2022 T20 World Cup thread

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

First topic message reminder :

We're now just over a fortnight out from the qualifying round, and team news is ever changing around the teams in the tournament.

Unfortunately today Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the tournament (and a while after) with a back injury. Big blow to India that one, and a World Cup with no Archer/Bumrah (arguably the two best t20 fast bowlers in the world) is a huge shame

[alfie]

Bit of a farce this. Nine overs , now seven overs...but SA are closing in on the victory they were expected to get.

Them or the rain...and it looks as if they might just get it done...

[alfie]

...or maybe not...

[Duty281]

Rain wins. I think the umpires gave it every chance, but the rain was too heavy. Zimbabwe were quite forceful on the gamesmanship. Not knocking them as such, I'd expect every team to do so, but it's not a good look for the game. There was also too much messing about in between the delays.

Frustrating thing, and I've said this before, is the umpires aimed for a nine-over game when more rain was forecast. If they'd tried for a five-over game then there would have been a result.

Dropped point for South Africa. Think we'll see more games interrupted through the week.

[alfie]

The rain wins...one point each.

SA will be unhappy but can't say the umpires - and their opponents - didn't try to get a proper game completed.

Doubt this will be the last weather-impacted match in the group stages.

Perth tomorrow and I imagine that will be fine.

[Duty281]

Yeah, weather's fine for Perth tomorrow, bit cloudy but shouldn't be any rain.

Odd scheduling as it's just the one game tomorrow, but it's a big one as if Australia lose they're pretty much out. They should have too much quality for Sri Lanka, however pressure can do strange things, especially a pressure coupled with the need to get a big win to make inroads into reversing the negative NRR.

Currently looking as though the Wednesday games (featuring England and NZ) will be rained-off and the Eng-Aus game on Friday looks threatened as well, so the group could get very interesting.

[KP_fan]

Rain wins. I think the umpires gave it every chance, but the rain was too heavy. Zimbabwe were quite forceful on the gamesmanship. Not knocking them as such, I'd expect every team to do so, but it's not a good look for the game. There was also too much messing about in between the delays.

Frustrating thing, and I've said this before, is the umpires aimed for a nine-over game when more rain was forecast. If they'd tried for a five-over game then there would have been a result.

Dropped point for South Africa. Think we'll see more games interrupted through the week.

Yes had commonsense and proactive decision making, sense of occasion (World cup s.f spots at stake) prevailed...
The umpires and organizers should have efficiently done a 5 over aside...with a 5 min break in between
BUT....much as it tries, cricket's umbilical cord with the culture of lunch and teas and Rest days doesn't severe completely

[alfie]

Yeah, weather's fine for Perth tomorrow, bit cloudy but shouldn't be any rain.

Odd scheduling as it's just the one game tomorrow, but it's a big one as if Australia lose they're pretty much out. They should have too much quality for Sri Lanka, however pressure can do strange things, especially a pressure coupled with the need to get a big win to make inroads into reversing the negative NRR.

Currently looking as though the Wednesday games (featuring England and NZ) will be rained-off and the Eng-Aus game on Friday looks threatened as well, so the group could get very interesting.

Not going to write off the Melbourne games just yet. Weather here has been more than usually unpredictable - as witness the Sunday game played without any trouble despite dire warnings. Today for example we were promised lots of rain but right now the sun continues to shine as it has all day. "Showers" here can be anything from a few drops for ten minutes to a right bucketload. Wednesday to Friday are currently listed here as "shower or two" which actually suggests rain will not be too overwhelming.

Match officials might need to stay very alert (if they are faced with interruptions ) so that overs can be adjusted quickly to enable games to be completed - unlike the game in Hobart. Though in fairness to the umpires there , the magic "five overs each" might not have worked either - and frankly things were taken to the edge if not over by playing on in those conditions anyway. Hope the Zimbabwe fast bowler isn't too badly crocked.

[alfie]

Can't see Sri Lanka threatening Australia too much in Perth. Being t20 you never say never ; but I doubt their bats will be up to posting enough against the (undoubtedly chastened by their round one hammering) Aussie attack.

Australia apparently going with the same XI. Faith in some underperforming players could of course come back to bite them if Sri Lanka were somehow able to muster a significant score ; but I think you'd want very generous odds to bet that way...

