Men in Blue against the Men in Blue. Faulkner and Watson

4082 days ago

#AustraliaCricketTeam, #RajasthanRoyals-RR

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Men in Blue against the Men in Blue. Faulkner and Watson

For some like Watson and Faulkner, Sawai Mansingh Stadium is like 2nd home owing to their Royals connection. It isn’t just their IPL home ground, but a place where the Watson discovered the bowler within and Faulkner unleashed his variations. Watson had played for Australian yellow since 2005, but was either good neither with bat nor with ball. It was his stint with Royals under Warne that the world saw a Bruce Wayneish batsman-ship and an effective swing bowler. Owing to injury he had to cut down his run up and focused more on the upright seam. His and Rajasthan’s fortune changed.

Faulkner had played for King XI for a season and went unnoticed. He was probably clubbed to all corners by the batsmen along with other bowlers from Kings XI. He was yet another brick in the cracking wall. But come IPL 6, we saw a much-improved James, immaculate length, precise seam movement and a well-disguised slower delivery. Owing to his success he found a spot in ODI team and then finally capped the baggy green.

While they shined with a Royal’s blue jersey, today they would be up against the men in blue. Same ground and same pavilion but different opposition this time.

So it would be the Men in Blue against the Men in Blue.