Fleming: This season is going to be very different tactically
Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming says that the 2020 season of the Indian Premier League will be like none that have come before.
Fleming believes reading the surfaces and adapting to the conditions will be crucial in this year’s IPL where there are effectively no home games.
No real home ground advantage here
Just three venues, Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah will play host to matches this year after the tournament was moved out of India with the country struggling to contain the coronavirus.
“This season is going to be very different tactically,” Fleming told the Chennai Super Kings website.
“With no real home ground advantage here, we’ve got to be very good at adapting to the conditions in each ground. We’ve got three different grounds (Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi) to assess and each ground has its own character and nuances, and we’ve just got to be good enough to pick the right team and get the right game plan to match that. It’s like every game is an away game.”
Picking the right side a challenge
Fleming conceded that a lack of preparation time will make selection for the tournament opener tricky.
The coach said it will be vital that they get the balance of the side correct and coming into the match in Abu Dhabi without having trained makes that even more challenging.
“It’s one of the challenges of having to travel to Abu Dhabi – we’ve got to have to be very good on the day to have to assess the wicket and pick the right combination,” Fleming said. “One of the big challenges for IPL teams is to get the combinations right.
“There are a lot of skillful players that make the side, but there are also a lot of skillful players that don’t. Picking the right side for the right conditions is one of the great challenges and we’ve got a good record at that. But I must admit, going to Abu Dhabi without seeing the wicket or assessing the conditions is going to be one of the big challenges to start with.”
CSK face Mumbai Indians on Saturday 19 September with the match starting at 15:00 (BST).
Latest
-
NewsBBL clubs given until the end of week to lock in extra overseas player
The Australian Cricketers' Association have dropped...
-
NewsJason Holder “disappointed” over Black Lives Matter response
England took a knee with the West Indies and Ireland but not during series against Australia and Pakistan.
-
NewsGlenn says bio-bubble experience in Derby was ‘special’
Sarah Glenn got more familiar with her homeground during the five-match T20I series against the West Indies.
-
NewsRashid Khan: Afghanistan need to play more against Test cricket’s elite
Afghanistan have played just four Tests since being granted full membership of the ICC on 22 June 2017.
-
NewsPlunkett and Malan drafted to Lanka Premier League teams
The Lanka Premier League is set to get underway on 21 November, the schedule is yet to be released but the final is set for 13 December.
-
NewsZimbabwe squad jets out for their first tour since lockdown
Zimbabwe will want to scrap for every possible point in a bid to qualify for the 2023 World Cup via the ODI Super League.
-
NewsPakistan look to youth to take on Zimbabwe in T20s
Misbah says Pakistan will not experiment in ODIs as every match counts for ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 direct qualification.
-
NewsKL Rahul defends decision to use Gayle at three
The Kings XI nearly made an almighty mess of their chase on Thursday but skipper KL Rahul saw them home in the end.
-
NewsBob Willis Trophy and County Championship to co-exist in new structure
An agreement over 2021’s first-class season has been agreed.
-
NewsEngland skipper Eoin Morgan to take over as Kolkata Knight Riders captain
Morgan had been acting as deputy to Dinesh Karthik.