World T20 discussion thread

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

This is fast approaching in the UAE, and squads are beginning to be announced. England have announced theirs this morning

England's preliminary squad for the World T20;

Jason Roy
Jos Buttler
Dawid Malan
Jonny Bairstow
Liam Livingstone
Eoin Morgan
Sam Billings
Moeen Ali
Sam Curran
Chris Woakes
David Willey
Adil Rashid
Mark Wood
Chris Jordan
Tymal Mills

Reserves: James Vince, Liam Dawson, Tom Curran

Looks a solid squad, albeit the team has taken a hit in recent months with Archer's injury and then Stokes's withdrawal from international duty.
Billings in as the main batting backup, makes sense to me. He's played well in limited opportunity the past few summers.
I am a touch surprised both Woakes and Willey are in the squad...seems like they both do the same role to me?
Seems harsh, but happy no Tom Curran. He's not played well enough to be included.
I see some "why no Parkinson?" and it does seem a tad weird he isn't in reserve...but ultimately in T20 can you afford to carry someone like him, who while is a good bowler, is a liability in the field and offers absolutely nothing with the bat. I can see why Dawson is the chosen reserve over him, with those considerations.

I think the likely XI is;

Roy
Buttler
Malan
Bairstow
Livingstone
Morgan
Ali
Woakes
Rashid
Wood
Mills

The real selection choices in there are between Woakes/Jordan, and Moeen/Sam Curran. Rest looks fairly set in stone to me

[guildfordbat]

Olly - you don't give a shout out to Mills? Maybe you just saw his selection as a given. He has been back to his best this season. I watched him in the Hundred Eliminator last month where he was on fire and bowled outstandingly well. However, it is over four years since he played for England and injury concerns have regularly surrounded him during that time. Hopefully, his fitness is longer an issue - at least in the short term.

[dummy_half]

I thought the issue with Mills was mainly that he can't bowl long spells reliably, but that a couple of 2 over bursts is usually OK. Obviously his performance in The Hundred ha played a role in his selection, along with unavailability of Archer in particular.

Generally like the squad picked. Of course T20 can be a bit of a lottery, in that while stronger teams tend to win in league formats, a few early wickets in any game has a huge impact and could swing a knock-out match.

Still slightly surprised that Root doesn't even make the wider squad - I know he's best suited to Tests and that T20 is his least effective format but he's still a fine player.

[guildfordbat]

Dummy - Mills has had serious back problems, possibly other injuries too. In the past I've had doubts about his consistency but fully acknowledge he's now cutting it in the shorter formats.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Olly - you don't give a shout out to Mills? Maybe you just saw his selection as a given. He has been back to his best this season. I watched him in the Hundred Eliminator last month where he was on fire and bowled outstandingly well. However, it is over four years since he played for England and injury concerns have regularly surrounded him during that time. Hopefully, his fitness is longer an issue - at least in the short term.

Aha yes - I had just assumed his selection once Archer was confirmed as out, and considering Morgan's comments about him in the summer (and then his subsequent Blast/Hundred performances). He does seem to have (touch wood) overcome the fitness issues and is regularly playing T20s now, of course won't be able to ever play the long format but is certainly a worthy pick, and I expect him to slot right into the XI.
I would say, while I think his death bowling can replace Archer's (not much between them in that facet imo), I don't think he is as good up front in the powerplay, both keeping runs down and taking early wickets. In fact, I think in The Hundred he was mainly used by the Southern Brave outside the powerplay. So England are going to miss Archer's ability with the new ball (and presumably this is why Woakes/Willey are being taken, as new ball specialists).

Did also forget to mention no Stokes does make their mind up for them on who bats at 3, it will almost certainly be Malan with Stokes no longer available. Whether that choice being made for them turns out to be good or bad, we will see...(Billings is a capable replacement if Malan's T20i form from the English summer continues into this tournament).
And also pretty much confirms Livingstone's slot in the XI...which I think was fairly nailed on anyways. England really do have some superb hitters of spin in that middle order of Bairstow/Morgan/Livingstone/Moeen.

