Melbourne April 19, 2010 (www.CricketTomorrow.com)
It is difficult to predict in any form of cricket more difficult to predict in T20 cricket for the very nature of the game. But we do it. This may not be accurate. But still we do. Sometimes it works but often it does not.
The Third ICC Twenty20 World cup 2010 is set to take place in West Indies in April-May 2010. The ICC World Twenty20 2010 will be contested by 12 teams which have been 'seeded' and divided into four groups are A, B, C and D.
Group A - Pakistan ,Bangladesh and Australia
Group B - Sri Lanka ,New Zealand , and Zimbabwe
Group C - South Africa ,India and Afghanistan
Group D - West Indies ,England and Ireland
Teams in each group will play on a round-robin base with the top two sides succeeding to the Super Eight stages. In the Super Eight Stages, the groups of the Twenty20 World Cup 2010 will be made up of the following teams: (A1, B2, C1, D2) and (A2, B1, C2, D1). The fixture of super eight is:
Thu May 6 13th Match (A1 v D2) Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
Thu May 6 14th Match [C1 v B2] N/A Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
Fri May 7 15th Match [A2 v C2] Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
Fri May 7 16th Match [B1 v D1] Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
Sat May 8– 17th Match [C1 v D2] Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
Sat May 8 18th Match – [A1 v B2] Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
Sun May 9 19th Match – [C2 v D1] Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
Sun May 9 20th Match – [B1 v A2] Kensington Oval, Bridgetown, Barbados
Mon May 10 21st Match – [B2 v D2] Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia
Mon May 10 22nd Match – (A1 v C1) Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia
Tue May 11 23rd Match – [B1 v C2] Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia
Tue May 11 24th Match – [D1 v A2] Beausejour Stadium, Gros Islet, St Lucia
The ICC World Twenty20 or the ICC World T20 also called as T20 World Cup is the international championship of Twenty20 cricket. The event is organised by the sport's governing body, the International Cricket Council (ICC). The tournament consists of 12 all-male teams and is contested by all Test-playing nations plus qualifiers.
The inaugural event, the 2007 ICC World Twenty20, was staged in South Africa from 11–24 September 2007. The tournament was won by India, who becomes the first World T20 Champions after defeating Pakistan by 5 runs in the final at Johannesburg. And the second event, the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 took place in England from 5–21 June 2009. This tournament was won by the previous runners-up Pakistan who defeated Sri Lanka by 8 wickets in the final at Lord's, London.
With the T20 World Cup knocking on the door let us make a preview based on current form of players and recent performance of teams. Many top players are now playing Indian mega show of T20 IPL .Bangladeshi players are playing in PCL at Sharjah. Australia and New Zealand have just completed Chappel-Hadlee series of annual affairs.
As the groups have been formed based on performance of last T20 World cup Group A and C appear to be death groups.
Performance Preview of Group A Teams
For a Bangladeshi born as Pakistani, participating in the liberation war of Bangladesh and now adopting Australia for living as Australian citizen it will be a tough choice to cheer for any team of the group which has all three in T20 World Cup preliminaries. Pakistan is the defending T20 World Champion, Australia is the world Champion and Bangladesh on their day can upset any side Look at the teams that have been announced. My heart will break if Bangladesh failed to win any match. But given the quality of the opposition winning any match by the tigers will be another big upset. Bangladesh beat West Indies in the first T20 world cup but lost even to Ireland in the second.
Pakistan was runners up in first world cup and won the second. Australia failed to feature even in the final of the two previous T20 World cup.
Squads in Group A
Pakistan:
Shahid Afridi (captain), Misbah-ul-Haq, Fawad Alam, Umar Akmal, Salman Butt, Mohammad Hafeez, Khalid Latif, Abdur Razzaq, Yasir Arafat, Hammad Azam, Kamran Akmal, Umar Gul, Mohammad Asif, Moahmmad Aamer, Saeed Ajmal.
Bangladesh:
Shakib Al Hasan (Capt), Mushfiqur Rahim ( wk) , Tamim Iqubal, Mohammad Ashraful, Aftab Ahmed, Mahmudullah Riad, Imrul Kayes, Naeemul Islam, Jahirul Islam, Mashrafee Bin Murtaza, Rubel Hussian, Shafiul Islam, Syed Rasel. Sohrawardi Shubho.
