Champions League Twenty20 - Group C Preview

Champions League Twenty20 Odds

C1 – Royal Challengers Bangalore +650
C2 – Cape Cobras +850
C3 – Otago Volts +1200

Yet another of the star-studded Indian Premier League teams to make it into the inaugural tournament, Bangalore were finalists but lost to Deccan in a cracking match. Led by the inimitable Anil Kumble, if this team doesn’t make the finals, I will be very surprised. So surprised in fact that I would be willing to bet my life on it. Thankfully not many bookmakers will take that bet so I am safe. Bangalore really does have the best of the best in terms of arsenal from around the world. Jacques Kallis’ new found aggressiveness can be tempered by Ross Taylor’s compilation of runs and with the ball, Dale Steyn can rip heads off while Kumble will no doubt have their opposition in a spin.

Balachandra Akhil: Despite the fact this all-rounder has yet to come good with the bat, his annoying line and length, his propensity to get big name wickets because of it and his general energetic demeanour means Akhil could prove to be a handful in this tourny. While opposition will focus on staying alive against Steyn and the like, Akhil could swoop in and snag several key wickets. If he gets it right with the bat we could be in for some interesting times.

Anil Kumble (capt), Rahul Dravid, Robin Uthappa, Jacques Kallis, Ross Taylor, Dale Steyn, Manish Pandey, Praveen Kumar, Jesse Ryder, Roelof van der Merwe, Mark Boucher, Vinay Kumar, Virat Kohli, Akhil Balachandra, Rajesh Bishoni.

The second South African team has some big names, none of which come any bigger than captain Graeme Smith. Unfortunately the national leader is unavailable for this event with Andrew Puttick pencilled in as the new captain. From all reports the 29 year is a gifted player having scored a century in his third domestic fixture but Smith’s boots are big and will be hard to fill. Thankfully Puttick can call on the experience of Herschelle Gibbs and current Proteas star JP Duminy. If this batting line up gets going, there will be some big scores.

Sybrand Engelbrecht: Anyone who has seen this little tyro play will instantly compare him to the genius of Jonty Rhodes. In fact, if you had been stuck in some kind of coma and woken just yesterday to see Engelbrecht running around you would swear he was one in the same. If you have just come out of a coma after 15 years there are a few other things that have changed but nothing too serious. Engelbrecht is brilliant in the field and handy with the bat. Definitely one to watch.

Andrew Puttick (capt), Herschelle Gibbs, JP Duminy, Justin Ontong, Charl Langeveldt, Claude Henderson, Monde Zondeki, Vernon Philander, Henry Davids, Ryan Canning, Rory Kleinveldt, Richard Levi, Sybrand Engelbrecht, Derek Brand, Francois Plaatjies.

Their odds say it all. Otago are unlikely to progress out of their group simply because they are a one-trick pony. That pony is Brendon McCullum. Get rid of McCullum and the rest will fall. If you fail in your mission to dismiss the wicketkeeper, hold on because that little red pill will be flying to all corners of the ground and as most likely will be the case on this small grounds, outside the grandstands. While the team features internationals Nate McCullum, Aaron Redmond, Neil Broom, Ian Butler, Craig Cumming, James McMillan and England’s Dimitri Mascarenhas, there is too little meat around the Otago bones for them to do anything of importance in this event.