The defending champs: Heroes geared up for another big hit

HYDERABAD: This Friday the Nawabs of Hyderabad will be itching for another release. It will be first day first show as the Hyderabad Heroes take the field against a strong Lahore Badshahs in the inaugural match of the Twenty20 tournament of ICLs Season 2 at the Lal Bahadur Stadium.
In April, the Heroes stunned one and all by pulling off an emphatic 2-0 victory over the Badshahs in the finals of the Edelweiss 20s Challenge on this very ground.None had given the Heroes a chance of even making the semifinals but once they got into the groove things began to take shape.
"It was a dream run for us. We were a bit late to get off the block but once we warmed up to the task, the team responded well to the challenges," said Heroes coach Steve Rixon.
The Australian, however, realizes that things will be different this time around. "Competition is bound to get even more intense and there will be pressure on the players as expectations are going to be quite high. Last time, we were not a team to reckon with but now all the others will be eager to score over us," he said.
"There are a couple of areas we will need to improve if we plan to have our nose ahead of the others. We need to just get even better than what we were in the last tournament," Rixon added. "Last time we did the basic things correct and even now the emphasis is on continuing the good work. Consistency will be a major factor."
"AT Rayudu, Ibrahim Khaleel, Stuart Binny, IS Reddy and Alfred Absolom were some of the young players who impressed last time. The young players did a tremendous job and I am sure they will be keyed up for further glory," Rixon said.
Rixon is looking to give the other players a chance this time. "Some of them didn���t get to play much but we are hoping to see them in action. "Medium-pacers Kaushik Reddy and Shahabuddin are bowling really well and hitting the right areas. Leggie PS Niranjan is turning out to be quite a handful. The bowling looks pretty good as is the fielding."
With star all-rounder Abdul Razzaq of Pakistan leading from the front, the Heroes have quite a number of match winners in their ranks. Australian Jimmy Maher is an asset at the top. "Maher is a tremendous player and was able to give us some very good starts last time. He is a hard-working player and means business," said captain Chris Harris.
With South Africans Nicky Boje and Justin Kemp able to make it count with both bat and all, Harris couldn���t ask from a better side. "It is always a wonderful feeling when the team is winning. The key to our success was in the number of players who could bat as well as bowl," Harris said.
An all-round team, the Heroes will take the field bearing the heavy cross of expectations. It remains to be seen how they will fare this time around.