IPL 2021: Kane Williamson Needs More Time To Get Match Fit, Says SRH Coach Trevor Bayliss

A surprise exclusion from Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) playing XI for their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 opener was that of ex-skipper and middle-order stalwart, Kane Williamson. Williamson didn’t play SRH’s all-important first match of IPL 2021 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Chennai on Sunday (April 11) despite nailing down a spot for himself in […]
 
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IPL 2021: Kane Williamson Needs More Time To Get Match Fit, Says SRH Coach Trevor Bayliss

A surprise exclusion from Sunrisers Hyderabad’s (SRH) playing XI for their Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 opener was that of ex-skipper and middle-order stalwart, Kane Williamson.

Williamson didn’t play SRH’s all-important first match of IPL 2021 against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Chennai on Sunday (April 11) despite nailing down a spot for himself in the middle-order with consistent performances last season.

But SRH head coach Trevor Bayliss explained that leaving out Williamson and instead playing Jonny Bairstow at No.4 was purely down to the lack of the game time the former has had in recent weeks. Williamson, the New Zealand captain, didn’t take any part in the home limited-overs series versus Bangladesh due to an injury.

“We just felt that Kane needed a little bit of extra time to get match fit and a little bit more time in the nets,” Bayliss said after the match where SRH lost to KKR by 10 runs. “He would have played in place of Jonny Bairstow obviously if that had occurred. But we aren’t too perturbed about that, Jonny has been in form recently in white-ball cricket here in India. Kane will obviously come into calculations as the tournament unfolds.”

IPL 2021: Kane Williamson Needs More Time To Get Match Fit, Says SRH Coach Trevor Bayliss

SRH didn’t play middle-order stalwart Kane Williamson in their IPL 2021 opener.

SRH Looking To Reward Last Season’s Performers: Trevor Bayliss

Bairstow produced a fine half-century in the KKR encounter, scoring 55 runs off 40 balls in their eventually unsuccessful run-chase. To which, Bayliss acknowledged the player’s adaptability, albeit without confirming whether he will continue to bat No.4 or not.

IPL 2021: Kane Williamson Needs More Time To Get Match Fit, Says SRH Coach Trevor Bayliss

Bairstow has opened with distinction for SRH and England but in recent times, in order to serve the national team’s balance, the right-hander has dropped down to the middle-order. He did the same on Sunday for SRH as well in Williamson’s absence, with Wriddhiman Saha opening.

Bayliss said the idea is to reward players who played their part in helping SRH peak at the business end of the tournament last year and enter the playoffs. Saha, being one of those, was seen opening and keeping on the night for the Orange Army.

“At the moment what we wanted to do is reward the guys who finished the tournament last year,” Bayliss said. “We got off to a slow start last tournament but came back well to reach the finals (playoffs). Someone like Saha opening and batting so well in that tournament we felt we should reward the guys who finished it so well for us last year.”

“Depending on fitness and form, we know Jonny can open the batting and keep as well. It gives us options but yes he has done well for England at number 4 recently.”

At one stage in the chase, SRH needed 57 runs off 24 balls. Yet the 2016 champions didn’t send their designated power-hitter Abdul Samad up the order and instead kept the trust on all-rounder Vijay Shankar, who is more of an anchor with the bat.

Shankar struggled through his knock of 11 runs off 7 balls, whereas when Samad did get his opportunity finally, he smashed KKR spearhead Pat Cummins for a couple of massive sixes in his unbeaten 19 off 8 deliveries.

When asked if SRH regretted not having Samad play more balls, Bayliss justified Shankar batting higher up the order saying he was sent in at the time he was due to the form he had shown in the practice games leading up to IPL 2021.

“Vijay in our practice matches that we had a few days ago was our best player,” Bayliss said. “He struck the ball beautifully and made 95 in one of the games, hit a lot of the balls long way over the fence. It’s always difficult in those situations whenever you go in you have to go pretty much from the first ball you face.”

“Samad in a short space of time last IPL and this one has shown that he has a lot of talent and is a clean striker of the ball. I think as he gets more experience, he will get more opportunities,” he added.

Sunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) will next play Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) on Wednesday (April 14) in Chennai.