CPL 2021 Preview: Trinbago Knight Riders, Barbados Royals look to get back on track

CPL 2021 | JT vs SLK: Jamaica's batting firepower clash with Kings' experienced troops

Jamaica Tallawahs will be up against Saint Lucia Kings in St Kitts on Friday (August 27, 2021). Both the sides will be playing their first match of the tournament. South Africa batsman Faf du Plessis who will be leading the Kings team will be back on the field after missing the action for quite some time as he had suffered concussion during the Pakistan Super League in June. “I’m really looking forward to personally getting back on the cricket field again. It’s been a long time for me, 3 months now where I haven’t been able to play, so just desperately wanting to get out there and do what I love again,” he said at the jersey launch. While St Lucia will be led by Faf who is an experienced campaigner himself, the franchise will have the services of some other prominent names as well such as Wahab Riaz and Roston Chase. Wahab will have the responsibility to lead the bowling attack while Chase’s all-round abilities can bring a lot to the table. In the first match of the tournament which was held around the same time on Thursday, the bowlers did have a slight edge against the batsmen and something of similar sorts can be expected in this clash as well. The bowlers, especially spinners might dominate the batting unit. On the other side, Jamaica Tallawahs have the finest of all-rounders, Andre Russell and Carlos Brathwaite in the ranks. A cricketing fan can never forget his knock against England in the final of World T20 in 2016 and how he just took away the game and helped the side lift the trophy. An aggressive batsman, Brathwaite can also be handy with the ball in the middle overs. Russell’s ability of striking big sixes isn’t an unusual sight for the spectators. The right-hander has unleashed such knocks on a number of occasions and the Jamaica team would be wanting him to just “stick to the basics”. Apart from his batting, Russell can also produce some positive results for his side with the ball in his hands. Match Details Match: Jamaica Tallawahs vs St Lucia Kings, Caribbean Premier League 2021 Date: August 27, 2021 (Friday) Time: 7:30 PM (IST) Venue: Warner Park, St Kitts TV: Star Sports Live Streaming: Fancode Pitch Report The track might have something on offer for the bowlers as we saw in the first clash. There is not much chance of a high-scoring game but still, if you win the toss, elect to field first and try to restrict the opposition for a lesser total. Probable XI Jamaica Tallawahs: Rovman Powell (c), Andre Russell, Carlos Brathwaite, Veerasammy Permaul, Fidel Edwards, Chadwick Walton (wk), Qais Ahmed, Chris Green, Haider Ali, Shamarh Brooks, Migael Pretorius. St Lucia Kings: Faf du Plessis (c), Andre Fletcher (wk), Rahkeem Cornwall, Tim David, Mark Deyal, Roston Chase, Obed McCoy, Usman Qadir, Wahab Riaz, Kesrick Williams, Alzarri Joseph. Fantasy XI Andre Fletcher, Faf Du Plessis, Haider Ali, Shamrah Brooks, Tim David, Andre Russell (C), Carlos Braithwaite, Roston Chase (VC), Wahab Riaz, Chris Green, Obed McCoy

Chris Cairns paralysed in legs after suffering a stroke

Former New Zealand all-rounder Chris Cairns is paralysed in his legs after suffering a stroke in his spine according to a Stuff.co.nz report. "During the life saving emergency heart surgery Chris underwent in Sydney he suffered a stroke in his spine. This has resulted in paralysis in his legs,” Cairns' lawyer Aaron Lloyd said in a statement on Friday. "As a result he will be undertaking a significant rehabilitation process at a specialist spinal hospital in Australia. Chris and his family remain appreciative of the immense public support as they deal with this difficult time,” the statement added. Cairns had undergone a surgery after a "major medical event" earlier this month in Canberra where he lives with his family now but had to be shifted to St Vincent's for another operation. The former right-handed cricketer was taken off life support last week. The all-rounder was capped 62 times in Tests, 215 times in ODIs and also played a couple of T20Is in his career. The right-hander notched up over 3300 runs and scalped 218 wickets in Test cricket. He scored 4950 runs and picked up 201 wickets in ODIs. Cairns played a crucial role in New Zealand’s winning triumph during the ICC Knockout tournament back in 2000 where the Blackcaps defeated India in the final to lift the trophy.

