2024 T20 World Cup

by Duty281 Wed 22 May 2024, 12:04 pm

First topic message reminder :

Just over a week away now from some glorious six-hitting in the cricketing heartlands of Barbados, Trinidad, Saint Lucia and, um, New York City.

England are defending the crown they won at the MCG in front of 80,000 people in November 2022. They'll probably be hoping it goes a bit better than their defence of the 50 over title! The tournament is, as T20 competitions are, very wide open. If England were to win it again they'd be the first men's team to win back to back World T20 titles in the history of the competition.

Chasing them keenly are the bookmakers favourites India, who are very, very thirsty because of a drought that has existed since 2013 in ICC tournaments. Australia will obviously be there or thereabouts, and there's plenty of excitement around the West Indies, twice winners of this competition, and how glorious it would be to see them lift a trophy at home.

Or perhaps South Africa will finally stop being Tottenham and actually win something? But it's T20. So it could be anyone. Ireland, Scotland, Uganda....USA?

I thought the format of the last couple of T20 World Cups was absolutely perfect. Naturally, then, the ICC have altered it for this year! So we've now got 20 teams, up from 16, and 55 matches in total, up from 45.

There's no preliminary round this time. All teams start off the same. Four groups of five teams. All play each other once. Top two in each group go through to the Super 8s. Super 8s is split into two groups of four. No points are carried over and all teams play each other once in the Super 8s. Top two in each Super 8 group go through to the semi-finals, from which it's a straight knockout. Means a team will play nine games if they are to lift the trophy, in comparison to England's seven games to win it in 2022.

One curious thing about the format, and the ICC love curious things (such as there being no reserve day for one semi-final), is that the finishing places in the initial group are seeded. For example, England are designated B1 in their group, and Australia are B2, which means that it's irrelevant if England come first or second. They will go through to Group 2 of the Super 8s regardless of finishing first or second. I suppose it guarantees certainty for fans, as they know where teams are playing after the initial group stage.

While I don't think it's been directly said, the draw was not a fair and open one. It took place behind closed doors and ensured India/Pakistan were in the same group, as well as some other long-standing rivalries, such as USA v Canada. I'm surprised the ICC didn't put India and Pakistan in the same Super 8 group as well! The groups are:

Groups:

The fixture list is all over the place with timings, so try and keep up! If you're in the UK, games can start at 01:30, or they might begin at 18:00, and quite a few matches seem to overlap in the early stages.

Fixture List (All times BST):

Squads (Not yet finalised):

Outright Odds (Bet365):

The USA and Canada will be starting this one off in Texas. That's the most unlikely cricket sentence ever uttered.

by VTR Sat 08 Jun 2024, 6:21 pm

Yeah, this is shocking stuff, starting to feel like the 50 over World Cup again. Good job the footballers gave Iceland a battering yesterday, otherwise it would be a terrible weekend

by alfie Sat 08 Jun 2024, 6:22 pm

Moeen strikes ! Needed that...

by Duty281 Sat 08 Jun 2024, 6:27 pm

Bit of a grip established in this contest now with both openers removed.

But just 8 an over from here gets Australia to near 190.

by alfie Sat 08 Jun 2024, 6:30 pm

Now Archer with a handy scalp...one brings two , eh . 74/2 still a bright start for Australia. Two new bats , Rashid on...crucial period now.

by KP_fan Sat 08 Jun 2024, 6:30 pm

Got the package today & watching first game
Some upsets so far.

Eng -Aus....Pitch appears belter.....unlike the pitches in America whihc I see produced low scores.
Here you need real pace or pace off from seamers it seems
Good to see Archer back....

by KP_fan Sat 08 Jun 2024, 6:41 pm

If you don't land the ball on seam, it's keeping low

by Duty281 Sat 08 Jun 2024, 6:52 pm

Miller gets SA home with a 50, otherwise they were toast.

by alfie Sat 08 Jun 2024, 7:07 pm

Pegged it back a bit after that blistering power play but with Maxwell and Marsh well set this is likely still going to 200. Suppose that wouldn't necessarily be impossible to chase...very tough though. Too much like an IPL six hitting contest for my taste

by KP_fan Sat 08 Jun 2024, 7:12 pm

Pitch is good but not as much of a belter as it seemed in the first 5 overs.
I think Aus got away flying too fast, and that's keeping them ahead still, inspite of Eng pulling it back

by alfie Sat 08 Jun 2024, 7:27 pm

Five down now but they keep hitting enough sixes to stay on target for 200. Will take some chasing.