[JDizzle]

I guess we’ll never know now whether Tymal would have made the squad if Jofra was fit (he should have), or whether the selectors see him as a like for like replacement. But as Olly points out, Mills does his best work at the death when he can nail that slower ball and Jofra is better at the front end - although the is pretty damn good at the death too.

If the selectors do see Mills as like for like for Archer as not as a complementary piece, that worries me somewhat.

The Brave did indeed use COverton and Garton as their PP strike bowlers in the 100, and saved Mills and Jordan for the middle over and death. Not sure if England will have that luxury.

Not sure how strict the bio bubbles etc will be for the tournament? Could Parkinson be called up from outside the travelling reserves if, god forbid, Rashid suffered an tournament ending injury?

[Duty281]

Stokes can still make the squad because it isn't being finalised until the 10th October, but it does seem pretty unlikely at this stage.

[king_carlos]

Surran out as well then. That will presumably raise the chance of Willey playing more games as England really like the left-arm seam option.

For me that would cement Mo's place in the side.

1.Buttler (wk)
2.Roy
3.Malan
4.Bairstow
5.Morgan (c)
6.Livingstone
7.Moeen
8.Woakes
9.Rashid
10.Wood
11.Mills

Stokes returning would be a big boost to the balance of the side but it seems unlikely at this stage.

[king_carlos]

Surprised to see that a heavily rotated Scotland side beat Ireland yesterday. They were missing Coetzer, Cross, Watts, Davey and Wheal. Ali Evans might arguably play head of Sharif at full strength too.

1.Coetzer (c)
2.Cross (wk)
3.MacLeod
4.Munsey
5.Berrington
6.Budge/Leask
7.Watt
8.Davey
9.Evans/Sharif
10.Wheal
11.Tahir

I'm not for a second suggesting they are dark horses for the final stages but I could see that side springing a Netherland's or Ireland (pre Test status) esque surprise on one of the established nations.

Their top order is very dangerous. They have 2 good spinners in Watt and Tahir. Whilst their seam options with Davey, Wheal, Evans and Sharif are solid.

Their one issue will be balancing bowling and batting depth with Watt potentially sliding down to 8 to accommodate Leask and Budge to improve the batting depth, then relying on Berrington for more overs.

If their top 5 fires I really think that side could surprise a few people though.

[James100]

https://www.cricviz.com/podcasts/

Would hugely recommend the CricViz squad preview podcasts, all very thorough and worth listening to.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Would second that recommendation James - I found the South Africa podcast very insightful in particular
Hoping they do a New Zealand one soon too

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

So reading up on the recent UAE leg of the IPL...it does look like the powerplay may play a larger role of importance than usual in this tournament.
Middle overs and pitches meaning that it's been fairly tough to score quickly against spinners with the field spread (bar the occasional freakish batting performance). You'd only imagine the pitches will get slower and lower the more they're played on through the tournament too.

Teams might need to consider this in planning - taking advantage of the new ball/pace on the ball with the field up, and being more aggressive than usual in this phase.

From an England point of view...Roy/Buttler usually get off to super fast starts anyways, but maybe more applicable for Malan considering his form. The hit out approach to re-finding form more preferable than the 10 off 10 approach...
Would also be fairly concerned about the new ball bowling for England. Have raised it a few times, but this is where Archer's loss will be felt most. I'm a bit concerned about Woakes/Willey, I'm really not sure there will be much, if any swing

[king_carlos]

Interesting that listening to the cricviz podcast on England's squad that they seemed to think Livingstone would have played ahead of Malan had Stokes been fit. Given England analyst Nathan Leamon founded cricviz they tend to be pretty on the money about the England sides even if Leamon is no longer actively involved there (as far as I know).

