Shaun Tait bowls fast. He has always bowled fast. Only that, he is now aiming to bowl even faster. His four-over spells are creating excitement in his camp and upheavals in the opposition.
Struggler at the World Cup, this 28-year-old Aussie finds himself in the limelight for Rajasthan Royals in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
Brett Lee is here, too. Also bowling fast, rediscovering himself in a new team — Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). Only that, Lee is a veteran at preserving himself and having a go in short bursts. At 34, he continues to evoke awe on the circuit and that is the best tribute the Aussie can ask for.
Stars are born
It suits these players. It suits the spectators at the venue and the audience that follows them across the globe on television. These mini-battles in the middle sometimes light up the contests to give them a flattering image.
Some stars are born — T20 stars — and the stage warms up in anticipation of some more short-term individual goals to be achieved and immediate collective peaks to be scaled.
Placid pitches are welcome. Batsmen would love the one that greeted them at Mohali when Paul Valthaty batted his way to glory, flogging the bowlers, slaying them with the supreme authority of an established master.
Incredibly, he has not even played a first-class match!
Valthaty would have to wait for his duels with Tait and Lee but a young batsman, with a huge local following, would be under scrutiny on Friday when Rajasthan Royals takes on KKR.
Ashok Menaria, a left-hander with a fondness to play big, sometimes expansive shots, is waiting for his moment.
Manish Pandey, Swapnil Asnodkar, Valthaty made the most of IPL and squeezed their way into reckoning at the domestic level.
They are yet to take the next big step, but Menaria is different.
He played a major role in Rajasthan's heroic march to the Ranji Trophy title last season. IPL presents Menaria an opportunity to become part of the glamour and glitz that dominates this domestic tournament with rich international flavour.
Watson is back
Shane Watson joins Rajasthan Royals to add to the team's strength. Lee solidifies KKR's ambitions this season under Gautam Gambhir's captaincy.
The wily Shane Warne is eyeing the title again, having won it in 2008, and his captaincy continues to be the strong point of Rajasthan Royals' campaign.
KKR has a victory to show while Rajasthan Royals won both its matches in style, showing early signs of an effective combination that is keen to make an impact.
Fast bowlers would love to attain greater speed at the Sawai Man Singh Stadium but it is not always about bowling fast.
As Warne would remind you, it is a lot about thinking and planning, even if it is for a mere four overs.
Tait would remember. Equations change quickly. His second spell against Delhi Daredevils was not a patch on the first.
Praveen Kumar dictated with his first two deliveries against Chennai Super Kings and then was at the receiving end later. IPL offers overnight fame and instant excitement.
The players love it. So do their followers.
Another chapter of this extravaganza opens on Friday. The team that bats better stands a better chance to win.
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