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 GSC Mon 24 Jun 2024, 9:11 am

Playing the semi without a reserve day so scuppered if ~~India are behind on winviz~~ it rains

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Mon 24 Jun 2024, 9:11 am

alfie wrote:This SA innings has been a wild ride already : 3 fours first over and two vital Russell wickets in the second before the rain pelted down. ...and apologies for no earlier match report but between late night cricket and early morning Football Disaster for Scotland I missed the WI innings altogether...you'll all have to read back Cricinfo or watch the highlights

Poor excuse - you are my cricinfo Alfie

by Duty281 Mon 24 Jun 2024, 11:10 am

A thrilling quarter-final that one. Roston Chase didn't get it, but he deserves MOTM for his 52 and 3/12 which got the West Indies so close. And he was an inch away from bowling Rabada which would have likely got the WI through to the semis.

Chase's innings was the only one of note for the West Indies as they struggled up to 135, with Pooran going for just 1. The West Indies fell into the classic trap of batting first where they lost wickets in a pursuit of 160+ when, actually, 145 might have sufficed on a tricky pitch that was slowing up. A key moment was Russell being run out after a brilliant direct hit from Nortje, just as he looked set to launch West Indies up to 150. Shamsi and Maharaj were superb.

The chase was a proper see-saw. I praised the two spinners Hosein and Motie earlier, but they faltered badly and went for a combined 0/51 from 5 overs on a pitch that was helpful to their bowling. That was the difference in a tight game. Instead it fell to Joseph, Russell and Chase to deliver, but they didn't quite have enough. No standouts in the SA batting, though perhaps Jansen deserves the main credit for his composure at the end.

SA continue their 100% record and continue their run of winning tight games. Amazing steel and resolve. Can they go all the way?

India v England certainly looks like one of the semis (a good time for English viewers as well as Indian). South Africa v Australia/Afghanistan the other. And that will be sorted out today.

Great game, great tournament.

by KP_fan Mon 24 Jun 2024, 12:57 pm

For Avoidance of Doubt here is the rain rule for semi-finals 2024 T20 World Cup - Page 15 1f617

by GSC Mon 24 Jun 2024, 1:01 pm

Perhaps it's telling there's a lack of noise about that particular rule. Nonsense either way, how can one semi final get a reserve day and not the other in a serious competition

by Duty281 Mon 24 Jun 2024, 1:04 pm

And the other nonsense thing is the second semi final (the one without a reserve day) starts at 10:30 local time, but if it rains it gets called off around 16:00/17:00, rather than waiting to see if a game is possible in the evening.

Hopefully there's no rain and it's decided by cricket.

by **Galted** Mon 24 Jun 2024, 1:20 pm

KP_fan wrote:
Aus will have at most 2 wins and cannot take over India on NRR, even if they win

I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that Aus can't overtake India's run-rate:
by my calculations if Aus were to make 160 and bowl India out for 119 or below the NRR would be overturned in Aus's favour. Likewise if India made 160 Aus would have to knock off the runs in 15 overs or fewer.
I wouldn't be putting too much money on it but it's certainly within the realms of possibility.

by KP_fan Mon 24 Jun 2024, 1:42 pm

Galted wrote:
KP_fan wrote:
Aus will have at most 2 wins and cannot take over India on NRR, even if they win

I don't think it's a foregone conclusion that Aus can't overtake India's run-rate:
by my calculations if Aus were to make 160 and bowl India out for 119 or below the NRR would be overturned in Aus's favour. Likewise if India made 160 Aus would have to knock off the runs in 15 overs or fewer.
I wouldn't be putting too much money on it but it's certainly within the realms of possibility.

If Aus made 160 and restricted India to 140
then Aus NRR would rise to 0.52 and Indian NRR would still be 1.28

If Aus made 160 & restricted India to 120
Indian NRR would be 0.955 & Aussie NRR would still only rise to 0.916

Yes your calculation is in right balpak......
If Aus was to win by ~45 runs or conversely chase down with 5 to 6 overs to spare...they would overcome India.

Because one is rising & falling at cost of each other, it's closer than I intuitively thought

by GSC Mon 24 Jun 2024, 3:41 pm

This is absolutely primed for Kohli to score 80 against England in the semis

by GSC Mon 24 Jun 2024, 3:50 pm

35-1 after 3 and I don't know where to begin describing them

by GSC Mon 24 Jun 2024, 3:56 pm

Rohit nails Cummins for another 6 and they're off for rain

by king_carlos Mon 24 Jun 2024, 3:59 pm

Kohli and Pant, 1 run from 11 balls.

