Highest Score In IPL

Highest Score In IPL

Delhi Daredevil pacer Morne Morkel indulged in a bit of play acting after failing to negotiate a rising ball at nets. He lay motionless on the practice pitch for about a minute, only to spring to his feet with a big smile on his face. Not just Morkel, any pacer on eve of the Daredevils vs Kings XI game — to be played on a greenish track at Ferozeshah Kotla — would have been in that kind of mood. The suddenly climbing ball that Morkel was done in by was a reminder to him about the favourable conditions that he would enjoy on Saturday.


And it was that Morkel smile that makes the weekend game unique. Though, the anticipated showdown on Saturday pits the in-form King's XI openers Adam Gilchrist and Paul Valthaty against the off-colour Delhi pace attack, Morkel & Co won’t be pushovers. The green tinge to the pitch has evened out the contest. The bowlers wouldn't be cannon fodder nor will the batsmen be flat-pitch bullies. The closely cropped grass and generous rolling has ensured that the batsmen no longer have to merely come in line of the ball and swing the bat to get their runs.
With the bowlers expecting to step it up, the batting skills will come under test. And for once sticking to the coaching manual would be the best way to deal with this new-found T20 situation. On the other hand, the bowlers too have to ensure that they don't get carried away because of the conditions. Delhi will hope that their pacer will utilise the conditions better and negate the top heavy Kings XI batting. Coach Greg Shipperd says that getting early wickets will be vital. “It will be huge challenge for our bowlers and its important to get both the openers out early as they are in form. Their partnership is as dangerous as Sehwag and Warner and it will be interesting for the spectators to watch how the two bowling units deal with them,” he said.
Delhi is expected to play Varun Aaron, the 21-year-old pacer who hit the headlines by bowling 150 kph plus during a Deodhar Trophy game earlier this year. Aaron will have a perfect launch pad to live up to the hype that is being generated around him. Old hand Ajit Agarkar might also make it to the playing XI with Umesh Yadav and Ashok Dinda expected to be on the bench. In the Ryan duo — Harris and McLaren — the visitors too have a potent pace attack but the Delhi bowling attack seems better suited for the green track.


Delhi's Aaron Finch admits that playing T20 on a bouncy track wasn't common. “It's a challenge to play on a track like this. It will provide a laugh for the faster bowlers. I think tomorrow it will be difficult for a batsman if the bowlers get it right. Batsmen will try to play themselves in and look to cash in later,” says Finch.
Sources: http://www.indianexpress.com

Highest Score In IPL