[eirebilly_01]

I am not so sure that Australia will beat Sri Lanka myself. Sri Lanka are a team coming in with confidence after some wins whilst Australia must be at rock bottom. Coupled with the immense pressure Australia must be under to get the win, a Captain that appears totally at sea (not just his batting but his leadership) and no real 'steadying' player in the team.
I would almost have Australia as underdogs.

[KP_fan]

To me Cameron Green for Mitch Marsh and Steven Smith for either of Maxwell or Stoinis is a no brainer
BUT teams over-analyze and complicate their selections.....
There is too much of a bits n pieces feel about this Aus side and if the pitch offers something to the bowlers, you need some proper sound batting

Look at India, Pant should easily walk into the 11 even if he was not a WK.....but as a result of over-analysis he stays out

[eirebilly_01]

Interesting that ye would drop Marsh KP_fan, he is one of the Aussies better performers and in WA (his home ground) that would be a huge call.

If I was selecting for the Aussies match today, I would drop Finch for Smith (Smith as captain and steady opener) and swap Cameron Green for Stoinis.

A bit radical to drop the Captain but I feel a good steady head is required if the Aussies are going to progress.

[KP_fan]

Interesting that ye would drop Marsh KP_fan, he is one of the Aussies better performers and in WA (his home ground) that would be a huge call.

If I was selecting for the Aussies match today, I would drop Finch for Smith (Smith as captain and steady opener) and swap Cameron Green for Stoinis.

A bit radical to drop the Captain but I feel a good steady head is required if the Aussies are going to progress.

I have seen Mitch Marsh as a "talented youngster" for a decade now, who is still a "talent" that's yet to deliver consistency

But if they don't wanna touch Marsh.....OK....bring Green for Stoinis

[eirebilly_01]

It may be just my perception of Marsh but i think he has been one of the Aussies most consistent performers. Open to correction of course

I look at the Kholi innings and I saw how controlled and in control he was, he never really looked phased and then turned it on when required. That is a role i think the Aussies miss, that on field leadership and experience, and they have that with Smith.
I am not underestimating Hardik's role in that chase as i also thought he was immense.

[VTR]

I hadn't picked up that Pant wasn't playing due to selection, assumed he was injured. Agree that is the height of madness and over analysis to be leaving him out

[eirebilly_01]

Decent first over for Hazelwood, got some movement and swing.

[eirebilly_01]

Oh Mendis, way to throw your wicket away.

[eirebilly_01]

Interesting power play. Just the 1 wicket and 36 runs. Very scratchy from Sri Lanka but they would be happy.

[Duty281]

Well balanced game. Sri Lanka steadily building to a decent score, but a couple of quick wickets would put Aussies well ahead.

[alfie]

Sri Lanka getting into their work now after a slow start...helped by some bold running and a couple of overthrows... Still need to get a move on at 58 off nine.

Could turn this into a pretty decent score but I don't think Australia will have to chase 200 this time ...

[eirebilly_01]

63-1 after 10.

I would say that Sri Lanka are the happier of the 2 teams right now. If they get 150, the Aussies will have to go for it to improve their NRR and that may cause panic.

[Duty281]

63 after ten. Should be looking for at least nine an over from here which would get them past 150. Australia still have two overs from Agar and three from the fifth/sixth bowler combination, so plenty to target for the Sri Lankans.

[alfie]

Reckon they'll need more than 150 to make a game of it. But I'm sure Australia would have preferred to have a couple more wickets by now.

Wonderful boundary fielding effort then from Dave Warner ! I am frankly in awe of some the acrobatics we seem to see quite regularly these days .

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Reckon they'll need more than 150 to make a game of it. But I'm sure Australia would have preferred to have a couple more wickets by now.

Wonderful boundary fielding effort then from Dave Warner !  I am frankly in awe of some the acrobatics we seem to see quite regularly these days .

You not pulling them off on a Saturday anymore, Alfie?

[eirebilly_01]

Great catch by Warner

[alfie]

Got him that time ! Warner makes no mistake and that's it for Dhananjaya just as he was threatening to go to town...Australia needed that. Agar so far justifying his inclusion in place of Zampa.

[alfie]

Reckon they'll need more than 150 to make a game of it. But I'm sure Australia would have preferred to have a couple more wickets by now.

Wonderful boundary fielding effort then from Dave Warner !  I am frankly in awe of some the acrobatics we seem to see quite regularly these days .

You not pulling them off on a Saturday anymore, Alfie?

