The New South Wales Blues celebrate winning the Pura Cup Final against the Victorian Bushrangers at the Sydney Cricket Ground in Sydney on Wedesday, March 19, 2008. AAP Image/Paul Miller
I am neither a big Twenty20 supporter, nor do I condemn it. In fact, I enjoy watching it, as long as it entertains the crowds and does not take over Test cricket. I am opposed to IPL because cricketers play only for money.
Airtel Champions League T20 (ACLT20) is different because there are domestic representative teams from Australia (NSW Blues and Victorian Bushrangers), England (Sussex and Somerset), South Africa, India, New Zealand and Sri Lanka.
Some of the teams – especially from India – are enriched with high profile imports.
So how will NSW fare in ACLT20?
I had the good fortune of meeting most of the ACLT20 NSW Blues squad to India at a reception hosted by the Indian Consul General in Sydney last week.
The first thing I did at the reception was to distribute my Roar story, “A Blues Side From The Past Decade Would Blitz Them All,” from July 1, 2009 (updated to include Shane Watson), to the attendees.
All present, including David Gilbert, the Chief Executive of NSW, Chairman Dr Harry Harinath; the Indian Consul General Amit Dasgupta; chief selector and former Test wicket-keeper Brian Taber; captain Simon Katich; and his men, were highly impressed with The Roar’s NSW squad of the last decade.
“You have selected an unbeatable team, Kersi”, remarked David Gilbert, as he read the composite NSW team from 1998 to 2009 in batting order:
Mark Taylor, Michael Slater, Mark Waugh, Steve Waugh (captain), Michael Clarke, Michael Bevan, Brad Haddin (wicket-keeper), Brett Lee, Stuart Clark, Stuart MacGill and Glenn McGrath. 12th man: Simon Katich. Reserves: Geoff Lawson, Phil Hughes, Phil Jaques, Phil Emery, Nathan Bracken, Nathan Hauritz and now Shane Watson.
I teased Katich that he could make it only as the 12th man. He smiled and agreed with Gilbert that The Roar’s 1998-2009 side was unbeatable.
The modest Katich was pleased when I mentioned that his 1506 runs at an average of 94.12 in Pura Cup 2007-08 was second only to Don Bradman’s 1586 runs at 113.28 in the Australian first-class season of 1929-30.
It was nice to mingle with other members of the ACLT20 squad present that day.
I referred to their fast-medium bowler Aaron Bird as “Flu”, and he shushed me not to mention it, coughing in good humour.
I did not get much out of David Warner and Phil Hughes, but tall Dominic Thornley and Ben Rohrer opened out.
Thornely’s highest score in first-class cricket is 261 not out, for NSW against Western Australia on the SCG in 2005. In that innings, he hit 11 sixes, beating David Hookes’ record.
Incredibly, he added 219 runs with Stuart MacGill for the 10th wicket – Stuart’s contribution being only 27. Because of this gallant partnership, NSW turned trouble into triumph.
No wonder Dominic is nicknamed “The Dominator”!
Ben Rohrer was the hero for NSW Blues against Victorian Bushrangers in the Twenty20 final in Sydney this 24th January. The Blues were struggling at 4 for 92 before Rohrer roared in with a cyclonic 44 off 20 balls, including four sixes.
The Blues won off the last ball, a bye.
Stocky wicket-keeper Daniel Smith looks forward to cement his place in the NSW team after doing well in India this week.
NSW Blues play the Diamond Eagles, South Africa today [9th] and Sussex Sharks on Sunday, both matches in Delhi.
The top two teams from four Groups will contest the semi-finals on 21 and 22 October, with the final in Hyderabad the next day.
Go Blues!
Kersi Meher-Homji
Guest
Can you imagine my frustration, Brett? Typing the (almost) same thing three times? The third time was like bowling off a shorter run-up -- in case the umpire would yell "No ball" again! And yes I did enjoy your Tuesday column. NSW on way to a convincing victory as I type this. NSW 6-144 (20 overs); Eagles 6-44 off 11 overs, Clark, Lee and Hauritz sharing wickets. And Vinay, see you on 17th November at the SCG for the NSW-Tassie clash. And we'll look out for a new Benaud as Warney fell one run short of your idea of a legspin allrounder.
