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Indian Premier League 2010
Brad Hodge likely to open for Kolkata
Cricinfo staff
March 8, 2010
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News : Brad Hodge quits first-class cricket
Series/Tournaments:
Indian Premier League
Teams:
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| Kolkata Knight Riders
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Kolkata Knight Riders are likely to open with Australian batsman Brad Hodge in the third season of the Indian Premier League in the absence of Chris Gayle and Brendon McCullum, who will miss the early stages of the tournament due to international commitments.
"We are looking at him [Hodge] as one of the possible opening options," Kolkata coach Dav Whatmore said. "Hodgey is a fine addition to our squad. He looked good at the practice session on Sunday. Along with David Hussey, he has been one of the key players for Victoria in their Twenty20 Big Bash triumph. Also, his performance in this edition of Sheffield Shield has been really good."
Hodge scored 276 runs in four innings at an average of 69 for Victoria in the Sheffield Shield and was the fourth-highest run-scorer in the Twenty20 Big Bash with 181 in seven innings at 25.85. Though Hodge announced his retirement from first-class cricket, Whatmore said he remained a force.
There are several candidates for the role of Hodge's opening partner: Bengal batsman Manoj Tiwary, Saurashtra's Chirag Pathak are possiblities along with Sourav Ganguly. Whatmore said Hodge's success would determine whether he continued as opener once Gayle and McCullum joined the team. "If Hodgey does well at the top of the order, he will certainly continue playing at that position," Whatmore said. "I firmly believe that the person who is in form should be persisted with in a particular position."
Whatmore also said fast bowler Ishant Sharma's sessions with Wasim Akram would be of great help. "If Ishant benefits from Akram's advice, it will not only be of help for the KKR but also for the national team."
When asked if fielding was an area of concern for Kolkata, Whatmore said the team was gradually improving. "We have identified the areas we need to work upon and those areas are being addressed. It is a continuous process. Not that if we are taking catches means that we stop working hard on our fielding. We have to work hard on each and every aspect of the game."
Kolkata, having finished sixth and last in the two previous seasons, kick off their campaign against defending champions Deccan Chargers in the tournament opener on March 12 in Mumbai.
© ESPN EMEA Ltd.
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Forget everything . KKR is Going to rule this season
Posted by KhanXpress on (March 10 2010, 21:13 PM GMT)I wish Ganguly wins it for KKR this time. It has long been due that a player of Ganguly's talent get some credit for the wonderful cricketer he is. What better than winning the IPL and lifting the trophy?
Posted by TheTomTucker on (March 09 2010, 18:27 PM GMT)Last Time, we dint have have 1 things that every other successful Teams had - local talents (In terms of Aggressive batsmen). . . This season we do (G Vignesh, Pathak, Pujara). They are the answer to our prayers!!. . . But Im afraid they might be overlooked at the cost of some ordinary International Batsmen.
Posted by TheTomTucker on (March 09 2010, 18:26 PM GMT)******DONT **** ***** FORGET ***** **** G VIGNESH*****
Posted by TenRajesh on (March 09 2010, 14:39 PM GMT)KKR has got all the right combinations to be the winner, but sorely missed the team spirit last time. What KKR team need is lot of inspiration and only DADA can give it.
Posted by Vinoth_Ganguly on (March 09 2010, 11:33 AM GMT)As far as the IPL or T20 is concerned no one could judge who would emerge as the winner so its all the luck what they might have got to be a winner. I hope why should that luck should not go around KKR this time and it will... Once this IPL gets to an end you all will see the pictures of Ganguly and his Co raising the Trophy with their hands.
Posted byHi everybody... Did u remember G Vignesh.... he is in our squad... he was real superstar for Chennai Superstar in ICL.. he is a Big hitter also a decent T20 bowler... How come we forget him.. He should be in our playing X11... and can open with Hodge..
Posted by critic12345 on (March 09 2010, 01:16 AM GMT)Ganguly seems a liability to the team. But he is the captain, they have to get him in someway. Hodge was the best batsman for them last season and he is tremendous form at the moment. Manoj Tiwary , has not done anything to deserve a high value contract. He has to perform this season. I am excited at Chirag Pathak. I think he should open with Hodge.They have to bring Vignesh to Number 3 spot. He was too good in ICL,opening for Chennai based team.He is a better talent than Tiwary. My KKR XI would be Hodge,ChiragPathak,Vignesh,Ganguly,A Mathews,Tiwary,Saha, Langeveldt,I Sharma,M Karthik,Dinda. Once Gayle, Mccullum comes in, Gayle,Mccullum,Vignesh,Hodge,Ganguly,Pathak,Tiwary,Pujara, Agarkar,Langeveldt,I Sharma,M Karthik. They have some destructive players, but more often than not, they click once in a bluemoon. So KKR has to hope they get consistent performance out of them. And if Ganguly finds owefully out of form like last season, he should better watch the match from sidelines.
Posted by argkolkata on (March 08 2010, 19:52 PM GMT)i think the key holds the middle order specially players like manoj tiwary , laxmi shukla , chetaswar pujara. if they show a bit of their talent. then i think ganguly , gayle , mcculam , hodge can really concentrate on their real play. nd they can play more freely. which i think the key so keeping the fingers crossed hoping that we will go all the way this season to lift the trophy
Posted by Sachit1979 on (March 08 2010, 19:24 PM GMT)KKR is a team of so many dark horses under Dada. Anybody out of Shukla, Agarkar, Pujara could emerge as pleasant surprise for KKR. This bowling attack looks decent with Bond, Langeveldt, Agarkar, Ishant and Mendis. Iqbal Abdullah and Murli Kartik would also be good if tried. Batting also looks strong with presence of Dada, Hodge, DHussey, Pujara, Tiwary, Saha and Shukla.