PREVIEW:RAJASTHAN ROYALS FOR IPL 2009

 

 

Strengths
It's impossible to get away from Warne's influence on the team. The continuity resulting from having a player of his stature in charge of all on-field affairs will, once again, be a massive advantage for the Royals.

Additionally, the money spent on 20-over specialist Tyron Henderson should go a long way towards them retaining the trophy.

Weaknesses
Moving the competition from the sub-continent to South Africa may be somewhat of a concern for the Royals' Indian batsmen. In South Africa's Graeme Smith and Australian Robert Quiney, the franchise has only two specialist batsmen with significant experience on the type of fast, bouncy wickets typical to South Africa. Whether the likes of Yusuf Pathan and Mohammad Kaif will come to terms with conditions will be an important factor in the success of their team's 2009 campaign.

Likely hit
On the South African wickets where he plied his trade for so many years, Henderson is bound to impress. The 34-year-old all-rounder has become one of the 20-over game's most successful players and has been dominating batsmen and bowlers alike on the county scene for a number of seasons. His fee of a mere US$650 000 could prove to be the bargain of the tournament.

Likely Flop
It is somewhat of and understatement to say that Morne Morkel has not had a great summer. His inability to hit the areas where he is usually most effective has seen him lose his place in his country's Test and ODI teams. Unless the lanky speedster improves his control dramatically he is almost assured to have a very short stint in the Royals' first XI.

Prediction
Despite Warne's admirably pragmatic approach to the game and the addition of the potentially talismanic Henderson to a squad that already includes the likes of Graeme Smith, the South African conditions will probably be too much for the predominantly Indian middle order to cope with and predict a significantly poorer performance from the reigning champions. Also, the absence of 2008 star performers Watson and Sohail Tanvir doesn't help.