2024 T20 World Cup

by Duty281 Wed May 22, 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 **Galted** Sat Jun 15, 2024 7:48 pm

alfie wrote:...and if I seem a bit grumpy it is possibly because I have (unwisely) got up at 3amand nothing to do but hang around looking at a TV set merely showing a graphic of raindrops and the caption "weather delay - please stay tuned"... all rather depressing , waiting for the Official "Abandoned !" Not as if I even much like t20 but reluctant to go back to bed now without some kind of closure.

Suppose Italy v Albania will kick off soon - though that doesn't sound like the Match of the Day exactly...

No use wasting your early wake-up, you want to get leathered and indulge in a pre-dawn mowing of the lawn. Your neighbours won't be thanking you, but f*ck them.

by GSC Sat Jun 15, 2024 7:50 pm

Does present a pretty lopsided semi final lineup with a group of death and a group of check the weather forecast

by Duty281 Sat Jun 15, 2024 7:53 pm

Scotland have gone further than England in a cricket tournament. So have the Yanks.

We're never going to hear the end of it, lads. Just have to hope England win the Euros and Tim Henman finally wins Wimbledon so we can shut them up.

by alfie Sat Jun 15, 2024 8:00 pm

Galted wrote:
alfie wrote:...and if I seem a bit grumpy it is possibly because I have (unwisely) got up at 3amand nothing to do but hang around looking at a TV set merely showing a graphic of raindrops and the caption "weather delay - please stay tuned"... all rather depressing , waiting for the Official "Abandoned !" Not as if I even much like t20 but reluctant to go back to bed now without some kind of closure.

Suppose Italy v Albania will kick off soon - though that doesn't sound like the Match of the Day exactly...
No use wasting your early wake-up, you want to get leathered and indulge in a pre-dawn mowing of the lawn. Your neighbours won't be thanking you, but f*ck them.

Don't really have a lawn , as such ... more a scattered collection of plants , sort of very poor copy of a Japanese Garden. Could take the cat for a walk I suppose ; but it's pretty mouldy weather here too and she doesn't look interested in moving ...

by Duty281 Sat Jun 15, 2024 8:17 pm

Say it quietly, but might be getting cricket...? The BBC's live text is encouraging me to believe.

9pm start. 11 overs a side. I'm impressed they've sorted the outfield out so quickly. But I'd rather a 5 over game to be honest. Imagine if one side bats their 11 and then the heavens reopen. Doesn't bear thinking about.

by king_carlos Sat Jun 15, 2024 8:25 pm

Surprised. Just have to hope there's no more rain.

According to cricinfo it's 11 overs per side but 3 bowlers can bowl 3 overs. Which is odd...? I'd presume it'd be 1 bowler who can bowl 3.

by KP_fan Sat Jun 15, 2024 8:33 pm

In a situation like this where weather has not completely cleared out, it's a mistake to attempt any more than minimum required overs.
11 overs is not a good idea

If it rains again, there may still be time left to bowl 5+5 overs, bit not enuf time to bowl 11+ 5 overs.
And inspite of having the time available to get a min game, they will end up with no result.

They shud do just a 5 over game

by Duty281 Sat Jun 15, 2024 8:36 pm

Imagine we get through all of this angst, England beat Namibia and the weather....only for Scotland to topple the Aussies. Laugh

by KP_fan Sat Jun 15, 2024 8:36 pm

I also don't under why 3 bowlers can bowl 3 overs each as CI says?
it should be 5 bowlers 2 overs each and 1 of them can bowl 3

I think CI has gotten it wrong

by Duty281 Sat Jun 15, 2024 8:44 pm

No Wood (expected) but also no Jacks (unexpected). Erm

Curran and Jordan come in.

Namibia bowling first.

by king_carlos Sat Jun 15, 2024 8:44 pm

Jordan for Wood and Surran for Jacks. The second one is interesting. Especially for an 11 over game!

I'd presume that Brook will come up to 3 and Surran slot into the lower middle order.

by VTR Sat Jun 15, 2024 8:45 pm

Well at least there's no chance of Jacks opening the bowling

by alfie Sat Jun 15, 2024 8:46 pm

11 over game ? Is it really going to happen ?

Not getting too excited as another half hour before it gets going so plenty of time for another downpour. Cricket seems to like these exact starting and finishing times : why not , say , 8.47 pm ?