Australia:
Clarke (capt), Cameron White, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Tim Paine, Steven Smith, Daniel Christian, Brad Haddin (wk), Brett Lee, Dirk Nannes, Mitchell Johnson, Nathan Hauritz, Shaun Tait.
Australia on the basis of the recent team performance in all forms of the game must be tagged as one of the hot favourites for top honours this time. David Warner and Shane Watson are tow of the most devastating opening batsmen. If on song they can take the match away from opponent in the wink of an eye. Clark, Cameroon White, David Hussey and Mike Hussey are all world class top performers with the bat. Aussies have Haddin, Mitchell Jonson and Bret Lee for tail wagging. But it remains to be seen how on surfaces in Caribbean which are a little bit different how Aussie batting performs. Stabilizing and imposing impact of Ricky Ponting may be missing. But Ricky is not playing T20 for a long time. Australian selectors have done well including experienced finisher Mike Hussey in the team. But big guns Warner, Watson and White (three Ws) are the key to Aussie probabilities.
Bowling attack lacks a little bit of variety. Brett Lee, Dirk Nanes, Shaun Tait and Mitchell Johnson are all express fast. If wickets do not assist Australian fast bowlers may be taken for plenty as all contending teams have good stroke players. The only different bowler in the squad is Watson. Steven Smith or Nathan Hauritz if included in the playing eleven must play their parts. Australia is by far the best fielding side of the tournament. By that they will start every match with 20 runs advantage. In my opinion it will not be easy for any team to beat Australia unless there is Afridi avalanche, Razzak’s Rocket, Shewag’s Sizzler or Gayle Gale.
Pakistan is the current Champion. The team has gone through series of turmoils in the recent past. But that is inherent part of Pakistan cricket. Pakistan has a blend of brilliant natural cricketers. They were the most consistent team of the previous two T20 world cups and definitely will start as favourites in this year’s tournament also. Players like Shahid Khan Afridi, Abdur Razzak, Kamran Akmal and Umer Akmal are potential match winners. Salman Butt, Misbahul Huq and Fawad Alam are also very good T20 players. Pakistan has possibly the best T20 attack. Aasif is very accurate and economic, Aamer is penetrative. Afridi with his fast leg spin with all varieties and Aajmal with doosra are mysterious bowlers. Umer Gul was the best T20 bowler in the last tournament, his absence will be a big blow to Pakistan.
Pakistan is weaker in fielding. If Waqar Yunis can improve the fielding Pakistan may stand out as the team of the championship. Naming Afridi as the captain is the best decision. He is inspiring and enthusiastic.
Bangladesh is the dark horse in the group. They had very ordinary second T20 in England. But last year they had a very successful time in the carribeans. They had dream performance in World Cup 2007. The team has many surviving players of World Cup 2007. Return of Ashraful and Mashrafee will give big boost. Tamim Iqbal and Ashraful as openers can be explosive. Aftab, Shakib, Mahmudullah, Mushfique, Naeem Islam are very good batsmen. Bangladesh should be bothered about the pace bowling a little bit. It will largely depend on how Mashrafee has shaped up with Kolkata Knight Riders. Rubel, Shafiur are good bowlers but may not be good enough at this level of world cricket. Bangladesh will have to rely a lot on Shakib, Mahmudullah, Naeem and Sohrawardy for their spins. Bangladesh in recent times has improved their fielding. Bangladesh is pitted against two top teams of T20 at this moment. But good team performance may see upset who knows.
Performance Preview of Group B
Sri Lanka is the runners up of 2nd T20 World. New Zealand were the runners up of ICC Champions trophy. It is a reasonable strong T20 side. Zimbabwe the third member of group is not expected to create any upset. Sri Lanka and New Zealand are expected to make super eight from group B.
New Zealand:
Daniel Vettori ( Capt),Shane Bond, Ian Butler, Martin Guptil, Gareth Hopkins, Berenden McCullum (wk),Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Rob Nicol,Jacob Oram, Aaron Redmond, Jesse Ryder, Tim Southee, Scot Styris, Ross Taylor.
