Champions Twenty20 League....Better The Devils You Know
By Bigjoe

Commences Thursday 8th October.
British Eurosport 2

Thursday see's the start of this inaugural tournament that brings together the domestic Twenty20 winners and runners up from around the globe.

Champions Twenty20 League Fixtures

Date and Time	Match
Oct 8 14:30 GMT	Royal Challengers Bangalore v Cape Cobras - M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
Oct 9 10:30 GMT	Eagles v New South Wales Feroz - Shah Kotla, Delhi
Oct 9 14:30 GMT	Delhi Daredevils v Victoria Feroz - Shah Kotla, Delhi
Oct 10 10:30 GMT	Cape Cobras v Otago Rajiv - Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad
Oct 10 14:30 GMT	Deccan Chargers v Somerset Rajiv - Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad
Oct 11 10:30 GMT	New South Wales v Sussex Feroz - Shah Kotla, Delhi
Oct 11 14:30 GMT	Delhi Daredevils v Wayamba Feroz - Shah Kotla, Delhi
Oct 12 10:30 GMT	Somerset v Trinidad & Tobago - M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
Oct 12 14:30 GMT	Royal Challengers Bangalore v Otago - M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
Oct 13 10:30 GMT	Victoria v Wayamba Feroz - Shah Kotla, Delhi
Oct 13 14:30 GMT	Eagles v Sussex Feroz - Shah Kotla, Delhi
Oct 14 14:30 GMT	Deccan Chargers v Trinidad & Tobago - Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad
Oct 15 14:30 GMT	TBC v TBC (C1 v D2) - M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
Oct 1610:30 GMT	TBC v TBC (A2 v B2) - Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad
Oct 1614:30 GMT	TBC v TBC (A1 v B1) - Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad
Oct 17 10:30 GMT	TBC v TBC (C2 v D2) - M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
Oct 17 14:30 GMT	TBC v TBC (C1 v D1) - M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bangalore
Oct 18 10:30 GMT	TBC v TBC (A2 v B1) - Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad
Oct 18 14:30 GMT	TBC v TBC (A1 v B2) - Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad
Oct 19 14:30 GMT	TBC v TBC (C2 v D1) - Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
Oct 21 14:30 GMT	TBC v TBC (Winner B v Runner up A) - Feroz Shah Kotla, Delhi
Oct 22 14:30 GMT	TBC v TBC (Winner A v Runner up B) - Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad
Oct 23 14:30 GMT	Final - TBC v TBC - Rajiv Gandhi International Stadium, Uppal, Hyderabad

Somerset and Sussex represent the English contingent. Australia sends over New South Wales and Victoria. South Africa is represented by Cape Cobra and Eagles. Otago fly the flag for New Zealand. Trinidad and Tobago carry the hopes of the West Indies. Wayamba hail from Sri Lanka and the lineup is completed by the winners this years IPL, The Deccan Chargers, runners up Bangalore Royal Challengers and losing Semi Finalists, Delhi Daredevils.

Quite a few unfamiliar names there, and I believe this tournament will be a case of better the devils we know. In particular the Delhi Darevils we know.

The crucial factor here could be experience of playing in the conditions and pitches in India. The three IPL teams have vast experience on these pitches, they have players that will not need time to acclimatise and this gives them a big advantage.

Of those three IPL teams, Delhi Darevils appeal to me most. They have an unbelievable pool of talent to choose from, they have batsmen and bowlers that are ideal for this short format of the game. Though they have looked

The "pacey" Dirk Nannes

formidable in the early stages of the two editions of the IPL so far, they have underperformed at the Semi Finals and gone out both timers at that stage. I believe this time they can dominate and go all the way.

On the batting front they have Gambhir and Sehwag at the top of the order. The middle and late order consists off the explosive pairing of Dilshan and De Villiers, backed up by Kartik, Shah and Collingwood. This has to be the best collective batting lineup in the tournament.

In the bowling stakes, they are just as formidable. The pace of Dirk Nannes, Sangwan and Nehra is perfectly complimented by the spin off Vettori and Mishra. This has to be one of the best balanced bowling attacks in the tournament.

Overall, I believe this Delhi Darevils side is nailed on for the final and they look the most likely winners.

Their biggest threat should come from the IPL holders Deccan Chargers.

On the batting front they will be missing the services of Gibbs who has opted to play for his local Cape Cobra’s side. However in Gilchrist, Symonds, Laxman, Styris and Rohit Sharma, they still have formidable batting firepower.

On the bowling front the pace of Fidel Edward, Vaas and RP Singh is backed up the the class spinner Pragyan Ojha. The balance of this bowling attack proved crucial in their IPL success earlier this year, and I believe they will once again reach the final, but may find the Delhi Daredevils too strong and the runners up spot is the likely outcome.

Royal Challengers Bangalore, the other IPL team in this tournament also posses a wealth of talent. Kallis, Dravid, Taylor, Boucher and Uttapah represents a very strong batting lineup, however I feel they are a bit low on class bowling with only Dale Steyn and Kumble being the best. They could make the semi finals, but cannot see them getting further then that.

Of the other teams, Cape Cobra’s, New South Wales and Victoria come with big reputations. Both are capable of putting in big performances bit I fear the conditions and the slow pitches will prove to be their downfall.

Somerset and Sussex will, in effect, find the jump from facing domestic class opposition to international class a bit too steep and I cannot see either making it past the first stages.

 Another team that looks interesting on paper is Wayamba from Sri Lanka. Jayawardne and Mendis are in their ranks, however I feel they too will struggle to make a mark in this tournament.

Ok so what are the bets?

I am confident that this tournament will be dominated by the Delhi Daredevils and Deccan Chargers, and that they will contest the final. I suggest a main bet on Delhi Daredevils, with a smaller saver bet on Deccan Chargers.

I will also be recommending small stakes in both the tournament top bowler and top batsmen markets.

As top bat, I like the chances of Gautam Gambhir. He will be opening the batting for Delhi Daredevils and has been in great form in last year.

 As top bowler, I like the look of Ashish Nehra who has been in great form since his return to the Indian side. He has been impressive in the IPL and I can see him going well in this tournament.

Therefore my suggested bets are:

In The Outright Market:

BACK Delhi Daredevils for 5 points @ 7.0 at Stan James, Corals

BACK Deccan Chargers for 3 points @ 7.5 at Corals

In The Tournament Top Batsman Market:

BACK Gautam Gambhir for 1 point @ 21.0 at Stan James

In The Tournament Top Bowler Market:

BACK Ashish Nehra for 1 point @ 23.0 at Stan James

Join me, I really do believe this will be a case of better the devils you know.