Knight Riders have multiple match winners in their roster.
Trinbago Knight Riders
2021: Losing the semi-finalists
Best XI:Tim Seifert, Tion Webster/Leonardo Julien, Colin Munro, Nicholas Pooran, Kieron Pollard, Andre Russell, Akeal Hosein, Sunil Narine, Mahesh Theekshana, Jayden Seales, Anderson Phillip/Ali Khan
The Knight Riders pulled off a coup of sorts when they bought Russell from the Tallawahs and Pooran from the Warriors as part of their pre-draft signings. This strong core needed to be replenished in the main draft, but it was here that the Knight Riders faltered to an extent that has prevented them from becoming the all-conquering force that everyone feared they could be. The Knight Riders opted to buy back the foreign players who had previously featured for them and stuck with Trinidad & Tobago players only to round out their local squad.
They struggled to get off to a strong start in the first half of last season, and things aren’t looking too rosy this time either with no real bankers at the top of the order to fill Lendl Simmons’ shoes. Seifert, who has played in the middle order throughout his CPL career, could be pushed to open the innings, a role he did fairly successfully for New Zealand in the Internationals. The top order may lack firepower, but in Pooran, Munro, Russell and Pollard, they have the strongest middle order in the competition on paper. In Narine, Theekshana and Hosein, they have a quality international attack and with their last six league matches and the Play Offs to be hosted at the friendly tracks of Trinidad and Guyana, the trio is expected to play a big role. The pace attack is relatively inexperienced in comparison, which is a weakness that sticks out like a sore thumb for this side.
Forecast: Despite the obvious scratches, the Knight Riders are extremely strong in their areas of strength and have multiple match-winners in their roster who can turn a game on its head by themselves. Hot favorites to add a possible fifth silverware to an already glittering trophy cabinet.
Saint Kitts and Nevis Patriots
2021:championship
Best XI:Evin Lewis, Andre Fletcher, Dewald Brevis, Darren Bravo, Sherfane Rutherford, Dominic Drakes, Dwayne Bravo, Dwaine Pretorius, Wanindu Hasaranga, Sheldon Cottrell, Jon-Russ Jaggesar
The reigning champions have retained much of the core that won them the title last season. The big change is at the top of the order where Fletcher has replaced Chris Gayle and the other notable new addition is that of Hasaranga in place of Fawad Ahmed. Fletcher and Lewis are one of the competition’s best opening pairs, but question marks remain over the form and fitness of the latter, whose only appearance at a major event since the T20 WC last year came in the IPL. If the openers can give them consistent starts, that middle order has the potential to go big, especially the likes of Rutherford and Pretorius who bring power in the death overs.
Hasaranga’s inclusion raises the bar a lot in the spin department, although whether SLC gives him the NOC to feature in the tournament with a World Cup looming on the immediate horizon is still under cloud. The Patriots were among the weakest bowling attack last season and would desperately need Hasaranga to play a big role. Another player to watch out for is Cottrell, who has had two indifferent seasons in the CPL and is now coming back from injury. The all-round trinity of Dwayne Bravo, Drakes and Pretorius helps to balance the side giving them depth in both the batting and bowling department.
Forecast:Unlike the Knight Riders who have multiple game-winners throughout their lineup, the Patriots will need all their pieces clicking in unison for them to successfully defend their title. Dwayne Bravo’s captaincy skills are unmatched and if he can manage his resources well, a second title is well on the cards for the Patriots.
Saint Lucia Kings
2021: The candidate
Best XI: Faf du Plessis, Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Mark Deyal, Ackeem Auguste, Tim David, David Wiese, Alzarri Joseph, Scott Kuggeleijn, Jeavor Royal, Kesrick Williams
The Kings have defied the odds in the last two editions reaching the final twice although they ended up on the wrong side of the scoreline on both occasions. Darren Sammy has taken over from Andy Flower and the Kings have managed to hang on to the core that took them to two finals. Kings were the best batting team in CPL 2021 with all three of Du Plessis, Chase and David scoring 250+ runs at strike rates above 140. All three of them are expected to carry the batting load again as the local batsmen between their make up of Charles, Deyal, and the two U-19 stars in Ackeem Auguste and Rivaldo Clarke present a fairly soft underbelly.
David and Wiese can flex their batting muscles in death passes giving them cover for a heavy anchor approach early innings. In the bowling department, Kuggeleijn – the leading wicket-taker in the Kings’ run to the CPL 2020 final – is back in the middle to lead the pace attack alongside an improved version of Alzarri. Williams and Wiese with their clever changes of pace give good warning in the latter half of the innings as the tracks start to slow down. The Kings’ spin attack is the weakest on paper, with no arm spinners in their roster (yet), something that could hurt them in the middle ends. The same can be said about the bench strength, most of whom are yet to feature in T20 cricket at all.
