Previous lessons can often lead to better results. That's one thing that we know about the Champions League — you have to go match by match.
A newer opponent can be a bigger challenge than the teams you play on a regular basis. We are determined to learn from our mistakes and do better this time around.
The Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) have a strong squad and as a team we are committed to getting the right results.
We know the IPL teams who will be tough opposition at this event and we are looking forward to some good competitive cricket from the best Twenty20 teams from around the world.
I agree with the statement Rahul Dravid made recently, that RCB know what to expect so will be better prepared for Champions League cricket.
The local expertise from our South African contingent who have experience playing on these pitches before will be an advantage. It will be interesting if I come up against the Victoria Bushrangers and the Central Stags. They are very familiar with my game, especially the Stags who I have played for eight years. I guess it goes both ways and I'm sure I have a bit of inside oil on some of the guys as well.
But cricket is a technical game and you can spend too much time analysing the opposition. My top priority is performing and giving my best in RCB's team efforts.
We have a ten-day camp in South Africa to prepare, which doesn't sound like much but with international players from all over the world it isn't easy to get everyone together earlier.
Unfortunate to lose out a berth in the Final in the series in Sri Lanka, having left New Zealand late July with the Black Caps to play three warm-up matches against Indian domestic side Maharashtra in Darwin.
This was to prepare for the One-Day tri-series in Dambulla against two of the toughest teams in international cricket — Sri Lanka and India.
So it is fair to say that by the time the Champions League rolls around I will be match fit and ready to go.