1.Buttler (wk)
2.Roy
3.Stokes
4.Bairstow
5.Morgan (c)
6.Livingstone
7.Moeen/Curran
8.Woakes
9.Archer
10.Rashid
11.Wood

Sounds like they felt that was the XI England were leaning towards before they lost Archer and Stokes.

It does at least make altering their plans easy as Malan can replace Stokes as a slower starter that can go big, Mills replaces Archer and now Willey will be the left-arm option instead of Curran. Replacing Archer's PP bowling and strike threat is still the biggest worry though of course.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Ireland playing Bangladesh in a warm up game atm - 177-3 off their 20 overs with Gareth Delaney getting 88 (great news for Ireland if he finds form again)

Bangladesh are 22-3 off 4 in reply

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Also, West Indies at 6/1 (2 places each way) look like good value to win the tournament to me. I'd have India/England ahead of them, but they've got a great side, and are proven winners in this tournament.

Might have a look at most runs/wickets markets too - wonder if there might be some extra value in the most wickets market...definitely think it'll be a spinner with the pitches

[Duty281]

Some quick thoughts and predictions for each team:

Spoiler:

As for the format, I like it. The first six days of the tournament are the eight first-round sides battling to make the Super 12s, with two matches a day. Very simple, each side plays three games, top two in each group go through. Then the Super 12s with each team playing five games, top two in each six-team group going forward to the semi-finals, from then it's a straight knockout. Tournament played and concluded inside a month. I much prefer it to the ODI 2019 World Cup, which dragged a little. Neutral umpires also make a comeback in this tournament.

India are justifiably favourites at 5/2, which is a fair price, England at 7/2, equally fair. Might have made England favourites if they had Stokes and Archer, but they don't. No great value there, but I do love the value available on South Africa at 12/1 and Bangladesh at 40/1, Afghanistan too at 50/1 is a bit generous. West Indies are 6/1 which is about right. No generosity available for backing NZ/Aus/Pak, all of which have precious little chance anyway.

It's a bit more of an exhibition market, but I also rate the 18/1 on Buttler being the top run-scorer as quite decent. Shamsi and Rashid Khan at 18/1 to take the most wickets is nice, so is the 50/1 on Mujeeb to do likewise.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Some quick thoughts and predictions for each team:

Spoiler:

As for the format, I like it. The first six days of the tournament are the eight first-round sides battling to make the Super 12s, with two matches a day. Very simple, each side plays three games, top two in each group go through. Then the Super 12s with each team playing five games, top two in each six-team group going forward to the semi-finals, from then it's a straight knockout. Tournament played and concluded inside a month. I much prefer it to the ODI 2019 World Cup, which dragged a little. Neutral umpires also make a comeback in this tournament.

India are justifiably favourites at 5/2, which is a fair price, England at 7/2, equally fair. Might have made England favourites if they had Stokes and Archer, but they don't. No great value there, but I do love the value available on South Africa at 12/1 and Bangladesh at 40/1, Afghanistan too at 50/1 is a bit generous. West Indies are 6/1 which is about right. No generosity available for backing NZ/Aus/Pak, all of which have precious little chance anyway.

It's a bit more of an exhibition market, but I also rate the 18/1 on Buttler being the top run-scorer as quite decent. Shamsi and Rashid Khan at 18/1 to take the most wickets is nice, so is the 50/1 on Mujeeb to do likewise.

Enjoyed reading this Duty - agree that Bangladesh and Afghanistan are worth a quid or two considering the anticipated conditions. You can get 6/1 and 7/1 with Skybet on them to make the semi finals respectively too, which certainly doesn't seem out of the realms of possibilities for either. I quite like Shakib at 20/1 for most wickets (I am hoping they include the group games in this bet!!)