Forecast:The Kings will have to defy the odds for the third straight season. They would commit heavily to their big ticket names to counter weakness in multiple areas and take them through to the knockouts.
Guyana Amazon Warriors
2021:Losing the semi-finalists
Best XI: Paul Stirling, Hemraj Chandrapaul, Shai Hope/Junior Sinclair/Matthew Nandu, Shimron Hetmyer, Colin Ingram, Heinrich Klaasen, Romario Shepherd, Odean Smith, Keemo Paul, Tabraiz Shamsi, Gudakesh Motie/Veersamy Permaul
One of only two sides to reach the knockout stages every season of the CPL, including a record five finals appearances, but that silverware has remained elusive for the Warriors. The Warriors have lost two of their attacking mainstays in Nicholas Pooran and Brandon King from last year with both opting to return to their respective bases. On the separate side there are no Pakistan batsmen who act as anti-spin batting insurance on slow and low wickets which help in their spin-heavy bowling strategy. These tracks prioritize runs from the new ball and that’s where Paul Stirling can come in handy – he can get the Warriors out of the blocks quickly in the Powerplay.
The Warriors have loaded up the power with the likes of Shepherd and Smith, while Klaasen is the designated rotation player in the middle half. The spin attack is arguably the Warriors’ biggest strength with recently ranked T20I all-rounder Shamsi leading the pack. Tahir may have to sit out given the composition of the XI and it will be a toss-up between Motie and Permaul for the second spinner slot, while Hemraj and Stirling provide useful spin matches. Although Shepherd and Smith were between the wickets last year and the latter has been in good form with the ball recently, the Warriors’ pace attack is prone to hemorrhaging runs.
Forecast:The Warriors will play their final six league matches (as well as the four Play Off matches) in Trinidad and Guyana where the pitches are favorable for spinners and the team will be hoping to break their finals deadlock at home in Providence this time around. The last two CPL finals have been won by the home team, a trend which the Warriors would be desperate to continue.
Barbados Royals
2021: Sixth
Best XI: Quinton de Kock, Rakheem Cornwall/Teddy Bishop, Kyle Mayers, Azam Khan, David Miller, Devon Thomas, Jason Holder, Hayden Walsh, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Obed McCoy, Oshane Thomas
The 2019 CPL winners endured two poor seasons winning just six matches in the 2020 and 2021 editions, failing to qualify for the semi-finals on both occasions. This has invariably seen them undergo wholesale changes, the two main changes being Miller replacing Holder at the helm and them moving away from their heavy all-round formations. Quinton de Kock is among the best players in the competition this year and he along with Cornwall make an aggressive pairing at the top of the order and with Cornwall an effective shield against De Kock’s spin.
Azam Khan is a genuine player and he and Miller will be key for the Royals in finishing the innings at the top, an area where they were found weak last year. It has to be said though that the hitting power steadily diminishes as one moves down, especially with Devon Thomas not offering much and Holder having a very poor month with the bat. The bowling attack is built better this time with pairs like Holder and McCoy at the top and tail. Oshane Thomas has been incalculable as far as the West Indies national team is concerned and would like a strong CPL to push his case for the World Cup. Mujeeb and Hayden Walsh provide a consistent spin duo with phase agility that complements their pace attack.
Forecast:After two losing seasons, the only way for the Royals is all the way. If they find their winning formula early in the season, they have a chance to be the potential dark horses.
The Tallawahs of Jamaica
2021: The fifth
Best XI: Brandon King, Kennar Lewis, Kirk McKenzie, Shamarh Brooks, Rovman Powell, Fabian Allen, Chris Green, Migael Pretorius, Mohammad Amir, Sandeep Lamichanne, Nicholson Gordon
The Tallawahs had three mediocre seasons on the bounce finishing last in 2019, second last in 2021 and while they just sneaked into the semi-finals in 2020 despite winning just three games. The biggest news from the Tallawahs camp that made waves was that of Andre Russell leaving the franchise calling it the strangest franchise he has ever played for.
Despite Russell leaving the franchise, the Tallawahs have a strong local flavor in the form of captain Rovman Powell and new additions Brandon King and Fabian Allen. As it stands, King and Lewis make one of the best opening pairs in the competition and the Tallawahs will back the former to bring his T20I form to the CPL. Like King, captain Powell too has had two poor CPL seasons and would like to carry his T20I form into the tournament and it is these two batsmen that carry the weight of the Tallawahs’ batting. The batting line-up is dominated by the right-hander, similar to last season, making him easy prey to rotate matches. The silver lining in a poorly constructed side is a quality spin attack boasting Lamichanne, Green, Imad and Allen, which puts them in a good position towards the business end provided they don’t lose the plot in the half. first and manage to stay in contention. Amir had a great season with the new ball in 2021 and he is expected to carry the pace department with no other name in the squad.
Forecast:The Tallawahs look the weaker side on paper and if they don’t figure it out early, they’re in for another long season.
