2024 T20 World Cup

by Duty281 Wed May 22, 2024 3:04 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 alfie Sun Jun 16, 2024 1:08 am

So after a DLS adjustment , Namibia need 127.

You'd fancy England to defend that. Just need to get the overs in.

After that horrible start , Bairstow and Brook played really well : didn't panic , hit and ran aggressively to set the innings up - and both Moeen and Livingstone played the perfect finishing roles. Given the conditions , that 47no might be Brook's best t20 knock so far...

by GSC Sun Jun 16, 2024 1:09 am

Surely in the event of rain we can skip the interval. We're only going to play 20 overs anyway

by alfie Sun Jun 16, 2024 1:10 am

king_carlos wrote: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!

Don't think so. Use the big guns , Topley , Archer , up top , I reckon.

by GSC Sun Jun 16, 2024 1:13 am

Doesn't help to rush through 5 overs and be 60-0 when rain comes.

by GSC Sun Jun 16, 2024 1:27 am

1 over until we have a match. Scotland won't be thanking Namibias approach so far

by alfie Sun Jun 16, 2024 1:31 am

Wood and Archer got the wickets against Oman - and deserved credit; but I reckon Topley is the key bowler in this format. Excellent here again. Five overs done so that's the rain out of the equation!

by Duty281 Sun Jun 16, 2024 1:31 am

The miracle of Antigua is nearly complete.

The ground was a swamp with alligators just three hours ago.

by GSC Sun Jun 16, 2024 1:32 am

93 needed from 5, not a huge amount of ambition being shown

by king_carlos Sun Jun 16, 2024 1:34 am

5 overs bowled, we've got a game. Erm

In 'ridiculous things to notice' watch. Did anyone else see that filthy one handed pickup by Jordan? Last ball of the over, Salt throwing in. It's landed around Jordan's feet in that horrid place to keep a good sight of them. He's just taken it one handed, on the half volley, for the hell of it.

by alfie Sun Jun 16, 2024 1:36 am

One successful big hit off Rashid but nothing since... this is well under control. Now I wonder how the weather is looking at Gros Islet ?

by Duty281 Sun Jun 16, 2024 1:36 am

Think we can also put Scotland losing and still overturning the NRR out of the equation.

They'd probably have to score 600 in a defeat for that to happen.

by GSC Sun Jun 16, 2024 1:38 am

...did they just pull the opening batter?

by king_carlos Sun Jun 16, 2024 1:40 am

Retired out to get Wiese in. Something I'm expecting to see much more of as T20 develops. Love to see it!

Alfie - Judging by Cricket Scotland's Twitter post when it was pissing down... I think the weather's been fairly nice out there. Laugh

by Duty281 Sun Jun 16, 2024 1:41 am

I don't mind pulling the batter if he's not performing, I think we should see more of it, this just seems like a bizarre and humiliating way to do it with no chance of Namibia pulling it back.

Think Cricket Scotland were slightly taking the p!ss out of England by pointing out how lovely it was in St. Lucia.

by king_carlos Sun Jun 16, 2024 1:41 am

Duty281 wrote:Think we can also put Scotland losing and still overturning the NRR out of the equation.

They'd probably have to score 600 in a defeat for that to happen.

Enter George Munsey's switch hit.

by GSC Sun Jun 16, 2024 1:43 am

Feels a bit late in the picture to make any difference. And he had the higher strike rate of the two Laugh

Namibia havent even tried, weird chase

by GSC Sun Jun 16, 2024 1:44 am

Probably should've opened with Wiese

by alfie Sun Jun 16, 2024 1:45 am

Wiese murdering Rashid's second over ! So they need 55 more off two overs...Jordan and Archer , I guess.

by alfie Sun Jun 16, 2024 1:51 am

Yeah I think Wiese should have opened. Is a slight concern England are yet to take a wicket in the two "shortened" games ? .... ha . Cue a Brook catch at long on. Jofra will have a fairly comfortable cushion ...

by GSC Sun Jun 16, 2024 1:51 am

You can probably lose on DLS defending 46 from one over

by alfie Sun Jun 16, 2024 1:57 am

So job done. Time for a nap now before the Scots destroy Australia...

by GSC Sun Jun 16, 2024 1:57 am

Full range of emotions. Now if Australias second XI can be as compliant as Namibia

by Duty281 Sun Jun 16, 2024 1:59 am

Yep, not a worry in the world with this one. I can see the Scotland/Australia game now.

