Delhi Dare Devils vs Rajasthan Royals :Preview

After amazing performance in the Inaugural season of IPL, Defending Champions performance has nose Dived at the new venue of Indian Premiere League season two.

AB de Villiers

Led by legend Shane Warne, Royals have so far played four games in the tournament; loosing the opener against Bangalore Royal Challengers by 75 runs,luckily next game against Mumbai Indians was washed and in the battle against Punjab, king’s easily defended their score of 139, restricting Rajasthan to 112.

Their only victory came against the otherwise struggling Knight Riders who too gave them run for the victory, taking the game to super over, thanks toY Pathan who displayed his killer capabilities and won the game for his team.

Batting has been the concern for Rajasthan Royals as apart from experienced G Smith and T Henderson the youngsters S Asondkar, NK Patel have failed to deliver on the tracks favoring technique.

Though Rajasthan is blessed with the likes of Yousuf Pathan, T Henderson and R Jadeja who are a delight to watch when in flow but have so far made no impact.

Bowling has always been the strength of Rajasthan Royals. They have the likes of sensational Kaamran Khan, A Mascarenhas, S African T Henderson and Munaf Patel.

Whereas invincible Delhi Dare Devils have displayed their nerves of steel and are unbeaten so far in the tournament. Devils began their previous IPL campaign with style but their performance nose dived as the tournament progressed and will try hard to carry forward their winning streak.

Dare Devils are blessed with the likes of  G Gambhir, V Sehwag and AB Devillers whose  maiden century of  IPL season Two against Chennai Super Kings kept the team in winning momentum. T Dilshan has proved to be the best buy for Delhi and is a delight to watch capable of doing wonders with both bat and cherry.

Daniel Vettori has been the key to dare Devils Success in South Africa supported by Y Mahesh, AM Salvi and P Sangwan.

Delhi is a perfectly balanced side and will be the favorites against Rajasthan Royals who will go all guns into the game as it would decide their fate in the tournament.

2008- Not an Australian Year

They were a literal nightmare for all the cricketing nations for a decade, but in 12 Tests of 2008, Australia had 23 players revolving, among them six were spinners, same number of debutants inching into the side, four openers, two all-rounders fighting mini battles for a place to keep Australia on that magical No.1 spot.

Add to this the changing world, a series of retirements, personal troubles, the 2008 could be termed simply not an Australian year.    

Green and gold still remains the dominant color in the cricketing rainbow, but once the brightest, Australian glory is fading away as the other green of South Africa and blue of India shines in the dawn of New Year which could also mark a new cricketing era.

Ricky Ponting and co. could eventually be dethroned from their top position as South Africa looks to defeat them in home series and away in 2009.

The retirement of legends hit hard on Australian Test cricket. Australia had to go into 2008 without the likes of Glenn McGrath and Shane Warne and it became visible when India dusted them in the last edition of Border-Gavaskar Trophy in subcontinent, where Australian bowlers proved ineffective as Indian batters piled runs.

The 2-0 lost to India was the biggest Australia received in 20 years and could be a flash point in the changing cricketing order.

The series was someway healing touch to India following drama in last summer series in Australia which became the most controversial since Bodyline summer 75 years before.

India almost returned home in awake of Monekegate scandal in Sydney Test during which Harbhajan Singh was accused of racially abusing Andrew Symonds.

India fought against the charges and Harbhajan’s suspension was cleared finally with lesser charges and truce was declared between cricket’s biggest rivals.

India won the following Perth Test, but a draw in Adelaide earned Australia a 2-1 win in a series which was bitterly fought and gave Adam Gilchrist a victorious farewell.

Gilchrist vacuum behind the wickets was filled by Brad Haddin, but around the same time the two spin retirements caught Australia in blues.

The unexpected retirement of Brad Hogg and Stuart MacGill by the halfway point of the year left Australia without a recognized Test spinner and further complicated the search to fill the Shane Warne shoes.

Beau Casson made an interesting debut in Caribbean where Australia won the series 2-0, but was overlooked during the India tour.

The side went with Bryce McGain to India but he returned injured without a game that made space for Cameron White who played all four Tests with a little impact and Jason Krejza took 12 wickets in a crazy debut when he finally played in the last Test in Nagpur.

But Australia continued with its spinning ways during the home series against New Zealand and Nathan Hauritz got his Test selection after four years when Krejza suffered injury.

Gone for fishing incident caused Symonds loose his place for the Indian tour where Shane Watson gave some nice performances. Symonds was called back during the home series against New Zealand which Australia won 2-0.

Apart from the shifts in ever changing bowling lineup, Australia swapped four openers as Matthew Hayden, Phil Jaques, Simon Katich and Chris Rogers, all got chances because of injuries to rivals.

It was Katich, who ended 2008 on high with a refreshed look, but it will be Hayden whose future will continue to catch eye as his form continues to see slum.

Ponting, Clarke and Mike Hussey still hold the batting, but it was Haddin’s maiden Test century in Adelaide which sealed a 2-0 win over New Zealand.

Though, Indian experience showed Australia doesn’t have bench strength about which they bluffed in past, Mitchell Johnson and Brett Lee largely had good years.

Their success in one-day arena continued, except when it mattered most; They lost the finals of the home tri-series to India, which was a follow-up to England’s surprise win in 2007.

It is not just the longer version which is seeing the new shades of green and gold: Shaun Marsh, Watson and Luke Ronchi are going to give more hope for Australia in the changing times where their supremacy is being challenged from all quarters.