CL T20 Update from the iSport Champions League Pavilion: iSporter Akshay Iyer introduces his favourite team, Chevrolet Warriors and believes that it is one of best balanced squads in the Champions League T20 this year. Do you think so too?
Chevrolet Warriors, the current champions of the Standard Bank Pro T20 series, will be looking at taking maximum advantage of playing all their league matches in the Champions League at their home ground of St George’s Park in Port Elizabeth.
The Warriors, however, have a tough task cut out for them as they have IPL champions Chennai Super Kings, Big Bash champs Victoria Bushrangers, Sri Lanka’s domestic T20 champs Wayamba and New Zealand’s Central Districts Stags for company in Group A. The Warriors shouldn’t face too many problems against Wayamba and Central Districts, but will need to be at their best against CSK and the Bushrangers.
The Warriors had underachieved in the South African domestic circuit, but all that changed in the 2009-10 season when the team won the MTN40 title and built on the success by coming up trumps in the Standard Bank Pro T20 final against The Lions.
The Warriors have the momentum going for them from their successes in the last season and the fact that they play all their group matches in the Champions League on their home ground should make them one of the three favourites from Group A that have a realistic chance of advancing to the semi-finals of the tournament.
The South African domestic T20 champions will have to do without Jacques Kallis in the Champions League as the influential all-rounder is contractually obligated to turn out for his IPL side Royal Challengers Bangalore. However, the Warriors have enough quality in their squad to make up for Kallis’ absence.
The Warriors’ batting will be boosted by captain Davey Jacobs, Colin Ingram, Ashwell Prince, Arno Jacobs and Justin Kreusch. In Mark Boucher and Nicky Boje, the Warriors also have arguably two of the best finishers in the shortest format of the game.
The bowling attack also wears an assured look with Rusty Theron, Makhaya Ntini and Garnett Kruger leading the pace attack. The Warriors also have more than able spin bowling options in Boje and Johan Botha, who has recently been appointed captain of the South African national T20 team.
Overall, the Warriors have one of the best balanced squads in the Champions League T20 and that coupled with the home advantage makes them one of the favourites to advance from the group stage. And, should the Warriors progress to the knockout stage, they will look to win the title to make the 2009-10 season a memorable one beyond all compare.
SQUAD
Davey Jacobs (captain), Nicky Boje, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher (wicketkeeper), Colin Ingram, Arno Jacobs, Justin Kreusch, Garnett Kruger, Lyall Meyer, Makhaya Ntini, Ashwell Prince, JJ Smuts, Rusty Theron, Craig Thyssen, Lonwabo Tsotsobe
WARRIORS’ FIXTURES
September 11: vs Wayamba Elevens at Port Elizabeth
September 13: vs Victoria at Port Elizabeth
September 18: vs Central Districts at Port Elizabeth
September 22: vs Chennai Super Kings at Port Elizabeth
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