Brett McKay
Expert
Kersi, should I be worried that you enjoyed my Tues column in your first two replies, but not by the third?!? I've seen the same thing happen by the way, often after a long detailed post!
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
Kersi..no more CT, Cl ,Et al...Let us instead talk of the upcomig Sheffield Shield game at the SCG 17th November..NSW vsTasmania....Lee and Bollinger bowling to Ponting,Birt and co...How will Punter go against Hauritz and Krezja against Katich,Hughes and Watson..and young Steve Smith..can he be the legspinning allrounder that we haven't had for almost fifty years? (to qualify you need to score a Test Century)
Kersi Meher-Homji
Guest
Freud of Football and fellow roarers, So embarrassing! I wrote my comment and clicked "Add Comment". Nothing happened. The comment column went blank. Waitedfor a few minutes. Still blank. Then typed again. Same thing happened again. And again. Gave up and logged out. Clicked on The Roar website and there were my comments in TRIPLICATE! Felt terrible. My apologies to everyone.
Freud of Football
Roar Guru
What happened there Kersi? Youldn't figure out which of your 3 replies sounded best?
Dave1
Guest
I think the IPL sids may bee a bit overated after seeing brett lee dominate in the IIPL and then get smashed in the the world cup.
Kersi Meher-Homji
Guest
Brett, I also like the ACLT20 concept, as long as it is not overdone. NSW will miss Michael Clarke, Brad Haddin and Nathan “Economy” Bracken. But with hitters like Warner, Hughes and Thornely and bowlers Lee, Stuart Clark, Doug Bollinger and Nathan Hauritz NSW will give other star-studded teams and spectators value for money. Katich’s men are hungry to dazzle in India during the Diwali festivities next week.
Kersi Meher-Homji
Guest
Brett, I also like the concept of ACLT20 as long as it is not overdone. Yes, I read your preview on ACLT20 and enjoyed it, as I do your other posts. NSW will miss Michael Clark, Brad Haddin and Nathan "Mr Economy" Bracken due to injuries. Still I like the Blues line-up. With Hughes and Warner as openers we can expect fireworks from ball one. Then Katich and Moises Henriques will bring some sanity before Thornely, Rohrer and Smith go on their six-hunt. Brett Lee, Stuart Clark and Doug Bollinger will share the new ball and the much-improved Nathan Hauritz will do the spinning. Compared to other teams, Blues have fewer stars. But they are hungry to dazzle during the Diwali festivities in India next week.
Kersi Meher-Homji
Guest
Yes Brett, I too like the concept of CLT20, provided it's not overdone. I enjoyed your story on CLT20, as I do all your posts. NSW has a good lineup despite the absence of Michael Clarke, Nathan Bracken and Brad Haddin due to injuries. With Warner and Hughes to open we can expect fireworks from ball one. Katich and Moises Henriques wil add some sanity in batting. Then more hitters in Thornely, Rohrer and Smith. Bowling will be opened by Brett Lee, Stuart Clark with Doug Bollinger as first change. Nathan "Economy" Bracken will be sorely missed though. Then the much-improving spinner Nathan Hauritz. Not exactly star-studded like some of the other teams, the Blues are hungry to dazzle in India in keeping with the Diwali celebrations next week.
Brett McKay
Guest
Since we're referring to past articles Kersi (!), I had NSW and Delhi just missing the semis behind Deccan, RCB, Cape Cobras and Victoria in my "bold" predictions in my CLT20 preview on Tuesday. News that Collingwood may be out for Delhi might open the door for Sussex, Otago or maybe even Trinidad & Tobago to sneak in (I'd listed the last two as "roughies"). I think it'll be an interesting tournament, and as I said on Tuesday, I'm looking forward to seeing how the lesser lights do in this company; they're potentially playing the matches of their lives. It's a great concept, it's new, and it's exciting. Overnight, Cape Cobras made 5/184 with two balls spare to chase down RCB's 4/180. JP Duminy led the chase for the Cobras, smashing 99* off 52 balls with 5 sixes. Kallis and Ross Taylor both made fifties for RCB.