Zimbabwe:
Prosper Utseya, Brendan Taylor, Hamilton Masakadza, Tatenda Taibu, Charles Coventry, Vusimuzi Sibanda, Gregory Lamb, Elton Chigumbura, Graeme Cremer, Raymond Price, Christopher Mpofu, Tymcen Maruma, Craig Ervine, Andy Blignaut, and Chamunorwa Chibhabha.
Sri Lanka was runners up in the second T20 world cup. They were also runners up loosing to Australia in the final of 2007 World Cup. The team is a blend of top performer like Sanath Jayasuriya, Kumara Sangrakara, Tilekaratna Dilshan, Mahela Jayewardene Muttiath Murlaidharan and budding youngsters like Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Thissara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekera, Suraj Randiv, Ajantha Mendis. Bowling attack made up of Slinger Malinga, Kulasekera, Perera, Mathews, Mendis and Muralidharan is more than capable to meet challenges. It may not be difficult for them to move to super eight as group looks comparatively easy.
The other main team in the group is New Zealand. Kiwis have world class performers like Brendon McCullum, Ross Taylor, Vettori and Shane Bond. But apart from them rest of the team looks not strong enough to challenge major opponent. But they have good team spirit. Vettori is very intelligent captain to marshal his resources. The fielding is very strong. Bond, Oram, Styris, Vettori and Southee may bowl well. But batting lacks quality and depth. But Kiwis will go into super eight without great difficulty.
Zimbabwe is one of the weakest sides of the tournament. In recent tour of West Indies they did not appear to be a formidable side. Brendan Taylor, Hamilton Masakadza, Tatenda Taibu, Charles Coventry are good batsmen. But the Zimbabwean bowling is weak to test opponents. However the T20 world cup will give them good exposure again. Zimbabwe withdrew from the second T20 last year.
Performance Preview of Group C
Group C is another group of interest. India and South Africa are two of the strongest side of world cricket at this moment in all formats of cricket. There is very little to choose. Both are strong contenders in this year’s top honour. The third team of the group Afghanistan is also not to be ignored. Over the last few years cricket team of the war ravaged Afghanistan have played very good entertaining cricket. In T 20 they may spring some surprise.
South Africa:
Graeme Smith (capt), Jacques Kallis (vice-capt), Loots Bosman, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher (wk), AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Rory Kleinveldt, Charl Langeveldt, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn, Juan Theron, Roelof van der Merwe.
India won the inaugural T20 world cup held in South Africa beating its arch rival Pakistan but failed to reach semi-final in the second. India the home of IPL has so many match winners. But unfortunately great maestro Sachin Tendulkar who is in sizzling form in IPL, has taken himself away from T20. And the dashing Shewag is out of T20 world cup with shoulder injury. Unfortunately other than Yusuf Pathan and Suresh Raina none of the top order batsmen is in great touch. But we know how explosive and destructive Yuvaraj, Gambhir and Dhoni Can be if they are on song. Ravindra Jadeja and Dinesh Kartik are also good batsmen. Murali Vijay has replaced the injured Shewag and he is in good touch too. India does not have very high quality bowling attack or good fielding skills like Australia, South Africa or even New Zealand or Sri Lanka. To reach final Indian bowlers like Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehera, Praveen Kumar, Harbhajan Singh must step up their game. Vinay Kumar is bowling very well in Indian Domestic cricket and IPL. But given all Indian batsmen must add extra 25-30 runs to create cushion for their not too strong bowling and average fielding.
South Africa in recent times entered all tournaments as favourites but did not win any. They play well some matches but choke at critical stage. The present team has a great balance. A good all round team of skills. But temperament and weight of expectations often bog them down. Skipper Smith and Harshel Gibbs are world class openers. But the teal strength of the batting is Kallis, Develliers, Duminy and Boucher with blaster like AB Morkel, Roelof van der Merwe providing greater depth in batting. Kallis and Develliers are in excellent form in IPL. Duminy and Albie Morkel are not firing but getting back into form. Bowling is very strong with Dayle Steyn, Charl Langeveldt, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Juan Theron, Kallis adding variety. Botha is containing spinner. South African fielding is pretty sharp. This world cup may see Proteas wash off its chocker tag and proceed all the way to the top.
