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 alfie Mon 24 Jun 2024, 7:09 pm

Fair bit of rubbish bowled by Arshdeep there but he's got away with it. Bumrah is very good eh? But even he can get hit for six ...was really Kuldeep and Axar who have won this for India.

by GSC Mon 24 Jun 2024, 7:16 pm

Decent margin in the end, Australia looked set to have a real go at it but that squeeze really killed off the chase. Afghanistan have their chance

by KP_fan Mon 24 Jun 2024, 7:17 pm

always looked an above Par score made possible by that hyper adrenalin inning of Rohit, greatly matched by Head.
Couple of useful 20s and 30s from both sides.
I think minus those not normal hyper innings a 180 would have been par.

india took 3 brilliant catches but there were fluffed catches , bad fielding and WKs missed bye

Shoddy in the outfield.
Head ensured Aus NRR did not fall below Afg and now Afg have to have a real win, can't squeeze in with a tight defeat.

by GSC Mon 24 Jun 2024, 7:17 pm

England India it is. On the basis of this game and this tournament you wouldn't give England much of a chance. But you never know in T20

by Duty281 Mon 24 Jun 2024, 7:26 pm

Never know in T20 and you never know with India's abysmal knockout record in recent years.

On paper, India are 60-40/65-35 favourites. Don't think there's enough bats firing for England, Rashid is brilliant but is just one man, and the rest of the bowling is hit or miss (generally miss). India have the best bowling attack by far and a superb range of hitters.

Going to be tough for England. But we go back and look at India's tournament record (50 and 20 over) over the last ten years:

Group stage cricket = 42/47 (89% win rate)
KO cricket = 3/9 (33% win rate)

Pressure and mental hurt on India.

by Duty281 Mon 24 Jun 2024, 7:29 pm

Bangladesh apparently need a 62 run win tonight to go through.

by GSC Mon 24 Jun 2024, 7:30 pm

You know I'm always here for the funny option

by KP_fan Mon 24 Jun 2024, 8:18 pm

Duty281 wrote:Never know in T20 and you never know with India's abysmal knockout record in recent years.

On paper, India are 60-40/65-35 favourites. Don't think there's enough bats firing for England, Rashid is brilliant but is just one man, and the rest of the bowling is hit or miss (generally miss). India have the best bowling attack by far and a superb range of hitters.

Going to be tough for England. But we go back and look at India's tournament record (50 and 20 over) over the last ten years:

Group stage cricket = 42/47 (89% win rate)
KO cricket = 3/9 (33% win rate)

Pressure and mental hurt on India.

Yup.....for temperamental reasons I would put Eng favorites

by KP_fan Mon 24 Jun 2024, 8:20 pm

alfie wrote:Fair bit of rubbish bowled by Arshdeep there but he's got away with it.

It's not for the first time.....he gets excited thinking game is in the bag, let me try to blast a wicket off every ball.
Goes for plenty in doing so.....but ends up picking a lot of wickets too & i won't be surprised if he is among highest wkt takers this tournament

by **Galted** Mon 24 Jun 2024, 8:26 pm

Quite a few potential outcomes in what will presumably be the first semi-final:

1 - Afghanistan become the latest country to knock SA out in the semis
2 - Bangladesh become the latest country to knock SA out in the semis
3 - Aus record a record-extending 1,000th World Cup semi-final win over SA
4 - it p*sses down with rain for two days and SA make a first ever World Cup final

by **Good Golly I'm Olly** Mon 24 Jun 2024, 9:46 pm

One semi final having a reserve day and the other not is absolutely insane. How are the ICC so bad at just common sense sporting admin?

by Duty281 Mon 24 Jun 2024, 10:05 pm

Should also add that a minimum of ten overs are required for a game in the KO stages, not five.

