Buchanan says Oz openers are the weak link in ODI series against Proteas

Bloemfontein (South Africa), Apr.8 (ANI): Former Australian cricket team coach John Buchanan believes that the openers are the weak link in the ongoing one-day series against the South Africans.

The Kolkata Knight Riders coach is in Bloemfontein preparing for the second edition of the Indian Premier League that gets underway from April 18.

Buchanan believes the team owed its dominance of several years to the opening partnership of Adam Gilchrist and Matthew Hayden.

Both batsmen, who in 114 games together put on partnerships of more than 50 on 43 occasions and topped 100 runs 16 times, recently retired from international cricket.

They had a real presence. The one would step up if the other was not at his best, he said.

That gave Ricky Ponting, Michael Hussey and Michael Clarke a lot more freedom when they came in.

Michael Clarke and Brad Haddin, who opened the batting in the first two one-day internationals against the Proteas, have not impressed as yet.

Haddin, who was exceptional against the Proteas Down Under, admitted on Tuesday that he had been disappointing in South Africa.

The start your team gets off to against the new ball is particularly important in South Africa, he said.

Our top order, but Michael and I in particular, should accept responsibility for our struggles in Centurion.

The Aussies were dismissed for only 131 in the second game after Wayne Parnell and Dale Steyn ripped wreaked havoc in the first 10 overs.

Proteas coach Mickey Arthur believes that whoever wins this game, will have one hand on the trophy. (ANI)

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IPL 2 - Andrew Flintoff to sply on Indians

England all-rounder Andrew Flintoff believes the Indian Premier League would provide him the opportunity to spy on his opposition, including Indian players, which will come handy during his side's ICC World Twenty20 campaign in June.

"The Twenty20 World Cup is going to be huge and international Twenty20 cricket is going to become bigger and bigger," Flintoff was quoted as saying in the 'Guardian'.

"While I'm out there I'll be watching the likes of Dhoni, who has played a lot of it, and Hayden who had a good IPL last year. I will be speaking to a few of the Indian guys and see if I can pick their brains," he added.

With the upcoming Ashes series in July, Flintoff feels he has to be a little cautious as not to give away any secrets.

"I think you'll find players helping each other out and talking to each other, but the flip side of that is that other sides have England team-mates so you have to be a bit cautious about what you're saying.’’


"Ultimately, it's all about playing for England and by passing on a bit of information about one of your players could be to the detriment of this team and that's something you can't do," he said.

Flintoff, who was bought by the Chennai Super Kings at USD 1.5 million and will feature in the Twenty20 tournament starting on April 18, said the IPL stint will help him to stay at the peak of his game.

"It's been frustrating with the hip injury, thigh injury and getting hit on the thumb just before the end of the tour of the West Indies and I think the IPL will be good for me.’’

"There are a few people putting it down but keeping playing should help me out a lot. When I stop and start is when my body is at its most vulnerable.’’

"I know I'm only bowling four overs a game, but it will give me a chance to work on my game in between games going into a Test series and I will be working with top facilities out in South Africa."

Flintoff will play only seven matches before reporting back in England on May 1 for the tough summer ahead, which includes Test and ODI series against West Indies, the ICC World Twenty20, the Ashes series and a seven-match ODI series against Australia.

"It is a long schedule and everyone is looking forward to the Ashes and making sure everyone is fit for that but I've stressed all along that we have to perform in all the games we're playing," said Flintoff.

"From my point of view, although it's been frustrating I've had four or five weeks when I've not played because I've been injured so I'm probably fresher than a lot of the lads.’

IPL would be a success - Shilpa Shetty

Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty believes that IPL matches are going to be a success. The actress co-owns Indian Premier League (IPL) team Rajasthan Royals.

The second edition of IPL is taking place in South Africa. The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) decided to shift the Twenty20 tournament outside the country after state governments failed to assure security for the event that clashed with general elections.

Last year’s winning team, Rajasthan Royals will kick off the series with a match against Bangalore Royal Challengers at Newlands, Cape Town April 18 and the 33-year-old actress also admitted to undergoing pressure to maintain the winning streak.

Shilpa posted on her blog on board a flight to Cape Town, “Kudos to the South African government and South Africa cricket body who have welcomed us with open arms and I am really hopeful after attending the Australia vs South Africa Pro T20 Match on Friday, seeing the huge cricket fan base there, I am sure that the IPL will be hugely successful.”

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