Rohit, 41 runs, including 5 sixes, from 14 balls.

Laugh

by GSC Mon 24 Jun 2024, 4:02 pm

king_carlos wrote:Kohli and Pant, 1 run from 11 balls.

Rohit, 41 runs, including 5 sixes, from 14 balls.

Josh Hazlewood: 2 overs, 3 runs, 1 wicket
Mitchell Starc: 2 overs, 34 runs
Pat Cummins: 1 ball, 6 runs

by GSC Mon 24 Jun 2024, 4:07 pm

Rohit 50 and the next top scorer is wides Laugh

by king_carlos Mon 24 Jun 2024, 4:09 pm

On the one hand, I've been struggling to look past Bumrah winning this World Cup without even needing 10 teammates.

On the other hand, it feels tantalisingly poised for another CWC style train wreck after being the best team in the tournament. Fly through to the final at a canter. Then score 165-2 batting cautiously on what might be a tricky wicket. Then SA chases it down in about 11 overs with Klaasen's scoring 95* of 40 balls as it turns out the pitch was really a road from the start.

by Duty281 Mon 24 Jun 2024, 4:12 pm

Great start for ~~India~~ Rohit and Afghanistan.

by GSC Mon 24 Jun 2024, 4:12 pm

Hazlewood having a calm and quiet 3 overs and then everything else

by GSC Mon 24 Jun 2024, 4:13 pm

We sure this is the same pitch England and SA played on

by Duty281 Mon 24 Jun 2024, 4:33 pm

Highest individual score in a World Cup T20 is McCullum's 123.

Rohit on 89* (from 37!) at halfway.

by GSC Mon 24 Jun 2024, 4:34 pm

Quickest ton is 47 so nailed on if he doesn't get out

by GSC Mon 24 Jun 2024, 4:43 pm

Booo

Astonishing innings comes to an end

by Duty281 Mon 24 Jun 2024, 4:50 pm

Destined for no centuries at this World Cup.

by GSC Mon 24 Jun 2024, 4:54 pm

Think we can probably pencil in that England India semi final

by alfie Mon 24 Jun 2024, 4:59 pm

Australia going to have a pretty big target to chase here...Starc going for plenty but has his second big wicket now. A cunning plan , apparently: would have looked a bit silly had Yadav just left it and collected one for the wide though Wink

by alfie Mon 24 Jun 2024, 5:06 pm

Amazing figures for Hazlewood amid all this carnage ! 14 off four...everyone else 152 off 12... still that over has paused the run avalanche and suddenly batting doesn't look so easy. 200 plus no longer certain...

by alfie Mon 24 Jun 2024, 5:22 pm

That awful Marsh drop of Pandya a bit costly. But I guess keeping India to this 205 represents something of a comeback after the Rohit onslaught. Going to need some magic from the likes of Head Warner and Maxwell, you'd think.

by KP_fan Mon 24 Jun 2024, 5:25 pm

205 is an above par score I think, make to look easy by the amazing Rohit inning.
Pandya ensured RR did not fall below 10 in the end.
Pant got carried away trying to play like Rohit.
Dubey showed how a good batsman will have to struggle to score at even 8RPO on this pitch.

by Duty281 Mon 24 Jun 2024, 5:30 pm

That's well above par and the wicket will probably slow up/has already slowed up a touch.

Going to need someone in that Aussie top four to match Rohit, otherwise they'll be sweating on Afghanistan/Bangladesh tonight. A heavy defeat could also destroy Australia's NRR and might mean Afghanistan don't even need to win, so that could be something to consider.

by alfie Mon 24 Jun 2024, 5:50 pm

Would be seriously shocked if Afghanistan don't beat Bangladesh so reckon Australia are chasing for their spot. They have the players who could bring off such a chase - Warner gone but we all know what Maxwell and Stoinis can do ...and Marsh has started lije he knows he owes his team a few...

by Duty281 Mon 24 Jun 2024, 6:04 pm

Strong PowerPlay for Australia. 65/1.

But they've got to keep going hard every over to keep up with the rate. Time for Kuldeep.

by alfie Mon 24 Jun 2024, 6:06 pm

Aussies racing now...couple of 14 run overs and that's a handy 65 from the power play. India under a bit of pressure as they are matching their own RR...think this one is wide open. Not much fun for the bowlers on this strip...

by Duty281 Mon 24 Jun 2024, 6:17 pm

Oh my word what a catch from Axar Patel. Outrageous!

