After 30 incredible matches, the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) is set to enter its semi-final stage, with table-toppers Trinbago Knight Riders taking on Jamaica Tallawahs and the Guyana Amazon Warriors battling St. Lucia Zouks for a place in the final.

With some of the sport’s finest players in action, we take a look at five players who could prove to be the difference in the semis:

Kieron Pollard �?Trinbago Knight Riders

Skipper Kieron Pollard has led the Trinbago Knight Riders brilliantly this campaign, as the tournament favourites recorded 10 victories in 10 outings in the group stage.

Pollard has taken a back seat and allowed the Knight Riders�?incredible batting line-up to flourish. However, the captain has been brilliant when called upon, having scored 207 in just seven innings at an incredible average of 51.75 and a scarcely believable strike rate of 204.95.

Pollard has hit 20 sixes, averaging just under three per innings - the most by any player in the CPL this season. The 33-year-old has proven himself to be one of the best big-game players in T20 history and it would come as no surprise if Pollard delivers a match-winning performance in the semi-final.

Andre Russell �?Jamaica Tallawahs

Speaking of match-winners, few would argue that all-rounder Andre Russell is the most dangerous opponent to play against in T20s.

Like Pollard, Russell has batted just seven times this season and scored 220 runs at an average of 55, the best of any batsman during this year's tournament.

Russell’s incredible strike rate of 144.73 is bettered only by Pollard and Sunil Narine (150.53), proving yet again why he’s been touted as one of the deadliest batsmen in T20 cricket.

The 32-year-old has also picked up four wickets despite bowling just 11 overs this season with an economy rate of 8.18, illustrating that he can deal damage with the ball in his hands too.

The Tallawahs barely scraped through to the semi-finals, however. But having made it here, they’ll be hopeful that their talisman can guide them past the only undefeated team in the CPL this season.

Imran Tahir �?Guyana Amazon Warriors

Veteran spinner Imran Tahir is ageing like fine wine and has been one of the best bowlers in the CPL this season.

The eccentric South African has picked up 15 wickets in 10 matches at an economy rate of just 5.51. Tahir also boasts of a tremendous average of 14.33 and a strike rate of just 15.6.

The 41-year-old is level on 15 wickets alongside Afghanistan’s Mujeeb Ur Rahman as the leading wicket-taker in the CPL this season and few would bet against the spinner finishing on top of the wickets chart come the end of the season.

Scott Kuggeleijn -  St. Lucia Zouks

In a season that has been thoroughly dominated by spinners, New Zealand’s Scott Kuggeleijn has been the league’s best pacer, with 14 wickets, just one fewer than Tahir and Mujeeb, who lead the league with 15.

The 28-year-old has a respectable economy rate of 7.95 and a tremendous strike rate of just 12 this season for the Zouks.

Alongside Kesrick Williams, Kuggeleijn has formed the most potent bowling tandem in the CPL this season and the duo, along with spinner Mohammad Nabi, hold the key to the Zouks�?success in the semi-final and maybe even beyond.

Darren Bravo �?Trinbago Knight Riders

After losing Sunil Narine to injury, the Knight Riders needed one of their batsmen to fill in for Narine’s contribution with the bat and veteran Darren Bravo has played that role to perfection, scoring 239 runs, the third-highest tally in the league.

The 31-year-old has batted eight times this season and boasts of a terrific average of 47.80. While his strike rate of 113.27 is rather lacklustre for the format, Bravo makes up with consistency in what he lacks as a power-hitter for the Knight Riders.

Bravo has been thoroughly reliable this season and the tournament-favourites will be expecting the 31-year-old to continue his form in the semi-final as well.

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Feature image courtesy: Facebook / @CarnivalT20

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author's and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SportsAdda

As expected, the 2020 Caribbean Premier League (CPL) matches have been action-packed and thrilling to watch. Batsmen have entertained with lusty blows and quick-fire knocks, while the bowlers have more than held their own and even got the better of the men with the bat in hand on a few occasions. With CPL 2020 now entering its second week of action, here are few players worth keeping an eye on between now and the end of the season.

Roston Chase

Roston Chase has been enjoying himself with both bat and ball in the 2020 CPL. The all-rounder from Barbados has scored two fifties in St Lucia Zouks�?first four matches of the season and is one of the reasons behind his team being in the current top two in the standings. Chase has also contributed with the ball with his 3-for-12 from four overs against St Kitts and Nevis Patriots proving to be crucial for their win in that match. Second on the leaderboard for most runs so far this season, Chase’s 66 in St Lucia Zouks�?last outing against Guyana Amazon Warriors turned out to be a Player of the Match performance and helped his team to another win.

Colin Munro

After missing out following an explosive start during league leaders Trinbago Knight Riders�?first match of the season, Colin Munro showed that he’s in fine form in their next two games.