by Duty281 Sat 08 Jun 2024, 7:31 pm

Not Rashid's day.

by Duty281 Sat 08 Jun 2024, 7:36 pm

How is Joel Wilson still an international umpire?!

by KP_fan Sat 08 Jun 2024, 7:46 pm

The pitch has very little margin for error.
The batsman can be defeated if as spinner you can loop and land it exactly right,,, not full, not fractionally short...just length like Livingstone did to get Marsh

As a seamer either very fast and full or clever changes slow cutters & wide & surprise bouncers.

opening with Ali & Jack was not a good idea
Aus might have just enuf.
Cummins might be the most difficult bowler in the game

by Duty281 Sat 08 Jun 2024, 7:48 pm

201. Good fightback from England after a terrible start.

It is chaseable. Outfield's quick, small boundaries, but it is a fair challenge, no doubt. Should be a great battle.

by alfie Sat 08 Jun 2024, 7:52 pm

201 then. Could have been more i guess. Be a good effort if they can chase it but looks a tall order. Glad I have the Athletics to prioritise watching...

by Duty281 Sat 08 Jun 2024, 8:28 pm

54/0 after the PowerPlay, setting it up nicely. Plenty of boundaries and one mammoth six from Salt.

by king_carlos Sat 08 Jun 2024, 8:32 pm

I was very happy until that 6 runs from the Stoinis over. Australia need to find 4 overs from Stoinis, Maxwell and maybe Head. Marsh hasn't been bowling. That's the bowler to target when Oz go batting heavy. Stoinis getting one of those overs in during the PP is a big win for Australia.

Wickets in hand for England though. Not fluent from Buttler thus far. Despite that, having Jos there for when Zampa comes on could be excellent.

Big moment that. A blunder by Head. 6 for Salt instead of a wicket. Big, big, big. Especially when Marsh is using his 3rd Starc over just out of the PP.

by Duty281 Sat 08 Jun 2024, 8:33 pm

Huge over off Starc there. Salt caught, but the Aussie trod on the rope, like Boult in 2019.

And a lovely over from Zampa pulls it right back.

by alfie Sat 08 Jun 2024, 8:46 pm

Well behind on the RR . Probably need Jos to bat through and monster the finish. Have to take down Zampa...aargh. that's torn it...

by Duty281 Sat 08 Jun 2024, 8:48 pm

Not well behind. Required rate still below 11, which is fine.

Big loss of Buttler though. Zampa's proving the key.

by king_carlos Sat 08 Jun 2024, 8:52 pm

Australia need to get 3 of the next 10 overs from their '5th bowler' though. Whatever combination that may be.

Buttler falling tips it back in Australia's favour, no doubt.

England have still got a good platform though. Australia only have 1 Starc over left for the death. Zampa and Cummins should bowl 4 very good overs. I look at Hazelwood in the middle and death, plus that 5th bowler as targetable though.

Stoinis back on. England can't just let him bowl all 4 of those overs that Marsh needs to find.

by Duty281 Sat 08 Jun 2024, 8:55 pm

Good catch to remove Jacks. And Stoinis has got through 1.5 overs for just 9.

Moeen, not Brook? Lefty, righty?

by alfie Sat 08 Jun 2024, 8:59 pm

All falling apart. This is done...and England's tournament is on life support already.

by Duty281 Sat 08 Jun 2024, 8:59 pm

alfie wrote:All falling apart. This is done...and England's tournament is on life support already.

I mean if England lose here, just beat Namibia and Oman and it's almost certainly a NRR battle with Scotland, so I wouldn't go as far as life support.

by KP_fan Sat 08 Jun 2024, 9:01 pm

can't let Maxwell get way with a 2 run over at this time.
Brook is batting low as I see it

by **Pal Joey** Sat 08 Jun 2024, 9:05 pm

Duty281 wrote:
alfie wrote:All falling apart. This is done...and England's tournament is on life support already.

I mean if England lose here, just beat Namibia and Oman and it's almost certainly a NRR battle with Scotland, so I wouldn't go as far as life support.

Yeah, they just need a shot of adrenaline... sooner rather than later would be better. Like that... 20 off that over.

by Duty281 Sat 08 Jun 2024, 9:06 pm

20 off Maxwell's over, Moeen coming alive.