The third team of the group Afghanistan may be a surprise package of the group. They are well prepared and well trained in Pakistan. They may shock India or South Africa if they are taken lightly. But in any case they are in a very strong group. One can say baptism under fire.
Afghanistan’s first ever nationally recognized cricket team has been a source of pride in a blood-soaked country since it was born shortly after the Taliban were overthrown.
Most of the players are Pashtun -- the same majority ethnic group from which the Taliban come -- and trained them to play on barren dirt and concrete fields outside of Peshawar, Pakistan, near their refugee camps.
Their families had been displaced by the Russians, then by the civil war and finally by the Taliban -- but exactly 30 years after the Russians invaded, a team of young talents qualified for the Cricket World Cup (the version with longer matches). It was an amazing feat for a first-time qualifying team, let alone one from a country that has suffered from so much violence.
South Africa and India will eventually move to super eight from the Group.
Performance Preview of Teams of Group D
Home team West Indies is a very strong contender for this year’s championship. There are several all round cricketers, explosive batsmen. Professional England never gives up easily. Ireland is also reasonably strong team in the shorter version. The strength of all three teams is almost similar with West Indies and England may have their nose In front.
West Indies:
Chris Gayle (Captain), Suleiman Benn, Dwayne Bravo, Shiv Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Andre Fletcher, Wavell Hinds, Nikita Miller, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Darren Sammy, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Jerome Taylor
England:
Paul Collingwood (capt), James Anderson, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Craig Kieswetter, Michael Lumb, Eoin Morgan, Kevin Pietersen, Ajmal Shahzad, Ryan Sidebottom, Graeme Swann, James Tredwell, Luke Wright, Michael Yardy.
Ireland:
William Porterfield(captain), Andre Botha, Peter Connell, Alex Cusack, George Dockrell,Trent Johnston, Nigel Jones, Gary Kidd, John Mooney, Niall O'Brien(wk), Boyd Rankin, Paul Stirling, Andrew White, Gary Wilson
5 overs of Chris Gayle batting can win any match for West Indies in T20 tournament. This man plays all amazing strokes. He not only scores runs at lightening pace he demoralises bowling resources of opponents. After some inconsistent batting in Australia ODI series he got back his form against Zimbabwe and KKR in IPL. With Barath or Simmons not chosen and not many experienced player in the middle order will West Indies risk Shivnarayan Chamdrapaul to pair with Gayle or use Wavel Hinds or Andre Fletcher up the order? Steady and reliable Sarwan will bat at three. Narsingh Deonarine and Dinseh Ramdin are also good players. There are some very high quality middle order batsmen – all rounders in Kieron Pollard, Dwayne Bravo. West Indies bowling after a long time looks strong. Khemar Roach and Jeremy Taylor will look to knock of few early on. Then Bravo, Pollard, Rampaul are good aggressive bowlers. Benn and Gayle will take care of spinning options. West Indies is a temperamental team. It must field well to exploit the home advantage.
In any tournament it is unwise to rule out England. They do not look spectacular but they win somehow and mange to scrap through preliminaries. English batting will revolve around two South African turned Englishmen Kevin Pieterson and Craig Kieswetter. Skipper Collingwood, Eoin Morgan, Ravi Bopara are other prominent English Batsmen. England unfortunately does not have good depth in batting and no prominent all rounders. English attack comprising of James Anderson Stuart Broad Ajmal Shahzad, Ryan Sidebottom, Graeme Swann, and James Treadwell may not carry them much beyond super eight.
Ireland is known to be a giant killer. In group D they may create sensation beating either host or their English cousins. But experience at higher level may be their short coming.
We would consider the following teams to go to super eight
Pakistan [A1] , Australia [ A2], Sri Lanka [ B1] ,New Zealand [ B2] , South Africa [ C1] , India [ C2] , West Indies [D1] and England [D2] .
T20 is a pure gamble. One batsman like Shewag, Gayle, Kallis, Warner, Razzak, Afridi with explosive batting or one bowler like Bond, Steyn, Afridi or Murali can win match. But even then in my opinion the following teams may reach semi-final:
Australia, Pakistan, South Africa and West Indies. We feel Pakistan and West Indies may play in the final this time. It will be a big boost to Caribbean Cricket if West Indies win it.
April 21, 2010, 3:05 am