Now since they will (hopefully!) be starting well before 4.46 (that was an odd cut off time though !) : does it mean that the 11 overs could still be reduced further if it rained again ? I mean it would make sense but I doubt the complex regulations can have enough flexibility to cope with all this. And finally : IF the game gets started OK and one side receives 11 overs , what is the cut off time for finishing the match ? (either wholly or Duckworth rules ) ?

Ah well...Namibia to bowl first . I see England took my advice and rested Jacks to get the extra seamer in.

Fingers crossed but keep the umbrellas handy...

by alfie Sat Jun 15, 2024 8:47 pm

KP_fan wrote:In a situation like this where weather has not completely cleared out, it's a mistake to attempt any more than minimum required overs.
11 overs is not a good idea

If it rains again, there may still be time left to bowl 5+5 overs, bit not enuf time to bowl 11+ 5 overs.
And inspite of having the time available to get a min game, they will end up with no result.

They shud do just a 5 over game

That would seem logical. Which is probably why they don't do it Smile

by alfie Sat Jun 15, 2024 8:48 pm

KP_fan wrote:I also don't under why 3 bowlers can bowl 3 overs each as CI says?
it should be 5 bowlers 2 overs each and 1 of them can bowl 3

I think CI has gotten it wrong

Yeah it is only one bowler to bowl three.

by **Pal Joey** Sat Jun 15, 2024 8:54 pm

Bloody hell.. the flags can hardly fit on the field. This will be over quickly, I feel.

by alfie Sat Jun 15, 2024 8:54 pm

And why mess around with anthems and ceremonial stuff when you want to complete a game in limited time ? Grrrr

by KP_fan Sat Jun 15, 2024 8:55 pm

Also niceties like bringing trophy & anthems should be done even while there is drizzle or waiting for ground to dry.
Instead of eating up the time when there is a clear weather window

Cricket is the game that's not move on enuf with commonsense

by alfie Sat Jun 15, 2024 8:56 pm

Ha. Despite my sneer at Italy/Albania as worthy viewing I note Albania did score in the first minute ! Normal service resumed though with Italy up 2-1 at HT.

by GSC Sat Jun 15, 2024 8:58 pm

I feel like with the number of domed stadiums the us have, it would've been possible to have one set around to host games the following day

by Duty281 Sat Jun 15, 2024 9:02 pm

alfie wrote:11 over game ? Is it really going to happen ?

Not getting too excited as another half hour before it gets going so plenty of time for another downpour. Cricket seems to like these exact starting and finishing times : why not , say , 8.47 pm ?

Now since they will (hopefully!) be starting well before 4.46 (that was an odd cut off time though !) : does it mean that the 11 overs could still be reduced further if it rained again ? I mean it would make sense but I doubt the complex regulations can have enough flexibility to cope with all this. And finally : IF the game gets started OK and one side receives 11 overs , what is the cut off time for finishing the match ? (either wholly or Duckworth rules ) ?

Ah well...Namibia to bowl first . I see England took my advice and rested Jacks to get the extra seamer in.

Fingers crossed but keep the umbrellas handy...

I think if more rain happens they'll have 45 minutes leeway to get back on, but not really sure!

Does look quite dark out there at the moment.

by alfie Sat Jun 15, 2024 9:06 pm

Namibia all over England so far ...

by Duty281 Sat Jun 15, 2024 9:11 pm

Wiese unplayable at the moment.

England might be regretting not having Jacks.

by KP_fan Sat Jun 15, 2024 9:15 pm

The ball is sticking in the pitch, and something in air and off the pitch for seamers.
This is what sticky wicket was coined for.

Eng need to re-calibrate and have a total in mind.
On the other hand if they are 30 off in 5 overs and it rains and Nambia come back to play 5 overs.....they'd be favorite to chase iti down

by alfie Sat Jun 15, 2024 9:18 pm

Tricky business this 11 over innings...damp surface , lord knows what is a good score here... good toss to win maybe.

by Duty281 Sat Jun 15, 2024 9:19 pm

29/2 after 4, but hopefully getting into the weaker bowlers now.

10 an over from here gets 99 which I think England would take.

by KP_fan Sat Jun 15, 2024 9:20 pm

Bairstow is beginning to look like Mike Gatting

by KP_fan Sat Jun 15, 2024 9:32 pm

that was a run out missed.
Erasmus is easiest to hit , but I guess Nam want to get his 2 overs out of the way

by Duty281 Sat Jun 15, 2024 9:32 pm

Brook and Bairstow motoring now. 40 off the next three overs and England's ambitions will be closer to 120 than 99.

by KP_fan Sat Jun 15, 2024 9:34 pm

When you have a weak link like Erasmus....bowl him in the end
The other spinner looks decent

by king_carlos Sat Jun 15, 2024 9:34 pm

KP_fan wrote:Bairstow is beginning to look like Mike Gatting

It's nuts how much he changed as an athlete after that leg break. He was insanely athletic for a cricketer in his prime. Topping England's speed test over 40 metres. A fantastic rugby player in his youth. One of the best boundary fielders and runners between the wicket in the game a few years ago. Since the leg break, he's been a bit chubby and mostly moving terribly in the field.

