RCB aim to derail CSK's aspiration

Royal Challengers Bangalore are in ominous form after their clinical show against Rajasthan Royals.© BCCI

Royal Challengers Bangalore have a batting line-up that is the envy of Indian Premier League (IPL). There is power, flair, brilliance and exuberance in their batting. It is baffling that this team has failed to achieve anything substantial other than two losses in the finals of IPL. In IPL 2015, this team is looking in great shape and they will be determined to reach the top of the mountain.

Chennai Super Kings, though, are a team who have the experience and skill to win the crunch games. They know how to raise their game on the big stage. They may have suffered a loss to Mumbai Indians in the first qualifier, but that will make them fiercely determined to put one over their southern rivals in the second qualifier.

Royal Challengers Bangalore will be aware that they are currently at the receiving end of a three-match losing streak against Chennai Super Kings. With confidence high after their clinical show against Rajasthan Royals, Royal Challengers Bangalore will go all-out to break their streak.

Venue: JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi

Date: May 22, 2015

Time: 20:00 IST

Weather: Clear skies with a low of 27 degrees

Team news

Chennai Super Kings

The death bowling plans went awry in the qualifier against Mumbai Indians. After a disciplined start, the bowlers leaked 101 runs in the last 10 overs and this is an area that MS Dhoni will have to strengthen ahead of the clash. With the batting depth of Royal Challengers Bangalore, the team will have to bowl really well if they are to contain them. Chennai Super Kings have plenty of options in the bowling department but they might want to boost their pace attack and thus bring in Ishwar Pandey for Pawan Negi.

Probable XI

1 Dwayne Smith, 2 Michael Hussey, 3 Faf du Plessis, 4 Suresh Raina, 5 MS Dhoni (c and wk), 6 Dwayne Bravo, 7 Ravindra Jadeja, 8 R Ashwin, 9 Pawan Negi/Ishwar Pandey, 10 Mohit Sharma, 11 Ashish Nehra

Royal Challengers Bangalore

The power of Chris Gayle, the versatility of Virat Kohli and the genius of AB de Villiers, combined with the raw aggression of Mandeep Singh and Sarfaraz Khan, makes the team's batting look complete. However, their tendency to crack under pressure is well documented and they will be aware that on the big stage, they will have to curb their tendency to choke. With the team composition in good shape, they might not make any changes.

Probable XI

1 Chris Gayle, 2 Virat Kohli (c), 3 AB de Villiers, 4 Mandeep Singh, 5 Dinesh Karthik (wk), 6 Sarfaraz Khan, 7 David Wiese, 8 Mitchell Starc, 9 Harshal Patel, 10 Yuzvendra Chahal, 11 Sreenath Aravind

Quotes

"We have played better cricket than previous seasons. In 2013, we did not qualify and that hurt." - Royal Challengers Bangalore skipper Virat Kohli says the team is determined to do well in IPL 2015.

"We have always done well with our back to the wall, so that's what we can go to Ranchi with". - Chennai Super Kings skipper MS Dhoni highlights the determination of his team.

Stats

* AB de Villiers has a strike-rate of 158.29, the best in the Royal Challengers Bangalore team. He also needs nine sixes to reach the 100-sixes mark in IPL.
* In their last encounter in Ranchi during IPL 2014, Royal Challengers Bangalore won a close match by five wickets against Chennai Super Kings.

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England seek positive start to summer against resurgent New Zealand

Alastair Cook and Paul Farbrace have a task on their hands to lift England from their string of poor performances © Getty

As the football season in England dwindles to a finish, the focus of the British Isles will shift to the impending three-month summer of cricket that will culminate with the all-important Ashes series. But before England can shift their focus to Australia, Brendon McCullum and his resurgent New Zealand side pay a visit for a two-match Test series that begins with a Test at Lord's.

England, shrouded in the aftermath of another long-drawn out controversy involving Kevin Pietersen's snubbing, have to bounce back quickly following a below-par show in the Caribbean last month. The two Tests however offer them a chance to put the latest of management relatedfiascoesbehind them as they look to prepare for sterner tests ahead.

New Zealand's Test side have enjoyed a renaissance of sorts in the last 15-months and are unbeaten in six series, a stark contrast to the team that was dismissed 2-0 the last time they were in England in 2013. After recording their best ever year of Test cricket in 2014, Brendon McCullum and Co. arrive on English shores on the back of a home series win over Sri Lanka followed by a run to the final of the World Cup. If ever there was a chance to pip England in England, it is now.

Venue: Lord's Cricket Ground, London
Date: May 21, 2015
Time: 10:00 GMT, 15:30 IST
Weather: Partly Cloudy, with a high of 21 degree Celsius and a 30% chance of rain
Team News:
England:

Having named only a 12-man squad for the Test match, England's selection of the playing eleven should be fairly straightforward. Following Jonathan Trott's retirement, Yorkshire opener Adam Lyth will open the batting with Alastair Cook. Durham seamer Mark Wood may however have to wait for his debut if England stick with Chris Jordan and Ben Stokes.

Probable XI: Alastair Cook (c), Adam Lyth, Gary Ballance, Ian Bell, Joe Root, Moeen Ali, Ben Stokes, Jos Butler (wk), Chris Jordan, Stuart Broad, James Anderson

New Zealand:

The Black Caps have several players jetting in straight from the IPL. Despite missing out on warm-up games, the new ball attack of Tim Southee and Trent Boult will find the muggy conditions in England to their advantage. Coach Mike Hesson mentioned earlier in the week that both pace-bowling all-rounder Corey Anderson and off-spinner Mark Craig will play. Matt Henry's performance in the tour warm-up may help him just pip Doug Bracewell and Neil Wagner. Martin Guptill's 150 against Worcester has added to Hesson's selection quandary for he'd have to sit out one of Tom Latham or Hamish Rutherford to make place for Guptill.

Probable XI: Tom Latham, Hamish Rutherford, Kane Williamson, Ross Taylor, Brendon McCullum (c), Corey Anderson, BJ Watling (wk), Mark Craig, Matt Henry, Tim Southee, Trent Boult

Stats and Trivia:
- New Zealand have won only four Tests in 52 attempts in England

- This will be New Zealand's 100th Test against England since the first match in Christchurch in 1930.

Quotes:

"It's a completely different format, there has been a lot of cricket since. They are a dangerous side in their own conditions and leading into a big summer for them they'll want to start on the right note."

- Tim Southee on what he'll carry forward from his spell of 7/31 against England in the World Cup.

"We are going to have to be brave, take the odd gamble here and there, and if we play good cricket, we can start changing people's opinions on the team and start getting people talking about cricket again, which is what we all play for."

- Ian Bell on the upcoming summer of Test cricket amidst another Kevin Pietersen controversy.

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Defender Becomes First Chelsea Player To Leave This Summer

Chelsea FC

George Brady wasn’t the biggest signing Chelsea made from Ligue 1 in the summer 2012, but he still arrived with a decent bit of fanfare for a 15-year-old.  He even got a blurb from the Daily Mail!  He was also 6’4″ already, so in a way, he was actually pretty big.

That’s Michael Emenalo on the right.  He’s 6’1″.

Brady, a center back, was a mainstay of the Chelsea U18s a year later and was rewarded with his first professional deal last summer.  But this season he had only made 10 appearances while battling a few injuries, and earlier on Saturday, U18 manager Joe Edwards confirmed that Brady has left the club.

There’s no further hint of how or why this decision was made, but good luck to George in his future career!

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