by GSC Mon 24 Jun 2024, 10:07 pm

Could've even done something smart like playing both semi finals on the same day and having the same reserve day for both

by Duty281 Mon 24 Jun 2024, 10:11 pm

Nice idea, but suspect the ICC would have found a way to mess that up.

by GSC Mon 24 Jun 2024, 10:40 pm

Not to steal Dutys thunder but the forecast for the semi final ain't looking great

by alfie Tue 25 Jun 2024, 3:53 am

Bangladesh poised to save Australia here … timid Afghan batting got just115 and a lot of rain - now clear - might make this a very gettable target. Don’t think they can do it in 12 overs though so Australia might have a get out of jail card…

by alfie Tue 25 Jun 2024, 4:19 am

All action… Bangladesh going for it (12 overs to get 116 and a semi) and 13 off the first over ! But now 3 down for 31 in the 4th over … and down comes the rain again

by alfie Tue 25 Jun 2024, 4:42 am

Rain stopped To resume in ten with no loss of overs (yet) Bangladesh ahead on DLS.

by alfie Tue 25 Jun 2024, 5:17 am

77/5 and no way they’re getting 39 more in two so unless a fast collapse Australia are in the semi

by alfie Tue 25 Jun 2024, 5:23 am

Another twist : two in two for Rashid Khan …81/7 !

by alfie Tue 25 Jun 2024, 5:25 am

And off for rain again with Afghanistan ahead on DLS …

by KP_fan Tue 25 Jun 2024, 5:36 am

alfie wrote:And off for rain again with Afghanistan ahead on DLS …

GM alfie
Looks like Trott gestured them to slow down and Gulbadin feigned a cramp
What drama

by KP_fan Tue 25 Jun 2024, 5:46 am

20 off last 4 but only 2 wkts in hand

by alfie Tue 25 Jun 2024, 5:50 am

98/8 Litton Das v Afghanistan…

by KP_fan Tue 25 Jun 2024, 5:57 am

12 balls 12 runs and every ball an event

by KP_fan Tue 25 Jun 2024, 6:00 am

9 off 9, BD 1 run ahead on DLS ,.drizzle starts
Now
9 off 8 and 9th wkt down Afg goes ahead on DLS

by KP_fan Tue 25 Jun 2024, 6:02 am

And rain gets harder and covers on as BD is 3 runs behind on DLS
That 1 ball , zero runs and a wkts turned DLS from 1 ahead to 3 behind for BD

by alfie Tue 25 Jun 2024, 6:03 am

Crazy stuff !

by KP_fan Tue 25 Jun 2024, 6:08 am

They come back again and Afg the final wkt ,lbw a fantastic thriller to knock Aus out.
And March into semis

by KP_fan Tue 25 Jun 2024, 6:10 am

Afg might be on their way to have an India like 1983 world cup

by alfie Tue 25 Jun 2024, 6:11 am

Incredible game… Afghans pulled it out of the fire at the death. Well done them but have to feel for Litton Das

by GSC Tue 25 Jun 2024, 7:41 am

Sounds like a thriller. Sickener for Australia who looked like the best team in the tournament until a few days ago, warning there for SA and India

by Duty281 Tue 25 Jun 2024, 8:45 am

Amazing drama. Rashid's double wicket over turning the game decisively in his team's favour and getting Afghanistan into the semis. Naveen, also, with with four more wickets to add to his three over Australia. Amazing.

We have the semi-finals confirmed. Afghanistan v South Africa at 01:30 on Thursday (for us in the UK) and India v England at 15:30 on Thursday. Chance of weather interruptions in both games high, but hopefully we'll get cricket.

India, on paper, have to be the favourites from here. Rohit, Pant and Yadav are all in strong form, and Hardik's added a bit down the order. They could do with more from Kohli, who has only scored 66 runs in 6 innings thus far, with two ducks. They should drop Kohli, it would be hilarious. But the real strength is in the bowling. Bumrah's tournament figures are insane - 23-2-94-11 - and he's well backed up by Arshdeep and the spin trio who are tough to handle on these turning wickets. But can they overcome the mental block of faltering at so many knockout stages?