It's been a good hand from him so far today though. It's very Bairstow indeed. Questions around his future as an England player. 2 down early in a must win game. Playing well.

Good from Brook too. SR of nearly 200, hitting gaps in the field well to get 2s.

by king_carlos Sat Jun 15, 2024 9:36 pm

An ugly dismissal for YJB just after I say he's playing well. I should've slagged him off more.

A good innings in the circumstances though. Stabilised things and scored quickly whilst doing so.

SLA is a really good matchup for Mo to come in for. And he immediately utilises it!

by Duty281 Sat Jun 15, 2024 9:37 pm

Rain.

This'll make it worse because England will have been rained off in two winning positions.

by king_carlos Sat Jun 15, 2024 9:39 pm

Watching on TV it looks very blue overhead...

by GSC Sat Jun 15, 2024 9:40 pm

Might not be long but this definitely doesn't help with England probably looking to crash 40-50 from the last 3

by GSC Sat Jun 15, 2024 9:42 pm

82-3, probably no more for england so what will the target be in 8 overs or so?

by alfie Sat Jun 15, 2024 9:42 pm

Bloody rain ! Talk about water torture...

Decent score after 8 despite that rotten start : Yorkshire pair did well to retrieve the position . But now if the game is shortened again Namibia might fancy just swinging at everything and who knows ?

Can see some blue sky so maybe not too long a delay.

by KP_fan Sat Jun 15, 2024 9:43 pm

Mistake by Nam to have given Erasmus 2nd over.....could have been 5 to 10 runs less.
Should bowl your best bowlers in general first when more rain expected.

And here specifically should have gotten 9 overs out with seamers first

by Duty281 Sat Jun 15, 2024 9:43 pm

Cricinfo say these will be Namibia's targets:

93 - 8 overs 83 - 7 overs 73 - 6 overs 63 - 5 overs

by alfie Sat Jun 15, 2024 9:44 pm

Duty281 wrote:Rain.

This'll make it worse because England will have been rained off in two winning positions.

Scots might reckon the first one wasn't exactly a "winning position" - for England anyway Smile

But all hypothetical now.

by alfie Sat Jun 15, 2024 9:45 pm

So : T10 now Smile

by king_carlos Sat Jun 15, 2024 9:45 pm

Surran for Jacks felt like insanity on face value but seam has looked far more tricky to face on this pitch. It might've been really astute. He'll suit the ball swinging early and sticking in the pitch. England have Keiron Pollard working with them to advise on conditions. I didn't consider it at the toss, but, 4 seamers in the XI is starting to look like it makes a lot of sense.

Covers coming off.

by Duty281 Sat Jun 15, 2024 9:46 pm

Looks like England are batting again.

I don't like the look of that. Going to lose more time on the changeover.

Hmm...10 overs. No more for Wiese then. Can England launch 30 or so?

by Duty281 Sat Jun 15, 2024 9:51 pm

19 off that over. Very Happy

Harry Brook has arrived.

by alfie Sat Jun 15, 2024 9:51 pm

Harry Brook having fun now...

by king_carlos Sat Jun 15, 2024 9:53 pm

Excellent from Brook. Smart and skilled batting.

by Duty281 Sat Jun 15, 2024 9:59 pm

Well never mind 30, England took 40 from those two overs!

A very commanding position. Just a question of whether England can send down five overs to complete the game first. Sun's out at the moment.

by GSC Sat Jun 15, 2024 10:03 pm

Over rate might not be an issue

by king_carlos Sat Jun 15, 2024 10:04 pm

Good from England in the end. Especially from Brook but a very important knock from Bairstow. Then Mo and Livi performing their roles well.

Adjusted up to 126 by DLS as England started the innings expecting 11 overs.

Do England risk starting with Mo first up to race through 2 overs early, get to that 5 over mark?

I certainly wasn't expecting to feel this upbeat tonight when the outfield was underwater!

by GSC Sat Jun 15, 2024 10:05 pm

I don't really understand NRR or DLS but we'll take it

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