Better late than never, as they say. The arrival of six members of Australia’s successful touring team from the West Indies promises to add some flavour to the Indian Premier League in the coming weeks.
Time is running short. We’re past the midpoint of IPL5 and the championship playoffs are just three weeks away. Making a meaningful impression with either bat or ball at this stage of the proceedings would be quite an achievement for these players, as good as they are.
Michael Clarke, for example, is among the best. The Australian captain has arrived in India having just led his country to a Test series victory in the Caribbean. But making the transition from the five-day game to Twenty20 is bound to take time and Clarke has never played in the IPL before.
Like T20 itself, Clarke has virtually no time to play himself in. For a man who has not played this format of the game for 18 months, the pressure is on. The Pune Warriors are sorely in need of more batting depth to keep their playoffs hopes alive, so the onus is on Clarke to find his feet quickly.
Shane Watson is another of whom much is expected. The Queensland all-rounder is a powerful hitter, which should be music to the ears of the Rajasthan Royals. Despite the dominance of Ajinkya Rahane, who continues to lead the run scoring charts, the Royals are not the sum of their parts. The addition of Watson should help them stay in contention for a top four finish.
David Warner is one of the new breed. At the age of 25, he has grown up and made his name in the T20 arena. He is already a seasoned veteran and it’s his misfortune to have rejoined a Delhi Daredevils team which leads the standings after four straight wins. The four foreigner rule means he’s currently warming the bench but his time will surely come once Delhi has secured a playoff berth.
And what of the man they call Mr. Cricket? Michael Hussey was one of the pillars of Chennai’s success in 2011. He was CSK’s leading run scorer and his century opening stand in the final was the key to the Super Kings’ victory. While his strike-rate is by no means the highest, Hussey’s experience in the closing weeks of the campaign should ensure Chennai has a chance to defend its title for a third year.
Ryan Harris and Ben Hilfenhaus have more in common than just their nationality. Harris, who has joined the ranks of Kings Xl Punjab and Hilfenhaus, a teammate of Hussey at Chennai, have both had to battle against injury throughout their careers. When fully fit, both are dangerous pacey bowlers — something they’ll be aiming to prove as IPL5 builds towards its climax.
In cricket’s crowded calendar, there is always the potential for jetlag and fatigue. Australians are, by nature, competitive but how much there is left in the tank following the West Indies series remains to be seen.
When the Aussies are around two things are guaranteed — they work hard and play even harder. Whether or not they justify their IPL salaries and add value to their respective teams only time will tell.