In a candid recognition of their pathetic run this IPL season, Chennai Super Kings head coach Stephen Fleming said they deserve to end up at the bottom of the table, but promised to come back with “strong ideas”. One of the most consistent parties in the popular competition, five-time champions CSK will end behind Rajasthan Royals to whom they lost on Tuesday with six wickets in their penultimate IPL collision this season.
It is not an idea that cricket fans are used to considering CSK's enormous success in the past.
“No, we clearly do not like to be here, but it is not a motivation. We just wanted a good performance. We try to string some versions together. The goal was two good performance (in the last two games).
“Now it will be a good to end. It is probably appropriate that we are at the bottom. We have played that kind of cricket, so you can't hide it,” said Fleming after the game.
The New Zealander said they know their way ahead and that the failure of batters of top order played a huge role in the normal run.
“Our order is not good at this stage, and that is something that we always want to rearrange. We have a number of strong ideas for next year, so all those facets are covered. But that was not possible this year due to the lack of runs at the top.
“Many of the striking positions are determined by how well we have a start, and then boys can fall in line. We have not had that. So we just have innings, instead of building good innings,” he explained the reason behind the miserable run.
Pacer Anshul Kamboj has succeeded in impressing this season with his pace and Fleming feels that he will be a good asset to India after his selection in one side for the English tour.
“His speeds have been around 138, 139 (KPH). He is deceptive and the ball always seems to be harder to get the gloves. His great strength is his height and he just wiggles the ball. You saw that today on a fairly flat wicket and he will do well on that tour (from England) if he gets the circumstances a little swing.
“He will be an absolute handful of. He has a real potential with both white and red ball. We are happy with his development and the chance he has entered this year.” The former Kiwi captain also spoke strongly about Pacer Matheesha Pathirana, but said the Lankaan should improve further.
“We have high expectations of him, that's why we have retained him. But he comes back in a form. He was really out of shape. He has made improvements, but it is still not where we or he would like. So there is some room for him to get a shape and get some confidence. But he is just at those intersections where Batsmen play him better.” In his last 10 IPL matches, he succeeded in 10 wickets and became Wicketless in Five Contest.
“They have seen more of him. So now he just has to come down to what he has to do to be just as effective as what he has been for the first part of his career. It's a unique skills, but it's a bit finished,” he said.
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