South Australian Redbacks: Gamechangers: Cricketnext

New Delhi: The Redbacks is a team that doesn't rely on star power as some of their fancied opponents, especially ones from India. But one man who can intimidate the rival camp to a spine-chilling limit is Shaun Tait – arguably the world’s fastest bowler at present by a mile.

His fellow teammates may have unfamiliar countenance but their forte of late has been consistency in the Twenyty20 format. While Daniel Harris led the team's batting chart in the second-best finish in KFC Twenty20 Big Bash, Shaun Tait and all-rounder Aaron O’Brien were the highest wicket-takers for the Redbacks.

The recall of Callum Ferguson – who has done enough in the ODI format – is undoubtedly a value addition to a team that will lock horns with the world's best. Batsman Michael Klinger has replaced Manou as Redbacks' skipper and is expected to lead from the front having scored 886 first-class runs at 63.28 in 2009-10, following his 1203 runs in 2008-09.

The disappointment for the South Australians may be the absence of team's trump card in the Big Bash – hard-hitting Caribbean all-rounder Kieron Pollard. The Redbacks won't have his services at their disposal as the giant exterminator will be on duty for the Mumbai Indians who bought him for a record price ($ 750,000), making him the costliest player in IPL's history.

But it could well turn out to be an opportunity for homespun players like Cullen Bailey, Cameron Borgas and Chris Duval to cement their place in the team for the upcoming domestic season Down Under.

But if one is asked to handpick three men who could play a defining role in how long Redbacks last in the Champions League, then it would undoubtedly be Shaun Tait, Callum Ferguson and promising all-rounder Daniel Christian who has represented Australia in T20s.

Having said that, the nature of T20s is such that one player suddenly ups the ante that stumps your predictions and makes them look asinine. The truth of the matter is that viewers should ready themselves to get flummoxed by the unpredictable nature of game's ultra-limited format, Twenty20.

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#Michael Klinger