England are spluttering. They got hammered by Australia, beaten by South Africa, and the only high point was a comfortable win over the West Indies. Buttler and Salt are in great form, and Brook has recently found his touch, but there's not a lot else to be found, and if England are going to go all the way they need more contributions from the middle and, possibly, lower order. Rashid is the star with the ball in the middle overs, but England are really struggling in the PowerPlay with not enough wickets, and death bowling is hit and miss.

South Africa are 100% and the king of tight finishes....but this is where the story usually ends. Rabada and Nortje are an excellent duo, and they're well supplemented by Maharaj, Shamsi and Jansen. It's a terrific all round bowling attack. But the batting is strange to look at. South Africa have been involved in so many low scorer, that only De Kock (SR 148) has a SR over 112 of the main bats. Can someone help him out in the KO stages and give SA an extra push?

Afghanistan have capped their glorious rise with a first visit to the final four in a major ICC competition, and it might get better than that. Farooqi, Rashid Khan and Naveen occupy 1st, 3rd and 5th in the highest wicket takers of the tournament and their economies are all below 6.5. It's magic and also factor in Gulbadin who's popped up with five wickets in the last two games. Could have been even better if they had Mujeeb available. The batting is the weak spot. Gurbaz is actually the leading run scorer in the tournament, and Zadran isn't too far behind, but their strike rates aren't jaw dropping, and there has been very little support from three down in the order. Still, 10/1 to win two T20 games is an excellent value bet, I reckon.

by KP_fan Tue 25 Jun 2024, 9:23 am

I see Afg vs. Eng final
the other two semi finalists are likely to choke-out

by alfie Tue 25 Jun 2024, 9:34 am

KP_fan wrote:I see Afg vs. Eng final
the other two semi finalists are likely to choke-out

Inevitable , isn't it ? Curse you for stealing my line KP_fan Very Happy

Seriously you'd have to think India and SA are favourites - they've both come through unbeaten , India dominant and SA regularly winning close tense affairs. But : this is t20 ; and most teams have a bad game at some point. Frankly anyone of these sides could win on a particular day : England do seem to be running into some form and Afghanistan really have nothing to lose...

Hope for not too much rain and three more good contests thumbsup

by VTR Tue 25 Jun 2024, 9:49 am

What I would say is, no matter the sport, the surprise semi finalists very often fail to make it to the final, in particular this happens a lot in football World Cups. So I'll back South Africa in their semi final, and they can lose the final by failing to score 10 runs in the final 2 overs with 8 wickets in hand

by Duty281 Tue 25 Jun 2024, 10:06 am

I think Afghanistan will beat South Africa in a low to mid scorer. They're cooked if it's a high scorer, mind. I don't see Afghanistan beating India in a final, but I could see them beating England.

India really should beat England, but the pressure's on them and so many of their players falter when presented with KO cricket. Whereas England, for all their faults in recent times, are a team with experienced winners and have shown ableness to do it under pressure.

So I'm leaning toward an Afghanistan v England final.

Has there ever been a greater rise in sport, never mind cricket, than that of Afghanistan? Sixteen years ago they were battling against the likes of Singapore, Japan and the Bahamas in the 'World Cricket League Division Five' (Gulbadin Naib and Mohammed Nabi, both still around now, were playing then); now they're two games away from lifting a major trophy. I think it would generate more headlines as a story if it weren't Afghanistan, because of their political situation. If we were talking about Norway or Nigeria or South Korea it would be heralded so much more.

by king_carlos Tue 25 Jun 2024, 12:22 pm

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LBantpOnxq0

Gulbadin going down like he'd been hit by a sniper with rain incoming and Afghanistan just up on DLS is peak.

