The defending champions owe a great deal of their success to the performance of local players... a factor that has made them one of the most popular teams
The defending champions owe a great deal of their success to the performance of local players... a factor that has made them one of the most popular teams
MUMBAI: It was a nail biting win for the Chris Harris-led Hyderabad Heroes over Lahore Badshahs last season. They won the second of the best-of-three-finals via bowl-out to claim the title.
But to be defending champions is no mean feat. It takes a lot as their batting mainstay Ambati Rayudu explains: “The confidence is higher this time but we cannot afford to be over confident. Rayudu had amassed 369 runs last season — the leading run-getter for Heroes.
With the second edition about to begin on Friday, Ambati says that the team is a lot fitter and better prepared than the last season. His views are echoed by all-rounder Alfred Absolom. “For last one month we have been training intensively and I have never felt fitter,” says Absolom. He promises that the Heroes would definitely come out with
more intensity and will be the one to beat.
Skipper Chris Harris too sounds confident. He attributes their success to the important role played by the local recruits. “It is good to see them coming out so well, it only adds to our relief,” says Harris. Their star foreign recruit, Justin Kemp, also feels that the energy of their young players has made all the difference.
Harris mentions the role of Stuart Binny in particular. Stuart, son of Roger Binny, is also an all-rounder and in ICL he already has scored 228 runs and bagged nine wickets. Kemp is impressed with the coaches’ work ethic too.
“Steve has been tremendous with the lads and especially the ‘keeper has come out well under his guidance,” says Kemp.
“Whenever we have been down, one man stood up… That made all the difference and that is why we are a strong unit,” explains Absolom.For the likes of Absolom, Rayudu and Stuart, it is the work ethic and professionalism of the international stars which has helped them come a long way. “Their approach to the game is so different and contagious,” says Absolom.
One of the main reasons for Heroes success is that they bat down. With captain Harris coming in at seven, their first match against last time runners-up Lahore Badshahs promises to be yet another cracker.
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