Do disagree on South Africa - I don't think they can balance their side very well, likely having to play Mulder/Pretorius at 7 to offer some batting and bowling, but then you likely have four seamers (Rabada/Nortje/Ngidi/one of those two) and Shamsi, in spin heavy conditions...I think not bringing George Linde is an oversight. Don't think Maharaj is a good T20 player, and there's really no way you can play him at 7 either. Fortuin maybe an option there, but he is bad bad. They're missing Chris Morris here too, and while I do not like him...no Tahir is a shame too. Him and Shamsi in the UAE would be very very effective.
Batting is *ok* but as you say very reliant on De Kock, and I don't think the likes of Klaasen/Miller will like the conditions (the ones on paper who you'd fear after QDK).
You can look at the players who are not in the squad for a multitude of reasons (Du Plessis, ABDV, Ingram, Roussouw) and wonder if they've got a better batting lineup not in the UAE.

Pakistan losing Hasnain and the much hyped Azam Khan from the squad due to injury hurts. Haris Rauf I don't think is as good as Hasnain, and the batting is suddenly Babar/Rizwan opening and then not a lot.

I am surprised to see Adam Milne on the reserves list for New Zealand and not in the actual squad. I don't think there is a need for both Jamieson and Southee in the squad (both I think are sneaky bad t20 bowlers), and Milne has been in fantastic form in franchise cricket. The cricviz podcast on them today pointing out they are in a group with the Asian countries who generally struggle with high pace, so they might have missed a trick not having him in and only Lockie Ferguson for that high pace option. (Ferguson has been in great form too). They're going to need Sodhi and Santner to have, what at this stage would be a surprisingly good tournament like they did in 2016 too. I don't think either is good, but at least conditions are in their favour...
No De Grandhomme is a bit weird too - you'd figure his little cutters would go well in UAE, and he's a six hitter at 6/7 too.

[Duty281]

Tournament begins tomorrow with Oman v PNG. Must-win for both sides if they're going to have any realistic chance of making it to the Super 12s. Followed up by Bangladesh v Scotland.

Also over the next few days the eight highest-ranked teams are playing a couple of warm-up games before the competition starts for them - England are playing India on Monday and the Kiwis on Wednesday.

[king_carlos]

As much as anything it's going to be interesting to see how the pitches play.

Bangladesh and Scotland both have some good spinners so if spin is going to have the expected impact that game should show it.

[guildfordbat]

Hi folks - what's the situation with tv coverage or streaming for this tournament? Thanks.

[Pal Joey]

Hi folks - what's the situation with tv coverage or streaming for this tournament? Thanks.

Is it on Sky Sports or Sky Sports Cricket?

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Should be mainly on Sky Guildford!

Bangladesh and Scotland shouldn’t really have many issues in their group, albeit Oman are at home and could spring a surprise. More likely than PNG

As for the other group…much more intriguing. I don’t think Sri Lanka are automatic like Bangladesh should be, Ireland and Netherlands will certainly fancy their chances against them and I don’t think it’s out of the realms of possibility they are the two teams who qualify. Tough for Namibia, but they do have some intriguing power hitters who if they come off, could throw a spanner in the works!

[guildfordbat]

Cheers, Joey and Olly.

Yep, Sky it is! I had expected them to properly bang on about their coverage of this tournament. Maybe I just haven't been watching much on Sky recently.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Big win for Oman this - presuming any ties goes head to head then net run rate? Doing their run rate no harm here!

[king_carlos]

Chris Greaves ahead of Hamza Tahir is an interesting call for Scotland. Tahir has been around the squad longer and I'd argue is the more controlled bowler. Greaves offers batting depth though and can give it a good tweak with his leg-breaks.

Otherwise Scotland are as expected with Leask getting the nod ahead of Budge for the 6 spot and Sharif pipping Evans for the 3rd seamer role accompanying Davey and Wheal who feel locked on. I'd imagine those guys will rotate a bit as they are tight selection calls.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Bangladesh’s bowling really is quite good - both them and Afghanistan have a real shot if the pitches are slow and low with their spinners and seamers able to take advantage with cutters or high pace. Taskin has turned himself into one of the consistently fastest bowlers in the world

[JDizzle]

Bangladesh look a couple of levels above Scotland so far. It will definitely be interesting to see how they go in the next stage on these wickets - it’s almost a shame for them that if they win their group they will play India and Pakistan in the next stage who you’d think would be best placed to negate Bangladesh’s strengths. Rather than the Eng, Aus, SA, WI group where their spinners could do some real damage.

