Victoria is one of the strong favourites to win the inaugural Champions League Twenty20 cricket tournament. 3-time champion of Australian domestic Twenty20 tournament is the strong favourite but lack of spin power amd experience may dampen their chances in the tournament. They lost only in a single match in the 13 games they played over 3 years in the domestic T20 tournament.
Victoria Bushrangers will play in Group A along with Chennai Super Kings, Nashua Titans and Middlesex. According to my estimates, Victoria will easily reach semi-finals in the Champions League Cricket. Victoria will play their first 2 matches in Mumbai and the other match in Chennai. We have to see how these young Victoria pace bowlers like Dirk Nannes and Siddle will attack Mathew Hayden and Michael Hussey when they will play against Chennai Super Kings in Mumbai.
Victoria has the most suitable Twenty20 players in both bowling and batting departments which augurs well for their fortunes. Brad Hodge, Cameroon White and David Hussey have the experience of playing in sub-continent when they played in Indian Premier League 2008. David Hussey played wonderful innings in that tournament. He is arguably the most underrated player in IPL 2008. He chipped in with beautiful knocks under unfavourable conditions for Kolkata Knight Riders. Brad Hodge is a big failure in IPL but a huge success in the Australian and England domestic T20 tournaments.
Concern: Their young pacers have little experience in playing under Indian conditions but all are superb Twenty20 bowlers. Dirk Nannes, and Peter Siddle are exciting players to watch out for.
First match: Against Middlesex in Mumbai on December 3rd.
Victoria Bushrangers squad: 6 players in the 15-member squad have international experience.
Coach: Greg Shipperd. He coached Delhi Daredevils in the Indian Premier League.
Captain: Cameroon White
T20 Squad: Brad Hodge, David Hussey, Aiden Blizzard, Adam Crosthwaite (Wicket keeper), Dirk Nannes, Peter Siddle, John Hastings, Aaron Finch, Shane Harwood, Andrew McDonald, Clinton McKay, Darren Pattinson, Robert Quiney and Matthew Wade.
Do you know? Victoria is the home state of Shane Warne. Warne bowled many superb spells for Victoria in domestic Australian tournaments.
Statistics: David Hussey scored second fastest century in domestic cricket in just 60 balls.
Latest news: TEN Network secured the Australian rights to broadcast the Champions League Twenty20 cricket tournament in India.
Victoria matches in the Champions League:
1. December 3rd: Vs Middlesex in Mumbai.
2. December 4th: Vs Chennai Super Kings in Mumbai. Crucial match in Group B.
3. December 6th: Vs Nashua Titans in Chennai.
Please share your views on the prospects of Victoria Bushrangers.
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