Some of the best Australian cricketers, including Brett Lee, will be in action when New South Wales take on Victoria Bushrangers in the first semifinal.
The might of the Australians is admired by cricket fans around the world. It is no surprise to see crowds throng venues like the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium to see them in action, especially against the Indians, who now have a certain rivalry with the world champions.
But seeing such an encounter, as part of a one-day series later this month is one thing, and to expect spectators to enjoy two teams from Australia slug it out for a place in the final of the inaugural Champions League is another.
New South Wales (NSW) and Victoria are known to enjoy a rivalry in most walks of life back home and Twenty20 cricket is no different. NSW, traditionally the bread basket of Aussie cricket, are the T20 champions, but Victoria won the title thrice in succession before the last edition.
Both teams have players capable of turning matches on their head in international cricket and even seeing the potential of the talented Trinidad and Tobago side, these two teams looked deserving finalists. But after Delhi Daredevils’ last-ditch win over Cape Cobras, they now face each other a stage earlier, that too on a pitch that is likely to see the ball hit timber more often than reaching the colourful stands.
NSW skipper Simon Katich was not too optimistic about the way the game was likely to go on the morrow.
“The match will be a low-scoring one because the earlier matches have shown that the bowlers call the shots on this pitch,” said Katich, whose team packs more punch with the presence of eight centrally contracted players and nine who have played in India before.
They also have some batsmen in fine form. Left-handed Phil Hughes is the highest run getter in the tournament so far with 164 in four innings, while David Warner is at fourth position with 140 in as many outings.
Skipper Katich too has been among the runs; Brett Lee and Stuart Clark lead a potent bowling combination, while they are backed by all-rounder Moises Henriques.
For the Victorians, captain Cameron White and Brad Hodge have been among the runs while Andrew McDonald and Clint McKay have done well with the ball, but like their compatriots, they lost a match (to Cape Cobras) and will have to be agile if they want to keep intact their reputation as a top T20 side.
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