[king_carlos]

It's so nice seeing the Fizz back somewhere near his best after so many injuries. He could be a superstar in this tournament with these types of pitches.

Greaves and Watt did very well to drag things back a bit but Shakib and Mahedi Hasan were just too good. I expect those Bangladesh spinners will cause several batting lineups issues in this tournament.

140-9 from 20 overs.

It's something for Scotland to bowl at on a difficult batting pitch. They will need Watt and Greaves to bowl very well.

[Duty281]

Excellent effort from Greaves (45 from 28) has given Scotland a fighting chance with a total of 140. Tremendous fightback after being 53/6.

Get a few wickets in the PowerPlay and an upset could be on.

[king_carlos]

A second PP wicket for Scotland.

18-2 from 3.3 overs

Another in the PP before Scotland turn to Watt and they will be feeling really good.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Goes without saying, Shakib the key here!

[Duty281]

Scotland well in this, but that umpire's call decision that went Bangladesh's way may prove to be the key moment.

[king_carlos]

25-2 from 6 overs after the PP.

Scotland were 39-1 after the PP.

Leask straight on after so Scotland immediately turn to spin with the field restrictions.

I expect he Bangladeshi batsman to play spin a lot better than Scotland did so they will need to bowl well.

[king_carlos]

Back to back sixes from Mushfiqur and 18 from Leask's second over. As expected Bangladesh are playing the spin much better.

Scotland need to break the partnership.

[king_carlos]

Not Coetzer's day in the field so far.

[KP_fan]

While BD are favorite....Sco not out of it yet
Pitch not easy to hot if pace taken off
BD can choke

[KP_fan]

and Shakib undone by slowness of pitch
fails to put off a rank long hop

game even

[king_carlos]

Bad balls from wrist spinners get wickets.

Rank long hop from Greaves gets smacked to deep midwicket by Shakib. Vital breakthrough.

[KP_fan]

excellent 13th over from Watts

[KP_fan]

Sco ahead now
Undercooked BD getting desperate and panicking

[king_carlos]

Watt bowls a terrific over to apply some pressure and Greaves gets Mushfiqur with the first ball of the next over. Huge wicket.

[Duty281]

Scotland should win it from here, if they keep their composure and can manage the dew factor adequately.

Just as I say that a mis-field allows Bangladesh a free run.

[KP_fan]

outfield is also slow
140 is a good score and BD who many would have thought as one of semis favorite is going down tonight

[CaledonianCraig]

Scotland applying the screws here, Run rate required now edging up towards 11 an over.

[KP_fan]

I don't see BD anyway winning this
The pitch too sluggish and outfield too slow
getting more than 8RPO almost impossible...and BD not showing the power to clear the fence with MAXIMUMS

[CaledonianCraig]

Scotland will be distraught if they lose it from here. Run rate now heading northwards of 12 an over for Bangladesh.

[KP_fan]

the only place to score runs are using the pace of the ball over the WK

thats all that SCO needs to block out

[CaledonianCraig]

And that should be that as Afif holes out to Josh Davey coming in from the boundary. Bangladesh 106 for 5.

[king_carlos]

Coetzer trusts Watt with the 18th over and he delivers with the wicket of Asif.

C'mon Scotland. Surely they can't fluff this from here!

[Duty281]

It's a good indication of the pitches we can expect at the tournament - slow and low, with plenty of spin, which is how most IPL games have been this year. 140 is the new 160 on these pitches, and dew can be a decisive factor (not tonight it seems!), so expect most teams to field first given the opportunity.

Another one for Scotland, nearly there. What a result this will be for them. Best result at a major ICC tournament, I think, if they hold on. Mamadullah Bangladesh's last chance.

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