NEW DELHI: Both West Indies and South Africa are banking on their Indian Premier League stars, some of them senior players with ample experience of sub-continental conditions, to bail them out in the World Cup. The challenge begins with their first encounter at the Ferozeshah Kotla here on Thursday, on a notoriously low, slow pitch which is largely an unknown factor. The Kotla has endured a year-long suspension and is going into this major event without having staged any big games.
South Africa's talismanic Jacques Kallis, returning from a recent rib injury, said he was not overtly concerned about the quality of the surface but added that "it's probably not going to be a 300-350 pitch". He agreed SA's first game, and also the first post-IPL World Cup, could swing the way of players with more T20 and local experience.
"T20 has changed the way players approach both ODIs and Tests. In ODIs now, batsmen take more risks and have developed new strokes. Teams don't panic when the asking rate goes up while bowlers also have developed new skills. T20 has been a revelation for the game," Kallis said.
At the Kotla, the ability of both teams to size up conditions quickly and plan their innings accordingly could prove crucial, making past IPL stints on such pitches an invaluable experience. SA are undoubtedly the better placed here, with as many as 9 players in the squad having played in the IPL, the third-best behind sub-continent teams India (all 15) and Sri Lanka (11).
Skipper Graeme Smith, Johan Botha, AB De Villiers, Jean-Paul Duminy, Kallis, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Dale Steyn and Morne Van Wyk are no strangers to slow conditions, but the Windies aren't far behind with six stars boasting IPL experience. Their most important performers - Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Shiv Chanderpaul, Kieron Pollard, Kemar Roach and Ramnaresh Sarwan - have all had a taste of the sub-continent during past IPL tourneys.
"We have 5-6 players who took part in the IPL or are still associated with it," said Dwayne Bravo, "They know the conditions, so that exposure will come in handy. IPL has helped them to know how to play here."
Of course, WI and SA aren't the only 'outsiders' who are by now well-versed in Indian conditions. The Australian World Cup squad has eight players who have featured in past IPLs, and New Zealand have seven. If Kallis' prognosis pans out, then England, with only 4 IPL players in their squad, have their task cut out. It will be interesting to watch teams adapt.
For Thursday's game, both sides are expecting low scores and spin-friendly conditions at the Kotla, making the middle overs crucial to the outcome of the match.
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South Africa's talismanic Jacques Kallis, returning from a recent rib injury, said he was not overtly concerned about the quality of the surface but added that "it's probably not going to be a 300-350 pitch". He agreed SA's first game, and also the first post-IPL World Cup, could swing the way of players with more T20 and local experience.
"T20 has changed the way players approach both ODIs and Tests. In ODIs now, batsmen take more risks and have developed new strokes. Teams don't panic when the asking rate goes up while bowlers also have developed new skills. T20 has been a revelation for the game," Kallis said.
At the Kotla, the ability of both teams to size up conditions quickly and plan their innings accordingly could prove crucial, making past IPL stints on such pitches an invaluable experience. SA are undoubtedly the better placed here, with as many as 9 players in the squad having played in the IPL, the third-best behind sub-continent teams India (all 15) and Sri Lanka (11).
Skipper Graeme Smith, Johan Botha, AB De Villiers, Jean-Paul Duminy, Kallis, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Dale Steyn and Morne Van Wyk are no strangers to slow conditions, but the Windies aren't far behind with six stars boasting IPL experience. Their most important performers - Chris Gayle, Dwayne Bravo, Shiv Chanderpaul, Kieron Pollard, Kemar Roach and Ramnaresh Sarwan - have all had a taste of the sub-continent during past IPL tourneys.
"We have 5-6 players who took part in the IPL or are still associated with it," said Dwayne Bravo, "They know the conditions, so that exposure will come in handy. IPL has helped them to know how to play here."
Of course, WI and SA aren't the only 'outsiders' who are by now well-versed in Indian conditions. The Australian World Cup squad has eight players who have featured in past IPLs, and New Zealand have seven. If Kallis' prognosis pans out, then England, with only 4 IPL players in their squad, have their task cut out. It will be interesting to watch teams adapt.
For Thursday's game, both sides are expecting low scores and spin-friendly conditions at the Kotla, making the middle overs crucial to the outcome of the match.
toi
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