthan Royals they’ll get behind me,” Warne was quoted as saying by the ‘Australian Associated Press’.
“Hopefully, when I come on to bowl I’ll get a clap, or a cheer or whistle. They’re pretty vocal over here. They love their cricket. Having Graeme Smith and Morne Morkel in the side will help,” he added.
Source – espnstar.com
“Munaf (Patel) did a good job last year. Sidharth Dwivedi is also there and then we also have Shaun Tait this year, so overall I think we would be able to cover up well for Tanvir though I must say he did exceptionally well last year,” Salunkhe said.
Salunkhe who would primarily be in the side as a leg-spinning all-rounder who can use the long handle when the need arises said that he would be looking to bowl a tidy line and length and would primarily focus on control.
“Right line would be crucial”
He said that conditions in South Africa would not assist spinners much and that is why landing the ball in the right areas would be the key.
“South African conditions would not assist spinners so I would try to bowl a good line and length. Control would be the key and I am looking forward to the challenge,” he said.
Salunkhe who plays for Mumbai in the domestic circuit then spoke about his relationship with skipper Shane Warne and what he learnt from the wizard of spin during the IPL’s first edition.
The Mahela dismissal
He also narrated the famous Mahela Jayawardene dismissal during their match against Kings XI Punjab.
“Warne got rid of Kumar Sangakkara and then when I went to congratulate him he asked me to get Jayawardene’s wicket. I was surprised but then he told me what to do and I finally lapped up the wicket”.
“He is a master of the game. He has taught me a lot of things like the slider, the winning attitude, confidence.”
“The only thing which the skipper said was to go and get the batsmen. ‘Do not think about anything else.’ He gave so much confidence that each of us wanted to deliver more than our abilities,” said Salunkhe.
“We are under no pressure”
Salunkhe who has played six T20 matches and has picked up a wicket with a not so impressive economy rate of 9.75 said that the team is under no pressure, though they are the defending champions.
“We will play with the same kind of attitude and would definitely do well this time again,” he said.
Speaking about his career, the 27-year-old said that the IPL matured him as a player.
“I was a novice cricketer when I won the ‘Cricket Star’ competition and was sent to Leicestershire to train but now after the IPL I have learnt a lot and I think I have matured a lot as a cricketer as well. Playing with such biggies and sharing dressing room with players like Warne and Graeme Smith has certainly helped,” concluded the all-rounder.
Source – espnstar.com
Shane Warne’s Rajasthan Royals made a losing start to their South African campaign when they lost by 27 runs against the Cape Cobras in an Indian Premier League warm-up match at Newlands Saturday.
Both teams were well below strength, with the Royals fielding only four of the players who won the IPL last year and the Cobras missing most of the men who won the South African Twenty20 final earlier in the season.
“It’s disappointing to lose but it was a great opportunity for some of the guys to show what they can do,” said Warne.
“Everything we wanted to get out of this game we got although the batting was a bit disappointing.”
Opening bowler Amit Singh bowled impressively to take three for 15 as the Cape Cobras made 142 for eight.
The home side were struggling at 34 for four and 65 for five but prospered through some hard hitting by lower order batsmen Richard Levi (36), Vernon Philander (26) and Rory Kleinveldt (23).
Kleinveldt took four for 34 when the Royals batted to clinch the man of the match award.
Royals’ Australian opening batsman Bob Quiney made a hard-hit 34 off 22 balls but the rest of the batting crumbled. Warne’s 21 was the second-highest score.
Scores
Cape Cobras 142-8 in 20 overs (R. Levi 36, V. Philander 26, R. Kleinveldt 23, A. Singh 3-18); Rajasthan Royals 115 in 19 overs (R. Quiney 34, R. Kleinveldt 4-23, R. Peterson 2-17).
The Rajasthan Royals claimed the inaugural Indian Premier League title last year when they beat the Chennai Super Kings by three wickets in the final in Mumbai.
The team is led by legendary Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne, who is also the coach.
Warne is the only non-Indian captain in the competition. South African captain Graeme Smith and fast bowler Morne Morkel, as well as Pakistan wicketkeeper Kamran Akmal and Australian all-rounder Shane Watson are some of the stars who play for the Royals.
Smith topped the batting averages for Rajasthan last year, scoring 441 runs in 11 innings at an average of 49. Watson scored the most runs (472 in 15 innings) at an average of 47.2 and a strike rate of 151.76.
Pakistan’s Sohail Tanvir picked up the most wickets for the Royals and was the leading wicket-taker in the tournament, with 22 wickets in 11 games. Warne followed closely with 19 wickets in 15 matches.
The Emerging Media Group owns the side that won 13 of their 16 games in 2008.
Source – thetimes.co.za
