NEWS
Follow UsSunrisers Hyderabad (SRH) head coach Trevor Bayliss feels Kane Williamson was not match fit to play their first Indian Premier League (IPL) 2021 match of the season against Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) in Chennai. He added that it would have been Jonny Bairstow ho would have been benched had Williamson been ready to play, but is certain that the New Zealand skipper will come into calculations at some point in the tournament.
"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 in the post-match press conference after SRH lost to KKR by 10 runs on Sunday night.
"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."
Williamson scored 317 runs in 11 innings in IPL 2020 at four, while Bairstow hit 345 runs opening the innings for SRH last season. Wriddhiman Saha, who made an instant impact at the top last season was dismissed cheaply against KKR. The move worked as SRH reached the playoffs, but eventually lost to Delhi Capitals (DC) in Qualifier 2.
"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," Bayliss said.
However, Bayliss admitted that Bairstow still remains an option to open the innings if needed. "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," said the 58-year-old from Australia," the World Cup-winning coach said.
There were questions as to why Vijay Shankar batted above hard-hitting Abdul Samad when 57 were needed off the final four overs. "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," Bayliss explained
"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.
SRH next take on Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB), who won their first game against Mumbai Indians (MI), on Wednesday (April 14) in Chennai.