The South Africa-born New Zealand international cricketer sits third in the current leaderboard for most runs in the CPL this season and will be looking to continue with his power-packed displays after an unbeaten 49 and a 30-ball 50 in his last two innings. Player of the Match in the Knight Riders�?last game, he’s hit more fours (13) than any other player and currently boasts the best average (58) among batsmen this season.

Darren Bravo

Another Trinbago Knight Riders batsman who is having a decent season and looks likely to continue in similar fashion is Darren Bravo. The elegant left-hand batsman gave us a glimpse of what he’s capable of during his unbeaten 36-ball 54 that helped the Knight Riders win their last game. A powerful striker of the ball who can tailor his game according to match situations, Darren is averaging 49 in CPL 2020 and has been making the opposition bowlers toil after getting his eye in. Only Jason Holder (8) and Glenn Phillips (7) have hit more maximums than his six sixes so far.

Scott Kuggeleijn

Among the wickets in all four of St Lucia Zouks�?games this season, Scott Kuggeleijn presently tops the wicket-taking charts in CPL 2020 with 10 scalps to his name. The right-arm fast-medium bowler was particularly impressive in his last two outings, taking a four and three-wicket hauls during wins for the Zouks. His spell of 4-for-33 during the Zouks�?win over St Kitts and Nevis Patriots is only bettered by Keemo Paul in as far as best bowling displays this season go. Kuggeleijn’s strike-rate of 9.10 is the best by a bowler thus far.

Imran Tahir

The veteran spinner has always been a difficult player to keep out of action when the ball is in his hand and the South African legend continues to prove his worth to the team with his performances on the field. Among the wickets in each of Guyana Amazon Warriors�?matches this season, Imran Tahir is second in the leaderboard for most wickets, having accounted for eight scalps from four games this year. His best performance came in a losing effort when his 3-for-22 against the Zouks went in vain. Tahir, though, will be pleased with his own individual performances and will fancy his chance of picking up more wickets as the season progresses.

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Feature image courtesy: Facebook / @WindiesCricket

Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author's and do not necessarily reflect the official policy or position of SportsAdda.

Aussie pace legend and SportsAdda brand ambassador Brett Lee is as excited as the rest of us for the eighth season of the Caribbean Premier League (CPL) to get underway on August 18 to mark the return of T20 cricket at the franchise level.

To that end, 'Binga' pegged Trinbago Knight Riders, Jamaica Tallawahs, Barbados Tridents and Guyana Amazon Warriors to make it to the top four and among them, he picked the Knight Riders to stand tallest when the Caribbean dust settles.

With Brett having made his choice, we do a brief analysis of the Knight Riders as they attempt to go one better over last year and clinch a record fourth CPL title.

The Knight Riders are three-time CPL champions, having won it in 2015, 2017 and 2018, while finishing either third or fourth in the other seasons, and have yet to ever miss reaching the qualifiers.

And this year's Kieron Pollard-led squad is quite a potent one as well, thanks to the rich talent laced within the team.

Players such as Dwayne Bravo, Kieron Pollard, Lendl Simmons, Sunil Narine, Colin Munro, Tim Seifert, Darren Bravo and Sikandar Raza are all highly accomplished in the shortest format.

Darren Simmons was the second-highest scorer last season, picking up 430 runs from 12 matches at an enviable strike-rate of 150, while skipper Pollard was the fifth-highest run-getter with 349 from 12 matches at 58.16, at a formidable strike-rate of 159.36.

Their bowling attack could prove to be their undoing though, as Sunil Narine, who Brett picked as one of his two top wicket-takers, and to some extent, Dwayne Bravo, are the only ones that can be considered genuine threats.

However, new to the CPL this year and no doubt drawing considerable subcontinental support will be leg-spinner Pravin Tambe, who became the first Indian player to be signed up by a CPL team.

Pravin Tambe joins the @TKRiders for the 2020 season. How important can the veteran leggie be for the Knight Riders? #CPLDraft

Watch the draft show - http://t.co/VWl1E7iuNo pic.twitter.com/JLCddgE3ym

�?CPL T20 (@CPL) July 6, 2020

The 48-year-old veteran has played for IPL teams Rajasthan Royals, Gujarat Lions and Sunrisers Hyderabad and had even secured a contract for IPL 2020 with Kolkata Knight Riders. However, he was disqualified by the IPL's governing council for participating in the T10 league in the UAE. No doubt the Knight Riders will be counting on Tambe to impart some crucial variety into their bowling attack.

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Feature image courtesy: Facebook / @TrinbagoKnightRiders

Veteran batsman Darren Bravo was among three West Indies cricketers to turn down a place in the squad for next month's three-Test tour of England, Cricket West Indies (CWI) announced on Wednesday.

