Hero Caribbean Premier League 2015 Preview Friday, 19 June :51

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1 Friday 19 th June 2015 Kingston, Jamaica: Excitement is reaching fever pitch in the Caribbean on the eve of the Hero Caribbean Premier League (CPL). The third installment of the Biggest Party in Sport promises to be the most explosive and competitive edition to date, with some of the biggest names in world cricket joining the Caribbean s own world class players, as well as exciting up-and-coming local talent. The competition starts on Saturday night at the Kensington Oval with a repeat of last year s final, defending champions, Barbados Tridents, hosting Guyana Amazon Warriors. The Tridents open the tournament with three more home games, squaring off against Jamaica Tallawahs (23 rd June), Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel (25 th June) and CPL new boys, St Kitts & Nevis Patriots (27 th June). The other team enjoying home advantage in Week One will be the St Lucia Zouks, and Beausejour Stadium will be rocking as they host the Red Steel (21 st June), Patriots (24 th June), Amazon Warriors (26 th June) and Tallawahs (28 th June). 1 / 8

2 With thirty of the thirty-three matches taking place under lights, 2015 will mark a return to the night-time matches that made the CPL such a breakout success in the first season. The floodlit matches will help create the unrivalled atmosphere that has seen the CPL earn the name The Biggest Party in Sport, as the most passionate and knowledgeable fans in the world enjoy the action on and off the pitch. Fans have been given an even greater reason to be at the games this year with the CPL s recently announced Catch a Million competition, the biggest ever sports promotion in the Caribbean. The first fan at every match who catches a six, one-handed, will earn US $1000 on the spot, as well as the chance to go to Trinidad for the final. If they catch another six, one-handed, in the final, they will be presented with US$1 million! The teams: Barbados Tridents Last year: Champions Coach: Robin Singh Ambassador: Desmond Haynes 2 / 8

3 Captain: Kieron Pollard Key players: Dwayne Smith, Shoaib Malik, Ravi Rampaul, Jason Holder, Jeevan Mendis. Unibet odds: 5.5 The defending champions are sticking with their winning formula. The Tridents have retained the core of their successful team from last year, and the side boasts a wealth of experience at crucial positions, with Smith and Malik at the top of the order, Pollard and Holder providing big hits and crucial wickets, and Rampaul as the strike bowler. This team has a knack of performing well under pressure, and with four home games to start with at a packed Kensington Oval, the Tridents will hope to get on a roll from day one. Guyana Amazon Warriors Last year: Runners-up Coach: Carl Hooper Assistant: Sir Curtly Ambrose 3 / 8

4 Captain: Denesh Ramdin Key players: Sunil Narine, Lendl Simmons, Brad Hodge, Shiv Chanderpaul, Devendra Bishoo. Unibet Odds: 4.5 Beaten finalists in the first two CPL tournaments, the Amazon Warriors will be desperate to go one better this year. The side welcomes a new coach in West Indies legend, Carl Hooper, and the team is likely to be built around the eve-consistent Simmons at the top of the order, and wicket-taking spin bowling from Narine, Bishoo and Veerasammy Permaul. The Warriors have been hit by international call-ups, with Tillakaratne Dilshan and Thisara Perera both leaving mid-tournament, but with Umar Akmal and David Wiese waiting in the wings, the side has lined up excellent replacements. Jamaica Tallawahs Last year: Semi final Coach: Junior Bennett Assistants: Mark O Donnell, Courtney Walsh 4 / 8

5 Captain: Chris Gayle Key players: Andre Russell, Mahela Jayawardena, Daniel Vettori, Jerome Taylor, Krishmar Santokie. Unibet Odds: 3.0 Winners of the inaugural CPL, the Tallawahs are favourites again this year after strengthening their side in the draft. Jayawardena and Chris Lynn provide experience in the middle order, and the addition of the CPL s leading wicket taker, Santokie, could be a masterstroke. Vettori and Nikita Miller are a canny spin-bowling duo, but the real X-Factor comes in the shape of captain Gayle and IPL MVP, Russell, who are both capable of winning games single-handedly. St Kitts & Nevis Patriots Last year: N/A Coach: Eric Simons Captain: Marlon Samuels Key players: Shahid Afridi, Martin Guptill, Sohail Tanvir, Sheldon Cottrell, Carlos Brathwaite. 5 / 8

6 Unibet Odds: 10.0 The CPL new boys caused a stir at the draft, selecting Boom Boom Afridi with the first pick, and snapping up a host of top performers from other franchises, with Guptill, Tanvir and Evin Lewis all joining the Patriots having impressed in The exciting Patriots squad, led by Samuels, will no doubt provide excitement for the St Kitts & Nevis fans, who will be out in force to support the team in its maiden campaign. St Lucia Zouks Last year: 5 th Coach: Stuart Williams Ambassador: Sir Andy Roberts Captain: Darren Sammy Key players: Kevin Pietersen, Ross Taylor, Andre Fletcher, Kemar Roach, Shannon Gabriel. 6 / 8

7 Unibet odds: could be the year of the Zouks. After two disappointing campaigns, the side has strengthened in all departments, and will hope to make the most of passionate home support in their first four matches. Scoring runs shouldn t be a problem, with Pietersen and Taylor joined by Fletcher, Sammy, Henry Davids and Johnson Charles, while the bowling resources look very strong, with three West Indies quick bowlers and quality international spinners in the squad. Trinidad & Tobago Red Steel Last year: Semi finals Coach: Simon Helmot Captain: Dwayne Bravo Key players: Jacques Kallis, Darren Bravo, Samuel Badree, Kevon Cooper, Kamran Akmal. Unibet odds: / 8

8 The Red Steel come into 2015 with a well-balanced side packed with experience. Legendary South African, Jacques Kallis, is a massive signing for the franchise, while Dwayne Bravo, leading wicket taker in this year s IPL, will lead from the front again. Spin bowling is a strength, with Badree and Sulieman Benn joined by Johan Botha, while Darren Bravo, Akmal and Cameron Delport will hope to contribute runs. With the semifinals and final held at Queen s Park Oval, the Red Steel will fancy their chances of winning CPL 2015 on home soil. 8 / 8