In terms of blatant Poopie, I think this might beat Hasaranga coming out of Test retirement so that he served a ban in a Test series he wouldn't have played anyway, hence being available for the World Cup.

by GSC Tue 25 Jun 2024, 12:44 pm

Ordinarily I'd say it's not really in the spirit of cricket but as we know it's a pretty subjective thing

by Old Man Tue 25 Jun 2024, 1:41 pm

South Africa has had some spectacular chokes in their history at knock out matches.

During this tournament they have had a number of mini chokes.

You would think that at some point in their history they will not choke, perhaps this is the tournament where without being convinving they have made it this far.

Here is to hoping anyway. Expectations aren't great when it comes to SA cricket, so I don't think pressure from home plays a role, everyone expects them to choke.

by dummy_half Wed 26 Jun 2024, 12:19 pm

Old Man wrote:South Africa has had some spectacular chokes in their history at knock out matches.

During this tournament they have had a number of mini chokes.

You would think that at some point in their history they will not choke, perhaps this is the tournament where without being convinving they have made it this far.

Here is to hoping anyway. Expectations aren't great when it comes to SA cricket, so I don't think pressure from home plays a role, everyone expects them to choke.

SA have certainly been good at finding a way to win so far this tournament even if they have't really fired. I'm not a great believer that past unsuccessful history for a team plays that big a part in each tournament, as the team and squad changes quite rapidly, but they probably are under a bit more pressure to win the semi-final than would otherwise be the case. On paper they are an excellent team for this format, so if they can even produce an 8/10 performance they should reach the final comfortably. India re also a potentially fine team that so far have been a bit reliant on two or three players performing (Rohit, Bumrah).

Actually can say much the same about England -Buttler and Salt have made runs, Adil Rashid been the outstanding bowler, but the rest largely haven't contributed much. Will need more to play well to beat India.

by KP_fan Wed 26 Jun 2024, 2:49 pm

Georgetown Guyana today

Tomm there is a very high chance of Rain from 0800 to 1600 hours
Clear after that.

by Duty281 Wed 26 Jun 2024, 9:41 pm

England likely to alter the balance for the semi-final. Cricinfo reckoning that one of Jacks or Duckett will come in for one of Jordan or Topley. Would be a gamble to remove Topley.

It is the most spin friendly venue of the World Cup, but England are highly unlikely to throw Hartley in at this late stage.

Weather forecast not looking great.

by GSC Wed 26 Jun 2024, 10:00 pm

Well we can't accuse the ICC of loading the dice with the weather (can we?)

by Duty281 Wed 26 Jun 2024, 10:04 pm

If the ICC tried to make it rain, it would actually be a desert.

by guildfordbat Wed 26 Jun 2024, 10:05 pm

Duty281 wrote:England likely to alter the balance for the semi-final. Cricinfo reckoning that one of Jacks or Duckett will come in for one of Jordan or Topley. Would be a gamble to remove Topley.

It is the most spin friendly venue of the World Cup, but England are highly unlikely to throw Hartley in at this late stage.

Weather forecast not looking great.

Cheers for that update, Duty.

I remember you voiced surprise early in this World Cup about Hartley being there. It's almost as if it's a consolation prize for being our leading wicket taker in this winter's India series, particularly as he may well not make the Test team this summer.

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 1:47 am

This could be a short game : Afghanistan 3 down in the fourth over , Jansen and Rabada slicing through them...

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 1:50 am

...make that 4 down ! Rabada with a second clean bowled in 4 balls...20/4

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 2:00 am

and now Jansen has his third ...bit of a leg side strangle but he won't care...

Afghanistan 23/5 after five overs.

We are going to get the low scoring match Duty suggested on a pitch that clearly isn't fun to bat on ...but I don't think the Afghans will be winning it. SA are going for the jugular with more Rabada and now Nortje coming on ...

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 2:03 am

...with immediate success as Omarzai (who might end up top scorer with 10) skies to cover....28/6

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