Matt Henry to replace Finn Allen for Bangladesh T20Is

New Zealand have called-up Matt Henry for the Bangladesh T20I series as a replacement for Finn Allen who had tested positive for Covid-19 on arrival in Dhaka. Henry was initially included in the squad that will play three ODIs and a five-match T20I series against Pakistan but will now join the side in Bangladesh as well. He will leave New Zealand on August 30. Though New Zealand have named the replacement for Allen, he will still stay with the squad and will be monitored by the team doctor Pat McHugh. "Matt's clearly not a like-for-like replacement for Finn, but he expands our selection options and, in the current circumstances, is the best equipped to join the side at such short notice," said head coach Gary Stead. "And, in the current environment, we remain mindful of the need to carefully balance player workloads," he added. "We're not prepared to risk anyone's well-being by asking them to commit to extremely long periods away from home." Henry has played 6 T20Is so far and has picked 7 wickets at an economy rate of 8.68. The T20I series between the two teams will be played between September 1 to September 10 in Dhaka. Bangladesh have been in some good form in the T20Is. They recently thumped Australia 4-1 at home.

CPL 2021 | BR vs SKNP: All-round show hands Patriots comprehensive win over Barbados

St Kitts and Nevis Patriots were off to a flying start in the CPL 2021 after they etched a comprehensive 21-run win against Barbados Royals on Friday. Chasing 176 in 20 overs, the Royals were restricted to 154/7. Barbados didn’t really have a great start to the proceedings after Patriots scalped an early wicket in the form of Glenn Philips who was sent back in the hut for 5 while the team score read 17. The Barbados side then lost wickets at regular intervals and were left tottering at 67/4 when Shai Hope was joined by Azam Khan in the middle and the two players stitched a partnership of 37 runs for the fifth wicket. Hope was later undone by Cottrell after Fabian Allen took a good catch to send him back in the hut for 44. Azam did try to score some runs at a brisk pace but the Barbados team never really made a comeback in the game and suffered a defeat eventually. Dominic Drakes and Allen were the pick of the bowlers for Patriots in this encounter. Drakes returned with figures of 2/13 in four overs while Allen picked up one wicket at the cost of 12 runs in three overs during the course. Earlier, the Patriots too had a disappointing start to the innings after they were reduced to 39/4 with the likes of Chris Gayle and Even Lewis back in the pavilion. But what unleashed next was a treat to watch. Sherfane Rutherford and captain Dwayne Bravo had a superb day at the office after the two batters struck 115 runs for the fifth wicket. Rutherford notched up a 43-ball 53 that included four maximums and a couple of boundaries while Bravo remained unbeaten at 47 off 35. Later, Allen too chipped in with a quick-fire 19* off 7 to help the side put 175/5 in 20 overs on the board. Oshane Thomas bagged three wickets for Barbados while Amir and skipper Jason Holder picked up one wicket each. Later, Bravo talked about his partnership with Rutherford. “I was just trying to play the ball on merit with a clear mind. Once we bat deep, we know we can capitalize. I will give a lot of credit to Sherfane for the way he batted,” he said after the match. Barbados skipper Holder admitted that they did give away some extra runs but also lauded Thomas for his performance with the ball. “Not a bad bowling effort. Pretty good with the new ball. Oshane Thomas was brilliant. Probably gave 20 runs too many in the end. Bravo and Sherfane batted so well. It's not a surprise to me (to see Oshane Thomas do well),” he said. Barbados will now lock horns with Trinbago Knight Riders while Patriots will play Guyana Amazon Warriors on Saturday.