Picking a combined Washington Freedom-Texas Super Kings playing XI for MLC 2024 ft. Glenn Maxwell, Faf du Plessis
Washington Freedom take on Texas Super Kings (TSK) at Church Street Park in Morrisville, USA, in a match in the Major League Cricket 2024 on Monday, July 8. While the Super Kings were beaten by LA Knight Riders by 12 runs in their opening encounter of this tournament, the Freedom won theirs by four runs against MI New York via the DLS method.
When these two teams meet each other in this game, fireworks are expected to be set off as they are both favorites to win it. TSK may not have got off to a good start in this tournament, but they have a blistering squad at their disposal.
The Freedom too have seen a complete upheaval in their squad for this season, with Ricky Ponting coming in as coach and Steve Smith as captain. They look well set to aim for the title this year.
We pick a combined playing XI from both teams here:
TOP ORDER: Devon Conway, Travis Head and Faf du Plessis
The top order of this combined XI ought to be made up of Devon Conway, Travis Head and Faf du Plessis - the latter will also lead this side.
If Conway and Head do not open as they are both southpaws, du Plessis can be slotted right at the top, with the Kiwi coming in at number three.
Head and du Plessis will make a fine opening pair, with both of them vying with each other for bragging rights in who can hit the ball harder.
Conway, who opened his account in this season's MLC with 53 in the first game, will be keen on coming in at number three and consolidating the innings.
MIDDLE ORDER: Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis
This side will have a brilliant (and brutal, if we say so) middle order comprising three Australians - Steve Smith, Glenn Maxwell and Marcus Stoinis.
Smith will be expected to come in at number four and rotate the strike with confidence while hitting the odd boundary as and when the opportunity comes up.
The likes of Maxwell and Stoinis have merely one task allotted to them: to hit the ball as far as possible and to make the opposition bowlers pay.
These two have immense muscle power for hitting the ball out of stadiums and destroying the line and lengths of the best bowlers across the world.
WICKETKEEPER: Andries Gous
Andries Gous, who impressed all of us with his stellar showing for the USA in the recently concluded ICC Men's T20 World Cup, will take up the wicketkeeping gloves in this game.
While Conway too can be expected to keep, he is not a regular 'keeper, and is usually asked to don the gloves when a specialist 'keeper is not around.
This time, Gous will be expected to keep and bat at number seven although he is a top-order batter by trade; there is simply no room for him at the top in this side.
BOWLERS: Akeal Hosein, Lockie Ferguson, Saurabh Netravalkar and Naveen-ul-Haq
The bowling unit of this side comprises of Akeal Hosein, Lockie Ferguson, Saurabh Netravalkar and Naveen-ul-Haq.
While Hosein is the sole spinner in the side, he will be expected to chip in with the new ball inside the powerplay.
Netravalkar and Ferguson too will be expected to bowl inside the powerplay, with Naveen saving himself for the death when he can come in with his piercing yorkers.
This bowling attack seems like one that can breathe fire at the best batters in the world, and being led by their skipper du Plessis will give them a lot of confidence.