Australia bat first and play 120 forward defences.

"We just couldn't get the ball off the square," reflected Warner, with a wink to the camera.

by GSC Sun Jun 16, 2024 2:01 am

Hah, I imagine the icc will have been in touch this week to at least make it look convincing

by king_carlos Sun Jun 16, 2024 2:01 am

Thank f**k for that. I thought it was all done when that heavy rain was coming down just after the planned start time. Thankfully, the sand outfield drained insanely quickly.

Over to the Oz v Scotland game then...

by Duty281 Sun Jun 16, 2024 2:41 am

Duty281 wrote:Think we can also put Scotland losing and still overturning the NRR out of the equation.

They'd probably have to score 600 in a defeat for that to happen.

@GeoffLemonSport
England up to a net run rate of 3.611, which means that Scotland can still progress while losing as long as Australia score 1010 and Scotland make 1009.

Cheers, Geoff.

by king_carlos Sun Jun 16, 2024 2:51 am

Geoff got done a little bit dirty by the text comms earlier I felt. During the rain delay they had a little discussion panel between a few journalists on TMS. The bit they quoted onto the text chat was just Geoff saying England couldn't feel hard done by as they did have a chance to beat Australia. Which in text looked like a very harsh and unequivocal take with multiple ponds on the outfield and England looking cooked. In the context of the discussion, things were a bit more nuanced though.

by alfie Sun Jun 16, 2024 5:37 am

Hmm. Scotland carving up the Australian bowling...136/3 now in the fifteenth...McMullen a brilliant 60 off 33. Dropped several catches ...though as I type they've held one so 136/4 Going to need to bat better than this bowling/fielding effort to chase down the eventual target , one would think.

by alfie Sun Jun 16, 2024 6:06 am

So Australia need 181 to win. Not a walk in the park , you'd think , though it looks good batting conditions. Imagine they'd maybe have a quiet chuckle if Scotland knocked England out : but their pride won't let them fall short for lack effort. England might be watching with some anxiety though...

by alfie Sun Jun 16, 2024 6:21 am

Warner gone for 1. Good start for Scotland...

by alfie Sun Jun 16, 2024 6:40 am

Aussies struggling in the power play...just 34/1 after 5 overs....and now 2 down as Marsh holes out for a scratchy 8 from 9. Dare one say Scotland are in a winning position ?

by alfie Sun Jun 16, 2024 6:53 am

47/2 after 7. Only Head has been able to get the ball off the square . Another 134 looking a tall order at present. Some inspired work from Scotland today and the Aussies have been just a little "off". Maxwell getting going now so too early to call it...59/2 from 8.

by alfie Sun Jun 16, 2024 6:55 am

But Maxwell gone now ! A peach from Watt cleans him up...60/3 and this is really looking like a Big Upset...

by alfie Sun Jun 16, 2024 7:09 am

Just 74/3 at halfway. Scotland have bowled well and if they can handle the pressure of the later overs they are surely favourites to close this out. Not counting Australia out yet , but...

by alfie Sun Jun 16, 2024 7:15 am

Pace off the ball is strangling Australia. Might be a clue for their opponents in the next stage. With another 90 needed off 45 balls I think England probably can start packing their bags.

by alfie Sun Jun 16, 2024 7:29 am

Stoinis launching a few now...has caught up with Head in half the balls... 121/3 from 15 so five overs to get 60...this partnership has rekindled Australia's - and England's - hopes. Head sparked into life against this over from Sharif...6 6 wide 6...but now caught at long off ! 140/4 so need 41 more from 26 balls........

by alfie Sun Jun 16, 2024 7:31 am

Honestly didn't expect this absorbing contest. Four overs left: 36 runs required. If Stoinis stays in Australia win...but if he gets out ???

