THE HIMALAYAN MAIL JAMMU Q TUESDAY Q SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 11 Australia working to allow fans Boult on the biggest challenge for Boxing Day Test vs India for players during IPL NEW DELHI:Victoria NEW DELHI:Set to the time of the year etc," the state Premier Daniel An- lead four-time champions 31-year-old said. drews on Monday said his Mumbai Indians' bowling "But I am hoping for good government is negotiating attack in absence of Lasith wickets and if good wickets with Cricket Australia and Malinga, Kiwi left-arm are on the table, then it's Tennis Australia to have pacer Trent Boult believes about being clear with what crowd attendance for the the biggest challenge for all we are trying to do as a city's iconic sports events -- the teams during the forth- bowling team. And if we put Boxing Day Test involving coming Indian Premier the ball where we want to, India and the Australian League will be to adjust to then I think we got the skills Open. the hot and humid condi- to outperform any opposi- There is speculation that tions in the UAE. tion." MCG may miss out on host- In his first stint with the Boult believes there is ing the Boxing Day Test, an Mumbai Indians after being plenty of diversity in Mum- annual highlight on the cal- traded by Delhi Capitals last bai Indians bowling unit, endar, since Victoria is reel- year, Boult will have to which is a good sign for the ing under COVID-19 pan- share bulk of the responsi- team. demic. bility of the team's bowling "I am very excited to be Victoria, which is in lock- attack after Sri Lankan Ma- part of that bowling pack. down since July, has ac- briefing. Boxing Day Test between virus numbers will be, what linga opted out of this year's There is a lot of experience counted for 75 percent of IPL due to personal rea- grees at the moment in the intimidating. So, it's going there, there is a lot of diver- cases and 90 percent of "It is too early for us to de- Australia and New Zealand. risks do we have to deal with middle of winter," Boult to be nice to be on the other termine how big any crowd With Melbourne looking in just a few weeks time, let sons. sity I suppose and there is a COVID deaths in the coun- Speaking about his new said in a video posted by end of it and be a part of group of players who have try. Australia have reported might be. We will get as a dicey venue, Adelaide is alone months," said An- Mumbai Indians on Twit- such a cool group." many people we can get seen as the front-runner for drews. association, Boult said it is performed around the more than 26000 cases and always a sigh of relief for ter. Having played some world," the New Zealand more than 800 deaths. there, provided it is safe." the Boxing Day Test against Top-flight Australian "Obviously, played for a amount of cricket in the More than eight lakh peo- India. rules football's grand finale any bowler to be on the pacer said. "We just have to work out other side of a batting- couple of other franchises, UAE, Boult believes Mum- "I am sure we will back what a safe crowd would be. ple thronged Melbourne "We don't want one event has been moved out of Mel- but I'm very excited to be bai Indians have the fire- Park for the Australian to necessarily set us back bourne for the first time heavy outfiit like Mumbai each other to do the job. It's It is too hard to say now Indians. part of this Mumbai family. power in its bowling unit to a big strength of the MI what that number is," An- Open in January and more and cause us a problem. It is ever. It will take place in Speaking from experience, I outwit any opposition in than two lakh attended the hard for us to predict where Brisbane in October. "The biggest challenge so family I think." drews said in a daily news far has been trying to pre- have played against Mum- the upcoming IPL. Defending champions pare to come to 45 degrees bai a few times and that in- "I have played a little bit Mumbai Indians will take in the middle of the desert. I timidation and that big of cricket here and I am on last year's runners-up De Villiers all praise for Kohli's captaincy come from a very small challenge you will face aware that the conditions Chennai Super Kings in the country New Zealand when you come against this can change quite drastically IPL 2020 opener on Sep- NEW DELHI:A B de always leading from the which is about 7 or 8 de- side has always been very depending on the time of tember 19 in Abu Dhabi. Villiers believes Royal Chal- front, de Villiers points out. lengers Bangalore Captain The former South Africa Virat Kohli sets the right ex- captain believes RCB have a ample by leading from the good chance of ending their IPL 2020: Are Mumbai front, adding that RCB has title drought this season. a good chance of winning its 'There is a different feel maiden IPL title season. this time, there is back-up De Villiers praises the everywhere looking at our Indians ready for an encore? BCCI for getting the IPL go- options. Virat and the ing in the UAE despite the coaches can find the best NEW DELHI:A batting Last year, he even cap- pandemic. playing XI, there are op- line-up dotted with big-hit- tained the franchise when 'I think the clarity about tions in every single depart- ters makes Mumbai Indi- Rohit was ruled out due to the IPL happening came ment, be it batting, bowling, ans a formidable outfit but injury. The imposing player one month back, more or and fielding,' asserts de Vil- the absence of quality spin- smashed magnificent 83 ners and pace veteran La- (31) as MI registered their less. BCCI has done a re- de Villiers tells Danish Sait has bought into this hard- liers. markable job in getting the RCB, the losing finalists sith Malinga could hurt highest successful run chase on Bold Diaries: AB de Vil- working environment.' their chances of defending at home. IPL going, we are very ex- liers Unplugged posted on 'The credit needs to go to in 2009, 2011 and 2016, cited to play the tourna- take on the SunRisers Hy- the title this Indian Pre- Coach Mahela Jayawar- the RCB Instagram feed. Virat. He sets the example mier League. dane, in a recent interview, ment. I am feeling better derabad in their opening 'We have worked so hard, and leads from the front. It is The team will play a ma- put his faith in Rohit's in- than ever so I am looking to game on Monday, Septem- we have a good work ethic, pretty easy to follow when jority of its matches on the stinctive leadership. He said be out there with the boys,' ber 21. it really feels like everyone you have a captain who is slow tracks of Abu Dhabi the easy-going batsman also (8) and adapting to that likes to accumulate as much challenge would be the key information as possible IPL: Royals' Miller wants to 'finish games' like Dhoni to its fortunes. about the opposition. Batting would be MI's pecially the spin depart- tion, and leg-spinner Rahul "...as long as you are pre- NEW DELHI:David myself in a category. experienced now. I know strength with skipper Ro- ment. Chahar, one of the finds of pared and you are instinc- Miller is in awe of Mahendra "We'll see how my career what I'm expected to do. hit Sharma, South African On the pace front, with last edition. tively making those calls and Singh Dhoni's finishing skills unfolds and finishes and "In the IPL I had one bad Quinton de Kock making no Malinga, who has pulled Off-spinner Jayant Ya- being proactive, that's all and the South African says then we can look back and season for Kings XI - and for a solid opening pair. out citing personal reasons, dav didn't have a great run that you can ask from him he wants to imbibe the for- sort of judge. Definitely, when I say bad season, it Additionally Australian Jasprit Bumrah will be un- in the last domestic season, and Ro (Rohit) is brilliant in mer India skipper's calm- Dhoni is one of the best fin- wasn't as good as the previ- Chris Lynn also gives them der pressure, coming back so, it remains to be seen that," the Sri Lankan great ness in high-pressure run ishers ever; he's proven it ous ones that I had. It wasn't a an option for the slot if after a lengthy injury layoff. how many games he gets had said. chases. many times. I love watching horrific season, to say the need be. He was MI's leading this season. Squad: Rohit Sharma, Miller will be playing for him play." least." The side will take on wicket-taker last season All of this might ensure Aditya Tare, Anmolpreet Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, is not oblivious to the two- Miller played only eight The 2013 edition was a Chennai Super Kings in the with 19 scalps.