Sunrisers Hyderabad head coach Trevor Bayliss reckons that Kiwi batsman Kane Williamson requires more time to get match fit. Fans and experts were surprised when Kane was not included in the first game played by SRH this season against KKR.
SunRisers Hyderabad lost to the Kolkata Knight Riders in their first game of the season. Kane Williamson, who played some significant knocks at number 4 for SRH last season, was not included in the eleven on Sunday. Clarifying his omission from the team, coach Trevor Bayliss claimed that Kane needs a little bit of extra time to get match fit.
Bayliss also claimed that in his place, Jonny Bairstow played at number 4 and performed considerably well.
“Jonny has been in form recently in white-ball cricket here in India. Kane will obviously come into calculations as the tournament unfolds,”
he said.
Bairstow, who used to open for SRH in the past has now been slotted in the middle order to provide more balance to the side. The keeper-batsman from Yorkshire now bats in the middle order in the England T20 side as well.
“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,”
Bayliss added.
The SRH coach revealed that they would continue to reward last season’s performers as they helped the side enter into the playoffs despite a slow start to the tournament.
Talking about Wriddhiman Saha, Bayliss said that someone like him who batted so well at the top last season should be rewarded and trusted this season as well.
In the final few overs in the game against KKR, SRH promoted Vijay Shankar ahead of Abdul Samad, which turned out to be a bad move. Samad delivered a few lusty blows in the final overs, but the game was already lost by then. Praising the youngster for his ability to smash the ball, Bayliss said he has a lot of talent and is a clean striker of the ball, and he will get more opportunities in the near future.