Bairstow looked awful. That wicket is good for England.

by JDizzle Sat 08 Jun 2024, 9:07 pm

Was about to say it was nonsense that Moeen was in ahead of Brook - just send in your best bats and don’t get obsessed with match ups - but then he smashes 20 off Maxwell!

by king_carlos Sat 08 Jun 2024, 9:12 pm

Finally, targeting the 4th Stoinis and Maxwell over. They've bowled smartly, but England have played them poorly as well. Stoinis has taken pace off - as expected. Maxwell bowled darts - as expected. Extremely frustrating.

A dire Bairstow knock ends.

Something special needed from Brook here.

by Duty281 Sat 08 Jun 2024, 9:13 pm

Think Duckett should come in for Bairstow next game.

15.2 off the last five. Still some hitters, but the tide is rising.

by Duty281 Sat 08 Jun 2024, 9:29 pm

Nowhere near and this will take a severe hit to England's NRR.

Has been a pathetic effort, in truth, in this second half. Just one boundary in the last 30 balls or something.

by king_carlos Sat 08 Jun 2024, 9:30 pm

It's been really poor since Buttler got out. Mo took on that over from Maxi, that's it though. In 8.1 overs of batting with a good platform. It's been incredibly frustrating to watch.

Salvaging net RR as much as possible could be vital for qualifying though.

by alfie Sat 08 Jun 2024, 9:31 pm

Well I was slightly exaggerating with the life support quip...but given the poor NRR after this hammering they are certainly under pressure from here . Don't want any more washouts in the group , and could do with a favour from Australia against Scotland. Not too bullish about their prospects of getting near the sharp end of this WC anyway on what we've seen so far.

by KP_fan Sat 08 Jun 2024, 9:36 pm

Comprehensive.
Didn't even get close like I would have liked.
Missed all the tight games so far.
Cummins is a master of bowling on such pitches.

You have to hit the ground running in a T20 game......which Eng did not

by Duty281 Sat 08 Jun 2024, 9:47 pm

England probably lost it in the first five overs, when they conceded 70.

But there was a great platform from Buttler and Salt, and even when they fell, England were still in a solid position at 93/2 after 10, with the RRR at 10.9.

And then...barely anything. Moeen had one over which was good. It left England needing 13 an over for the next 6, not out of the question, but what happened was not a single boundary for the next 21 balls, which was just terrible. It was a risible effort.

Bairstow is finished at international level. All formats. Needs to be removed from the team and replaced by Duckett. And what was Brook's innings? 20 off 16, timing all over the shop.

Wood, Rashid and Jordan all bowled badly today. Never give Jacks a PowerPlay over again. Bright spots are of course Jofra, Buttler and Salt, with a sprinkling of Moeen.

But it was just very poor stuff overall. England's NRR has been incredibly harmed by the margin, and so they'll need big wins over Namibia and Oman.

I see Scotland have the advantage of playing last. So if England do beat Namibia and Oman, and Scotland beat Oman tomorrow, then the Scots will go into the final game v Australia knowing what margin of defeat will take them through on NRR...of course, they could beat Australia and make it academic!

by guildfordbat Sat 08 Jun 2024, 10:21 pm

Duty281 wrote:England probably lost it in the first five overs, when they conceded 70.

But there was a great platform from Buttler and Salt, and even when they fell, England were still in a solid position at 93/2 after 10, with the RRR at 10.9.

And then...barely anything. Moeen had one over which was good. It left England needing 13 an over for the next 6, not out of the question, but what happened was not a single boundary for the next 21 balls, which was just terrible. It was a risible effort.

Bairstow is finished at international level. All formats. Needs to be removed from the team and replaced by Duckett. And what was Brook's innings? 20 off 16, timing all over the shop.

Wood, Rashid and Jordan all bowled badly today. Never give Jacks a PowerPlay over again. Bright spots are of course Jofra, Buttler and Salt, with a sprinkling of Moeen.

But it was just very poor stuff overall. England's NRR has been incredibly harmed by the margin, and so they'll need big wins over Namibia and Oman.

I see Scotland have the advantage of playing last. So if England do beat Namibia and Oman, and Scotland beat Oman tomorrow, then the Scots will go into the final game v Australia knowing what margin of defeat will take them through on NRR...of course, they could beat Australia and make it academic!

