Warner says mammoth IPL scores won’t be replicated at World Cup

AFP | New Delhi     

The Daily Tribune – www.newsofbahrain.com

Australia’s David Warner says the T20 World Cup in the United States and West Indies will not see the same mammoth scores built on flat pitches in this year’s Indian Premier League.

The current edition of the world’s richest cricket tournament has seen monumental totals, including Sunrisers Hyderabad twice breaking IPL records with 277 and 287.

Warner’s Delhi Capitals were at the receiving end of another run-fest when Hyderabad posted 266-7 at the weekend, courtesy of a 32-ball 89 by fellow Australian Travis Head. But veteran opening batsman Warner said the pitches in the West Indies will have something for the bowlers when T20’s showpiece global event begins on June 1.

“They can be slower and they’re gonna turn a bit,” Warner, 37, told reporters, leaning on his experience in the Caribbean Premier League. “The wickets tend to get a little bit lower and slower.” Australian batters Head and up-and-coming Jake FraserMcGurk have scored at strikerates of 216 and up to pummel the opposition IPL bowlers.

Warner has not been at his best with 167 runs for the season so far at a strike-rate of 135.77, but he said the anchor role will be key in the West Indies. “Even when we played there in the 2010 World Cup, the pitches weren’t high-scoring,” he said. “That’s when you did need an anchor, someone like Mike Hussey came out and scored runs for us.

He had to come and sort of knock it around.” Warner added: “It’s gonna be completely different there. Add the natural elements as well. They’re going to be predominantly day games, I think, because of the timings. So that plays a big factor.”