by alfie Sun Jun 16, 2024 7:36 am

And Stoinis is out ! 59 off 29 has brought Australia back into the game ; but up to David and Wade now to finish. Need 26 from three overs...

by alfie Sun Jun 16, 2024 7:46 am

Wade with a flurry of boundaries...down to run a ball needed now at 168/5. Pressure on Sharif bowling the 19th. And a wide now might be crucial as it means they need just 5 from the last over. Will NRR come back into this ?!

by alfie Sun Jun 16, 2024 7:54 am

1 1 ...dropped at deep mid wicket !!!!! Oh dear...Sole has dropped the game as David ends it with a six...what a finish ! Australia save embarrassment and England survive. But feel for the brave Scots who so nearly did that. If that catch was held it would seen a new batsman in needing 3 from 3...

by alfie Sun Jun 16, 2024 7:59 am

NRR was not an issue at all even though this game was close. Australia will take heart from pulling it out of the fire thanks mainly to Stoinis. Oh and David - i wrongly credited those boundaries to Wade in the excitement. But I think India , Afghanistan and Bangladesh will have taken note of their struggles against spin.

by VTR Sun Jun 16, 2024 9:57 am

Blimey, looks like Scotland almost did it! Relief then for England on two counts, and they definitely can't be written off in this format

Also though a good workout for Australia to have a tight chase, honing their match sharpness for the later stages

by KP_fan Sun Jun 16, 2024 10:27 am

I wake up to see:
Namibia did 84-3 in 10 overs.......7 wkts in hand why didn't they go harder?
well had they used their seamer more astutely to keep Eng to 100ish.......there was a game.
And Scot nearly defeated Aus . Wow 2024 T20 World Cup - Page 9 1f636

Scots now must be thinking they are hard done by Rain......could have been in next round , had the Eng game been completed

by VTR Sun Jun 16, 2024 11:06 am

I think Namibia struggled, as you would expect against Topley and Archer then had some late fun against the change bowlers. In essence the scoreline makes it look closer than it was, they were never in that chase. Namibia can't just launch Topley and Archer into the stands to order

by GSC Sun Jun 16, 2024 11:49 am

Fair play to Scotland, didn't think they had that in them, but under serious pressure they almost pulled it off. Can take a lot from how theyve acquitted themselves compared to some

by alfie Sun Jun 16, 2024 11:52 am

One way or another , that was a pretty tense morning (Melbourne time). England must have been mightily relieved that the wretched rain let up just in time for a game - and also that their middle order were able to put up a score after the rather dramatic early loss of the only 2 batsmen who had really had any previous time at the crease in this WC. Does tend to support my feeling that the batting isn't too bad - despite failing badly against Australia.
Also pleasing to see the bowlers doing the job quite professionally. I do think Topley is a very important cog in that wheel ; and in conditions anything like this Curran is probably better value than a third potential spinner - though we need to consider horses for courses as the games proceed.

And significantly , I think the under pressure leadership pairing of Mott and Buttler seem to have handled the problems and early setbacks much better than they did in the 50 over WC , where they seemed to panic a bit after the initial loss to NZ. Their future may yet depend on how the second group stage goes ; but they got it right here with selections and tactics so I call that a very good start...

As for that second game : phew ! At only halfway from 13 overs , with even Head struggling to score with any fluency , Australia were all but done : but Stoinis ignited things in a sensational blitz , inspiring Head to join in and see 53 added from the next three overs to completely transform the match. Still a tight finish but that was where it was won. Full credit to Scotland for giving Australia such a fright ; and I guess they might feel a little unfortunate they didn't get the chance to play the England game to a finish after their good start with the bat : this was arguably their best showing on the International stage clap

Group stage has confounded my expectations by producing several upsets and surprise qualification for USA : just a pity the weather has had such a disproportionate effect on several matches. Hope it will be kinder to the second stage - and I will not even attempt to call how that will end up...