Hi Duty - Just following up on the odd point above -

* Agree that England probably lost it in the first 5 overs. For that reason plus his fine fielding including a decent catch to dismiss Moeen, I would have given MotM to Warner rather than Zampa although I can understand it going to the latter.

* Besides his ineffective batting, Bairstow was also poor and sluggish in the field.

* If results go the way you (and I) expect, then Scotland would be more than happy for the final group game between them and Australia to be a wash out. So Mott and Buttler not just looking at NRRs but also weather forecasts ... not exactly ideal.

by Duty281 Sun 09 Jun 2024, 10:35 am

Bit of a sorry defeat for Uganda overnight.

WI with 173/5. Uganda bowled out for 39! Hosein with 5/11. Next game for the West Indies is v NZ; the group is finished if NZ lose again.

India v Pakistan later, but I suspect all the talk is about the pitch and the potential rain that is forecast. It's close to a must-win for Pakistan after their loss to the USA. And Oman v Scotland. England would like a favour from Oman, even if it would leave the English at the bottom of the group.

by Duty281 Sun 09 Jun 2024, 2:35 pm

Currently raining in New York.

Don't normally feel this way, but if India/Pakistan gets rained off without a ball bowled, I will laugh for days and days at the ICC.

by Duty281 Sun 09 Jun 2024, 3:48 pm

Pakistan won the toss, very important, and will (obviously!) bowl first.

Game was meant to start at 16:00, after an initial delay, but now there's more rain. Think the game will start losing overs at 17:00 UK time.

by Duty281 Sun 09 Jun 2024, 4:29 pm

Managed to get one over in, then the rain started falling again.

It's like a game in England with this on-off rain.

by Duty281 Sun 09 Jun 2024, 5:13 pm

India promoting Axar Patel to 4, after Rohit's dismissal, which is a head scratcher.

This is lefty lefty, also, not like England promoting Moeen for lefty, righty.

by KP_fan Sun 09 Jun 2024, 5:30 pm

It's a seaming pitch....and India proverbially flashing hard.
Indian edges not sticking in hands of pak fielders..

140 could be defendable and 160 a good score i think. Ind has plenty of seam options as they are playing 5 seamers (and 2 spinners)

by KP_fan Sun 09 Jun 2024, 5:31 pm

not the pitch where you aught to bring a spinner after 6 overs

by KP_fan Sun 09 Jun 2024, 5:34 pm

Duty281 wrote:India promoting Axar Patel to 4, after Rohit's dismissal, which is a head scratcher.

This is lefty lefty, also, not like England promoting Moeen for lefty, righty.

India is probably preserving the only specialist batter left in SKY.....who is also a good finisher
Indian composition is 4 allrounders today

by KP_fan Sun 09 Jun 2024, 5:47 pm

One from Imad spun sharply.
Pant did show form in IPL....but that was on Patta pitches minus the pressure.
Good to see is is showing the form and temperament of old

by Duty281 Sun 09 Jun 2024, 5:49 pm

81/3 after 10. Pakistan have bowled a bit better than that. One over from Amir, for example, he found the edge multiple times but didn't get a wicket, and there was a separate chance missed in the deep.

Pant in full flow, though, which is great to see after his long absence.

by KP_fan Sun 09 Jun 2024, 5:59 pm

Surya falls tamely.....he has not been in form so far.
Dube in.....muscular hitter especially against spin.....against 150+ kph dunno how his reflexes are ?

by Duty281 Sun 09 Jun 2024, 6:06 pm

Good innings to watch as a neutral. Pakistan pulling it back again, 95/5. If they can get Pant in the next over or two, they might reckon on limiting India to sub-140.

Oman batting first v the Scots in the other game.

by KP_fan Sun 09 Jun 2024, 6:07 pm

Dube is not cut out for handing such quality pace & that too in seaming conditions....and even if you play him...it's too high a batting spot.
India needed to play Jaiswal or Samson in these "test match" like conditions

by Duty281 Sun 09 Jun 2024, 6:12 pm

And Pant is gone. 89/3 to 96/6. Amir with a very deserved scalp.

But 42 off 31, some amazing shots in there, is an excellent effort on this pitch. India have now got to find a way to get to 140 with what's left. Maybe even 130 will do.

Oh another for Amir! Another one sticking in the pitch, Jadeja offers catching practice. 96/7.

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