A day when Morkel spoiled the Aussie party

It is the maximum presence of one country,apart from India,recorded in the four seasons of the IPL

The Delhi Daredevils versus Kings XI Punjab marks a special occasion in IPL history,and not just for being the 200th match of the tournament. This game featured seven Australian players,out of a possible eight foreigners allowed by the rule. It is the maximum presence of one country,apart from India,recorded in the four seasons of the IPL. So who ensured that it wasnt eight out of eight Aussies on the field? South Africas Morne Morkel.

Srinath sees green

Match referee Javagal Srinath walked up in great earnest to have a look at the Ferozeshah Kotla pitch on Saturday. Over the last two days,had heard a lot about the Kotla going green and the former Indian fast bowler couldnt resist having a first hand feel of it. Srinath then took a stroll along the length of the pitch,enjoying every inch of grass on the wicket,before involving himself in a long and happy conversation with curator Venkat Sundaram. Srinath reckons he hasnt seen a pitch so green during his playing days,especially not at the Kotla. With the Punjab quicks still not managing to extract the juice off it,Srinath surely would have

fancied himself against Sehwag and Warner in this format.

Rich vs poor

While most IPL matches are billed to be contests between two equals,Saturdays match featured an interesting twist a match-up between Irfan Pathan and Paul Valthaty,most out of form bowler and most in form batsman. Expectedly,Valthaty had a go at Pathan,clubbing him for two sixes in an over but on a wicket that was expected to be different and more conducive to seam bowlers,Pathan had the last laugh,bowling seven dot balls to him and eventually getting him to hole out at covers for just 14 from ten balls. Incidentally,Valthatys battle with Pathan ensured that he didnt get to face Morne Morkel during his brief stay at the crease,a contest that would have been more apt for this surface.

Aarons day out

Varun Aaron carefully marked his run-up twice over,before taking the liquid cement to paint his initials at the top of his bowling mark. Aarons IPL debut had generated plenty of interest but the Jharkhand bowler began badly,bowling too short to Shaun Marsh and giving away 13 runs in his first over. Until then,Aaron fastest was 143 kmph,struggling with a bad knee on the field. But his big moment came soon after,when he uprooted dangerman Adam Gilchrists middle stump. Coming to bowl at one change,Aaron finished with an unflattering 4-03-6-1,but clocking well over 145 kmph,the talent had taken a good look at his future for the first time.