Ha ha ... I am afraid I am just a little too old to learn some of those tricks ! Can still dive (occasionally in time) in slips ... But happy to leave the out fielding to the young ones thanks

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Btw totally missed that Sri Lanka had lost Chameera for the tournament due to a calf injury. I think I cursed this team

[eirebilly_01]

Pathum has to get going or get out here now if Sri Lanka are going to post 150.

[alfie]

Not quite the return to the bowling crease that Mitch Marsh would have wanted...fourteen off the over gives Sri Lanka a bit of a lift. Charith has started rather briskly

[eirebilly_01]

And Pathum runs himself out...

[alfie]

But Nissanka got a bit too excited then ... Run out cutting short what was looking a rather handy innings.

Rajapaksa has a reputation for big hitting but he's got a big ground to do it on. 150 looks within reach at 99/3 from 14.

[eirebilly_01]

The Aussies turning the screw here now. 140 even looking a little too far for Sri Lanka.

[alfie]

Good couple of overs for Australia then...two big swings getting elevation but not distance and Sri Lanka in a bit of trouble at 111/5... Danger of running out of batsmen.

Was a good call to give Maxwell the ball , by the way.

[eirebilly_01]

Is 170 really par on this track? I would have thought 155-160 max myself.

[alfie]

All falling apart for Olly's Dark Horses now... Not easy against the likes of Starc and Hazlewood even for proper bats ; and with the tail exposed now it's hard to see them mustering much from the last few overs.

I guess they had to go for the big hits but it's such a fine line ...losing two capable hitters to up and unders before the death overs is going to hurt them.

[eirebilly_01]

This is a total, although about 15-20 short, that will ask a lot of the Aussies. Do they go hell for leather and try to chase this down quickly to improve their NRR (contains massive risks) or do they just try to go for the win.

Sri Lanka are a very good side for containing runs.

Very evenly poised for me but i would almost have Sri Lanka as favourites...

[alfie]

Spirited finish from Charith Asalanka sees Sri Lanka to a better than expected 157

Cummins lost it a bit that last over with a couple of wides ; but I reckon Australia will feel this is well within reach.

I think if Warner and Finch can get away to a good start they will run this down without too much trouble : but if a couple of wickets go down early we could be in for a real contest.

[Duty281]

I think Sri Lanka are (narrowly) ahead at this stage. Looked like they were going to get bugger all after Hasaranga fell for 1, but Asalanka has clubbed them to a good score.

157. We've seen the difficulties of chasing at this tournament, combine that with the big boundaries and the Aussies being out of form and under huge pressure...SL are favourites here. They can send, or rather keep, the Aussies home by defending this.

[eirebilly_01]

Savage for Sri Lanka, Binura walking off.

Big chance for the Aussies now.

[Duty281]

Another injury for Sri Lanka! That changes things.

[alfie]

Rotten start for Sri Lanka ...one bowler down after just five balls ! They didn't need that.

This opening pair have a fine record against Sri Lanka so this power play could be very important - one way or the other.

[alfie]

Warner running aggressively as ever. Finch not looking so comfortable against Lahiru - who is generating some serious pace !

[Duty281]

Typical start really. Apart from NZ v Aus, the bowling side are generally on top for the first few overs. Problem is for SL that while they've built pressure in the first four, they haven't taken any wickets, so Aus are ahead.

Finch is looking really unsure. They should pick Green instead of him.

Scratch that earlier remark - Warner goes and that's a blow to Australia.

[eirebilly_01]

Warner gone. Game on again

[alfie]

Big wicket ! Great catch and the dangerous Warner departs to Theekshana's first ball.

With Finch struggling , the next few overs might be interesting...

[alfie]

Sri Lanka will have to juggle their bowling options in the absence of Fernando ...going to be a fair bit of spin bowled.

Waste of a review here ...way too much bounce for that. Bowler was convinced but they should not have gone for that.

[eirebilly_01]

That was very close but it looked high, that was an emotional review for me.

This is very much game on right now. The Aussies have to go soon.

[Duty281]

33/1 after the PP. In the balance, but Sri Lanka would have loved at least one more wicket to get ahead.

Sense Hasaranga's spell could be the key to the match. Australia negotiate him and they get through this. If they lose a couple or more to him then SL should win.

[eirebilly_01]

Well, its clear that Marsh is not going to hang around.

[alfie]

Marsh having a lot of luck ! Two swipes for a drop and a safe fall. That miss might haunt Sri Lanka.

Cashed in now against Hasaranga and the Aussies are away...but he's gone now...

60/2 off eight and a half. We are in a contest.

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