Catch of the tournament. One handed, in the air, magic.

by alfie Mon 24 Jun 2024, 6:18 pm

Pandya getting murdered here. Looks like the weakest link for India. Reckon Australia might be favourites from here . Yes they have to keep pressing ; but India failed to finish (just 46 from their last 33 balls ) and I don't think Australia will. A wicket could change things , of course. But India need to break this stand soon ...and they have ! What a catch by Axar !

by king_carlos Mon 24 Jun 2024, 6:22 pm

Fantastic bowling by Kuldeep given the situation. He really put the squeeze on.

Head is obviously the key. Not only is he a gun and the set batter, he's the only leftie until Wade. Bowling Jadeja (and Axar again) will be a more viable option if it's two right-handers at the crease. I can only presume that's why Hardik is continuing here...?

by alfie Mon 24 Jun 2024, 6:24 pm

Big moments, eh ? Maxwell in...he and Head are probably the keys to this chase. Halfway score a bit less than India's and Pandya only has one more over - thankfully for India Wink

But the chase is definitely on...

by Duty281 Mon 24 Jun 2024, 6:24 pm

Looking like Head or bust for Australia, unless Maxwell joins in. Still nearly 11 an over required from here and that's a hell of a pace to keep up for 10 overs.

Bumrah, Arshdeep and Kuldeep have six of the ten overs.

by king_carlos Mon 24 Jun 2024, 6:25 pm

You surely either try Jadeja from that end or bring Bumrah back for one early?

by Duty281 Mon 24 Jun 2024, 6:28 pm

Couple of lapses from India in the field, after previously being brilliant, not helping their cause.

Maxwell going for it now. 16 off 5!

Got to get Bumrah for the next, I think, and try and get another wicket. Required rate is down to 10.

by king_carlos Mon 24 Jun 2024, 6:30 pm

Yep, surely Bumrah now.

I must say, I was thinking Jadeja from the other end for the 12th over. I wouldn't have changed Kuldeep after such a good start!

by alfie Mon 24 Jun 2024, 6:33 pm

Don't often see Jadeja smashed like that. Kuldeep doing his best but he's only got one more over. Not sure how India can stop the charge from here ? 81 from 8 seems very reasonable the way this game has gone.

by Duty281 Mon 24 Jun 2024, 6:38 pm

Bit of a choke applied by Kuldeep and Axar - 12 runs off 2 overs - then Kuldeep clean bowls Maxwell.

Pressure pays off. That required rate nearly two a ball as Stoinis comes out.

by alfie Mon 24 Jun 2024, 6:38 pm

Good over from Axar...and now Kuldeep has Maxwell...bit of a twist. Here comes Stoinis ...

by alfie Mon 24 Jun 2024, 6:43 pm

So India have fought back...but Kuldeep is done. If Head stays in Australia will still fancy it...but Stoinis is gone as Axar continues to impress after a ropey first over...really is a lot down to Head now...

by king_carlos Mon 24 Jun 2024, 6:45 pm

2 runs a ball with Bumrah still to come back feels a steep ask even for Head!

by alfie Mon 24 Jun 2024, 6:52 pm

Yeah advantage India after those last couple of overs from Axar and Kuldeep. Need a twenty plus over...not easy against Bumrah Wink

by Duty281 Mon 24 Jun 2024, 6:54 pm

This is also why I don't like DLS.

If the rain had fallen during overs 6-11, Australia were probably in front for the majority of that time and would have been awarded the game. But the reality is it's very difficult to keep such a high tempo going through a full 20 overs and it's not properly accounted for with DLS.

And now Head goes. Very good effort, he nearly replicated Rohit, but that's the game now. Nervy watch for Australia later.

by GSC Mon 24 Jun 2024, 6:54 pm

Bumrah gets Head and that might be it. Excellent squeeze put on by India to set it up for the main man

by alfie Mon 24 Jun 2024, 6:56 pm

And that is the game as Head skies Bumrah to Rohit...end of a brave innings and Australia now praying for Bangladesh...

by king_carlos Mon 24 Jun 2024, 6:59 pm

So good from Bumrah. He's just in a class of his own as a death bowler.

That's still a fantastic innings from Head. He's enjoyed batting against India in big games recently.

Duty - Agreed, DLS has clearly not been that accurate in T20 for a while but has stayed due to a lack of alternative. That's cricket though, sadly. They put the TV gimmicks into DRS without testing if they actually worked, then realised later that Hotspot didn't work. The pink ball had less money put into its development than many players get paid in a year, still got thrown into day-night Tests. Administration of the game was a joke before the BCCI, ECB and CA neutered the ICC, now it's even worse.

by GSC Mon 24 Jun 2024, 7:09 pm

Australia probably still need to get as close as possible just in case Bangladesh win a tight game

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