Also missing out are fellow batsman Shimron Hetmyer and fast-bowling all-rounder Keemo Paul.

"Darren Bravo, Shimron Hetmyer and Keemo Paul all declined the invitation to travel to England for the tour and CWI fully respects their decision to choose to do so," CWI said in a statement.

"As previously stated, CWI will not hold this decision against these players when considering future selection."

Jason Holder will skipper a 14-man squad that features two newcomers in fast bowler Chemar Holder (no relation) and middle-order batsman Nkrumah Bonner. 

The squad also includes Shai Hope, who during the West Indies' 2017 Test match win at Headingley became the first batsman to score hundreds in both innings of a first-class match at Yorkshire's headquarters.

This year's three back-to-back Tests, rescheduled because of the outbreak, which the UK government says has claimed at least 39,000 lives in Britain, will be played behind closed doors.

Read | West Indies approve England Test tour, but players to take 50% pay cut

But a series that will span just 21 days remains subject to final approval from the UK government.

The touring party, who will all be tested for the disease this week, are scheduled to fly to England on private charters on June 8.

The West Indies squad will live, train and play in a "bio-secure" environment during the seven weeks of the tour, as part of the comprehensive medical plan to ensure player and staff safety, CWI said.

- Unfamiliar environment -

As the health protocols will restrict movement in and out of the venues, the selectors have also named 11 reserve players who will travel to train and help prepare the Test squad, while ensuring injury replacements are readily available.

"The new cricketing environment will take some getting used to," said CWI chief selector Roger Harper.

"However, being in England and working together for four weeks before the first Test will give the squad the opportunity to get acclimatised and hopefully, mentally and technically adjusted to the demands of the new environment."

Harper, himself a former Test off-spinner, added: "I think we have a squad that will be very competitive. 

#EngvWI West Indies Squad to defend Wisden Trophy in England

For more info on schedule, reserve players and bio-secure conditions, click below:http://t.co/mwjrBZSeYp#MenInMaroon pic.twitter.com/TyWsC4Yw77

�?Windies Cricket (@windiescricket) June 3, 2020

"More than half of the squad were involved in the victorious Test series against England in the Caribbean last year so they will bring that experience, that knowledge and belief with them and marry it to the enthusiasm and vitality of the newcomers."

Going ahead with major matches is seen as vital in reducing the virus's financial impact upon cricket, with the England and Wales Cricket Board estimating it could lose £252 million ($316 million) if there are no fixtures at all this summer.

West Indies squad

Jason Holder (capt), Jermaine Blackwood, Nkrumah Bonner, Kraigg Brathwaite, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Roston Chase, Rahkeem Cornwall, Shane Dowrich, Chemar Holder, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Raymon Reifer, Kemar Roach

Fixtures

July 8-12: 1st Test at Ageas Bowl, Southampton

July 16-20: 2nd Test at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester

July 24-28: 3rd Test at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester

Darren Bravo could play his first Test for the West Indies in over two years after the experienced top-order batsman was recalled Tuesday for next week's series opener against England in Barbados.

Bravo hasn't featured in a Test since a tour of the UAE in October 2016, but the 29-year-old returned to the international fold late last year as part of the one-day squad.

Aamir Qureshi/AFP

Fast bowler Alzarri Joseph also earned a recall ahead of the three-match series, although fellow quick Oshane Thomas was named as cover as the former continues his recovery from a stress fracture in his back.

John Campbell, a 26-year-old left-handed opener from Jamaica, received his first call-up along with the 30-year-old Shamarh Brooks, who captained the West Indies at the Under-19 World Cup in 2008.

"After a difficult Test Series in Bangladesh late last year the opportunity presents itself for our team to pick itself up," chairman of selectors Courtney Browne said.

"Although a tough series against England is anticipated, home turf has always been a place where our team has made strides."

England have won just one Test series in the Caribbean in the past 50 years, in 2004, although the West Indies were beaten 2-0 in Bangladesh at the end of last year.

"With the return of Darren Bravo, who will add value to a batting department, we expect to see marked improvement," Browne added.

"Young, exciting, fast bowler Alzarri Joseph, who was sidelined by injury, returns to the squad and Shamarh Brooks has been elevated for his solid first-class performances over the last three years.

"John Campbell the incumbent 'A' team opener, who has played first class cricket for a number of years will open the batting after a good first-class season in 2018."

Squad: Jason Holder (capt), Kraigg Brathwaite, Darren Bravo, Shamarh Brooks, John Campbell, Roston Chase, Shane Dowrich, Shannon Gabriel, Shimron Hetmyer, Shai Hope, Alzarri Joseph, Kemar Roach, Jomel Warrican, Oshane Thomas (cover for Joseph)