Champions League T20.....A Platform for Young Cricketers

I truly have been impressed with the performances of some of the teams in 2011 CLT20. Especially some of the players have played outstanding cricket this season. Unlike last year teams from England and other nations have shown character and played well. The way Trinidad team has played just shows how young cricketers in absence of star players like Pollard and elder Bravo can rise to occasion and put up a good show. Though the results have not favored the West Indian giants but they truly have given hiccups to many teams. Another team which impressed all of us is Somerset. One would have thought this team would miss stupendous players like Trescothick, Kieswetter and many a more. But under rated South African Van Der Merwe

van  Merwe

has played superbly. His performances with both bat and ball have caught many eyes. Few days back injury hit Mumbai team played in Sarul Kanwar, the Punjabi lad was hitting the bowlers through the line as if they don't have any respect. Many young batsman like Smuts (Warriors), S. Ganga (T& T), Levi (Cobras), Ferguson (Redbacks) have changed the course of the match. One such example is Moises Henriques

, who with his all round abilities when New South Wales a lost match.

Moises Henriques

This was about batsman, but the young bowlers are not behind. Samuel Badree, Rusty Theron, S. Aravind, Merwe, Rampaul, I. Abdulla have been on prime form and have given best batsman trouble.
Speaking of the young blood, the legends have also net stepped back. Kallis bats and bowls as if he is a 20 year old boy smacking the bowl around when batting and destroying timber when bowling. He has proved that 20-20 is not just about hitting big sixes, its about playing sensibly and when the opportunity arrives take the bowler for a beating. Ashwell Prince is one such case. He paces his innings so well. Malinga as we know is still best at bowling unplayable deliveries. Dwayne Bravo also had put up an all round show against the Cobras the other day.

Kallis hitting a ball long way

As far now this is the best Champions League we ever had with stiff competition and every team performing well.
Though it is difficult to predict who will make the top 4 but according team any of the following teams will make it to the semis:
 

• Kolkata
• Mumbai
• Chennai
• Somerset
• Warriors
• New South Wales

Look out for the interesting matches to follow in the competition, till then its good bye from me.