Know your CPL 2020 team – Trinbago Knight Riders
The Caribbean Premier League ‘s eighth season is all set to start on August 18 with Trinbago Knight Riders face against Guyana Amazon Warriors. Trinbago Knight Riders three-time champions begin as one of the favourites for the upcoming season.
In the COVID-19 pandemic scenario, they will be hosts for the whole season to restrict travel. The Trinbago Knight Riders will look to build on their success after finishing third in 2019, after winning consecutive titles in 2017 and 2018.
The side known for high-profile domestic names signed Australian leggie Fawad Ahmed, Kiwi wicketkeeper Tim Siefert and U-19 star Jayden Seales ahead of CPL’s eighth season. The draft saw them bring in all-rounder Sikandar Raza, 48-year-old Pravin Tambe and Anderson Phillip from Zimbabwe.
Squad:
Retained: M Ali Khan (ICC Americas pick), Colin Munro (Overseas), Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Sunil Narine, Darren Bravo, Akeal Hosein, Khary Pierre, Amir Jangoo, Tion Webster, Lendl Simmons
Signed: Jayden Seales, Tim Seifert (Overseas), Fawad Ahmed (Overseas)
Drafted: Anderson Phillip, Pravin Tambe (Overseas), Sikandar Raza (Overseas)
Strengths and Weaknesses
Trinbago Knight Riders are a powerhouse with batting. Simmons and Narine make a fantastic top order followed by Munro. Simmons was last season’s second-highest run-getter, and Munro unexpectedly played second fiddle (with a strike-rate of 127.62 compared to Simmons’ 150.35).
Tim Seifert is a significant addition, capable of floating in the batting order. He may also need to do the wicket-keeping parts. Skipper Pollard, the experienced Dwayne Bravo and Sikandar Raza come in as the finishers make the lower middle order ominous for TKR. Right quickly one of this season’s most formidable batting units.
They are good in spin bowling too, with the attack being led by Narine. The other spinners in the squad are Khary Pierre, Fawad Ahmed and Pravin Tambe, with Sikandar Raza the batting all-rounder who bowls spin.
The spin department is flexible with two off-spinners in Narine and Raza, two left-arm orthodox spinners in Pierre and Hosein, and two wrist spinners in Fawad and Tambe, respectively.
Nevertheless, the speed department lacks experience, and other teams may be looking to strike against TKR. Jayden Seales is only coming off the U-19 World Cup, M Ali Khan has no exposure at the top level and neither Anderson Phillip. Dwayne Bravo can handle death bowling, but in the past couple of years, he hasn’t been at his best too.
