Warriors need improvement despite winning start
Match facts
Warriors v South Australia, September 25Start time 1600 (1030 GMT)
Big Picture
After their winning start to the tournament, Warriors will not want to lose momentum in a fairly short group stage. Their victory, although thrilling, was not comprehensive and there is plenty for them to work on. With just a day to travel from the hard track in Bangalore to the slower pitch in Hyderabad, they don't have much time to strategise either.
Rusty Theron took wickets in the end overs against Royal Challengers Bangalore but Lonwabo Tsotsobe and Wayne Parnell were disappointing with the ball; and while Ashwell Prince shined with his 74, the rest of the top-order batsmen failed. Warriors are coming off a long off-season but have to step up quickly. After showing their big-match temperament in the first match, they will want to demonstrate they have the skills to match.
Warriors are up against tough opposition in South Australia, who won all their group games before losing in the semi-finals of last year's Champions League. South Australia's opening pair of captain Michael Klinger and Daniel Harris consistently provide them solid starts, they have the pace of Shaun Tait and the skill of Callum Ferguson. Having been knocked out by Warriors last year, South Australia may have some revenge to exact.
Watch out for…
There was a time, in the aftermath of the Hansie Cronje match-fixing scandal, when Nicky Boje chose not to travel to India, but now that he has, there's no doubt he has a small point to prove. Once South Africa's go-to man as a pinch hitter and containing bowler, he has faded off the scene as he nears retirement but Boje has shown he still has the desire to play and win. He is the senior-most member of the Warriors squad and will have important contributions to make on a sluggish surface in Hyderabad.
He has been labelled the fastest man in cricket but Shaun Tait has also developed a reputation for inconsistency. Still, the thought of facing him will have most batsmen a little nervous. The pitches in India do not provide the best stage for him to show off his pace and Tait will have to prove he is not a one-trick pony and introduce other elements into his game.
Team news
Warriors could well stick to the same team that beat Royal Challengers in the tournament opener. Kelly Smuts and Lyall Meyer may be competing with Justin Kreusch and Craig Thyssen for a spot in the starting XI.
South Australia have a handful of Australia stars in the line-up with Tait, Ferguson and Nathan Lyon the headliners. They also have Yorkshire's Adil Rashid in the squad, and may play three spinners if allrounder Aaron O'Brien is included.
Stats and Trivia
- Daniel Harris was the leading run-getter in the 2010-11 KFC Big Bash.
- Daniel Christian was bought by Deccan Chargers for $900,000 but averaged 17.27 with the bat and 31.81 with the ball in the 2011 IPL. His highest score was 30.
Quotes
"I think it is something a captain needs to bring. If he starts to get too emotional then the rest of the team will follow. So I try to be as calm as possible on the outside but it does not always mean I am calm on the inside."
South Australia captain Michael Klinger says his relaxed outlook is usually a façade
"It's a tough decision to move from Warriors, a franchise in which I have spent 17-18 years. It's disappointing to move out, but I will try my best to move away after helping Warriors win the title,"
South Africa stalwart Mark Boucher, who will be at Cape Cobras next season, wants to end his time with Warriors on a high note.
Firdose Moonda is ESPNcricinfo's South Africa correspondent