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Watson fancies Blues’ chances

CHENNAI — His own poor batting form in the recent series in Sri Lanka notwithstanding, Australian all-rounder Shane Watson believes that his team, New South Wales Blues, have sufficient ammunition to gun down the Cape Cobras when the two meet in the Champions League T20 game here Saturday.

Watson, who has enjoyed fair amount of success during his stint with the Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League, asserted that the experience along with those of a couple of other seniors will stand the Blues in good stead.

“I have played a lot in the sub-continent, especially India, and have had a quite a bit of success. I have played in Chennai as well with some good performances here. This is my first Twenty20 game for NSW, so I am excited,” said Watson at a Media conference here Friday.

“We are very lucky to have a lot of young talent coming through as well as some experienced guys like Stuart Clarke, Simon Katich and myself. I think it is a brilliant mix.

“NSW continue to produce outstanding young players and you will all see Mitchell Starc, Josh Hazlewood and also Pat Cummins parade their stuff for the world to see. They are very, very talented, as well as Phil Hughes and David Warner.”

On Mumbai Indians being allowed to have five foreign players in their playing eleven, Watson preferred to get on with it rather than mull over the decision.

“They have been permitted five (overseas) players, so obviously, they (the rules) have been (bent), because they are not allowed to do that in the IPL. But luckily, that is the decision the Champions League board has made and provides the Mumbai team with another overseas option which obviously helps them out.

“However, the decision that has been made and we always knew playing Mumbai was going to be an extremely competitive game. I have played them for the past four years in the IPL and they are always going to be a very strong team no matter whether they have got four overseas (players) or five. So it is going to be a very tough game no matter what,” he said.

Meanwhile, Cape Cobras’ fast bowler, Charl Langeveldt believed that his team had a good chance against the Blues considering that the pitch had a bit of grass on it.

“It is very different here. The previous time I played in India, I bowled a different length in Bangalore, and a different length in Chennai. We have a bit of grass here, so we think it might help us a bit,” he said. Langeveldt pointed out that since the Cobras played in the 2009 edition that was held in India, that experience would help them a great deal this time around.

“The guys have learned a lot. They know the crowds, they are used to the conditions now, and I would say they are a lot more experienced now.

“We are called as the underdogs, which is a good thing,” said Langeveldt.