by GSC Sun Jun 16, 2024 11:56 am

Add how the second group stage is put together to things I don't understand

But seems England will be with the US, SA and WI? So a kinder group if they can round into form.

by alfie Sun Jun 16, 2024 12:35 pm

The groups were sort of "pre-selected" - assuming the seeded teams made it through . Reason being touring fans could book in advance knowing where their team would be playing at any point...so when Afghanistan effectively took NZ's place (and presumably Bangladesh Sri Lanka's) they inherited the other's seeding and draw. Originally , England were expected to get Pakistan as a second group opponent - but now USA.

by Duty281 Sun Jun 16, 2024 3:02 pm

Just caught up with Australia/Scotland. Bit close at one point, Scotland were favourites when Maxwell went, but Stoinis' counter attack won the game for Australia. England can breathe a sigh of relief. It would have been very unjust if they had gone out. And remember those NRR concerns? England have currently got the 2nd best NRR of all 20 teams!

On to the Super Eights (after some dead rubbers). The only not confirmed team is Bangladesh. But the only way they miss out is if they lose to Nepal, and the Dutch beat Sri Lanka, and the Dutch overturn the NRR. Which I think is pretty unlikely.

The groups were indeed pre seeded and are like this:

Group 1 - India, Australia, Afghanistan, Bangladesh (95% certain)
Group 2 - England, South Africa, West Indies, USA

The team that finishes 1st will play the team that finishes 2nd in the other group (x2) in the semi finals.

The semi finals are somewhat confusing. The first semi-final will be played on the evening (local time) of the 26th in Trinidad. The second semi-final will be on the morning (local time) of the 27th in Guyana. Not much time between them and a KO game not played at night is strange. India, if they qualify, will be playing in the second semi final on the 27th. This is for the benefit of the TV audiences in India.

The first semi-final has a reserve day (which I think clashes with the second semi final). The second semi-final (India's) does not. This is because cricket is stupid and I don't know why anyone, including myself, likes it.

But do you know what's even stupider? They've only allocated 250 minutes of reserve time for the day of the second semi final. So, the second semi final, which is a morning start, could be called off at about 15:30 local time.....even though there's hours and hours and hours of extra free time available after that. But, no, cricket has to be stupid and have no reserve days and has to call off games at 15:30, even though there's no logical reason why they can't take to the field at 20:00 or whatever!

Oh well. The team finishing first in this second group stage will reach the final if either semi-final is rained off. So there is some incentive to finish first.

Fixture list for the Super Eights:

Spoiler:

Australia will be facing a spin trial in their sub continental group. I think Bangladesh, presuming they get there, are the clear weakest team. Afghanistan have the potential to go all the way, and I think the game against Australia will be the key one. India are group stage heavyweights and should have no issues advancing.

Group 2 is very intriguing as well. The USA are obviously the weakest looking team, but they upset Pakistan and gave India a bit of a minor fright. I really doubt the USA can engineer further upsets on more batting friendly wickets away from New York, but we'll see. Not a lot between the other three teams in the group. West Indies are firing pretty well it seems and I think will advance. But between SA/Eng...very close. SA have had an odd tournament, should have lost to Bangladesh and probably Nepal, and the Dutch nearly toppled them, but somehow they've come through with a perfect record which points to a tremendous spirit. England have only had one major test thus far and they failed in all departments. But will the morale boost at having come back from adversity, allied with the team gaining confidence from some fairly simple wins, be enough here?

The way the fixtures are lined up is also interesting. South Africa have got the USA first, so you'd think that should be two points right away and pressure straight on to the West Indies and England, with the losers of that clash a few hours later needing a perfect run from there on. Similar for Australia's game against Bangladesh.

The two groups just look excellent and it should be a good week of cricket, if the rain stays away. NRR could be crucial even if the rain doesn't hit, as three way ties are very plausible.

by VTR Sun Jun 16, 2024 4:51 pm

One thing I won't be doing is trying to predict any of this. England have won the World T20 twice after pretty abject group stages. I expect other countries have similar tales. People have built entire careers from talking about the 4 balls when they actually did anything decent. Should be fun anyway!

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