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 Thu 27 Jun 2024, 2:15 am

Rashid Khan trying to save his team again...couple of boundaries from Rabada. Need a few more of those !

This pitch is giving the pace men a lot of help. Both sides seem to have misread it as SA also intended to bat first , apparently. And sort of wasted one early over with Maharaj before realizing pace was the go.

One thing gone right for Afghanistan as SA waste a review for lbw - missing leg. 45/6 after nine.

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 2:19 am

But now Shamsi has got in on the act : starts with two rubbish deliveries but then pins his man lbw and it's 50/7.

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 2:24 am

That was only umpires call - and very marginal , just clipping leg stump , so Afghanistan may feel a little unlucky .

Even more so now as the next one falls in identical fashion - even down to being umpire's call - two balls later. Umpire Illingworth hasn't helped the struggling batting side here - though I think I'd have given them both live too. But anyway it is now 50/8 after ten as everyone goes for a drink...

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 2:26 am

50/9 two balls after resumption...Nortje rattles Rashid's stumps...

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 2:35 am

And all done now at 56 as Shamsi gets his third lbw ...no umpire's call this time , hitting halfway up middle.

SA need just 57 to enter the final...don't think they will even get a sore throat this time Smile

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 2:39 am

Pretty ghastly for the Afghans , who just might have played their "final" the other day. One player (just) in double figures , but extras top scorer with 13.

Bit of a disappointment for the crowd I suppose ; though they can't say there hasn't been plenty of action in those 11.5 overs ! Wonder how long it will take SA to collect these runs ?

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 3:03 am

Well now...Fazalhaq gives his team a lift by uprooting de Kock's off stump...SA 5/1 in the second over. This pitch is really tough for the batsmen.

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 3:24 am

Have to sympathize with Naveen in his hopeless task . Bowled two excellent overs for two runs - and would have had Markram had they realized he'd feathered one behind ; but now gone for 13 in his third as SA get within reach of their modest target at 26/1 from five. Took Markram 9 balls to get off the mark with a streaky four tickled to leg but he's away now.

Rashid Khan on but no miracles around today. 34/1 after the power play.

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 3:39 am

Comfortable in the end as Hendricks gets a free hit to level the scores with a six...and then takes SA to a final at last with an easy single...

Afghan pace men tried hard but you can't defend 56. Bit of a fizzer as a contest , all done in 8.5 overs : SA won't care. This might be their WC ?

by KP_fan Thu 27 Jun 2024, 5:50 am

Woke up & opened CI to find an anticlimatic end to Afg's sf. 2024 T20 World Cup - Page 17 1f614

by VTR Thu 27 Jun 2024, 7:12 am

Well that was a waste of time! This is why I didn't ever buy into Afghanistan going any further, I think the occasion got to them and understandably so

by **Galted** Thu 27 Jun 2024, 8:25 am

Looks like the secret to not choking is to make mincemeat of your meal.

by guildfordbat Thu 27 Jun 2024, 8:37 am

VTR wrote: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

Hi VTR - yep, you called the South Africa semi final well. Well done. Think you're also right about them losing the final although doubt that India (surely it'll be ~~Bumrah~~ India) will let them get that close. thumbsup

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 9:18 am

VTR wrote:Well that was a waste of time! This is why I didn't ever buy into Afghanistan going any further, I think the occasion got to them and understandably so

Partly the occasion - but also the atrocious pitch. Murder to bat on and really not fit for a semi final...even with small pressure chasing a miniscule target the SA bats had trouble playing on it. Turned out a rotten toss to win as both sides apparently wanted to bat first. Suspect SA would have won whatever the case but this was a bit of a damp squib finish for the Afghans.

by VTR Thu 27 Jun 2024, 9:38 am

Pitch does sound poor, but I'm still not surprised by the result. To get to the point where to win is to make the final almost always gives the surprise team vertigo, I suppose for the players it all becomes very real at that point. It's a lot like where we see unlikely run chases that then fail when victory actually becomes near (the CC had one of these only yesterday!)

by Duty281 Thu 27 Jun 2024, 10:36 am

Shame about how one sided it was. I was really surprised Afghanistan chose to bat first.

Now just got to pray for the weather to be good later on!

by king_carlos Thu 27 Jun 2024, 11:41 am

The pitch genuinely stretched into dangerous IMO. Similar to the first pitch in New York. The later NY pitches were still low scoring s**t tips, but not actually dangerous I felt. Whereas the first pitch was seeing balls land on the same spot, one hit batters below the knee, the next around the chest. Which is just outright dangerous. This was similar. The circumstances, i.e. semi-final and a very short game, probably saved it from cancellation.

by Duty281 Thu 27 Jun 2024, 1:15 pm

Currently raining in Guyana. Actually it's just stopped. But probably one of those days.

Latest a ten over game can begin is 16:14 local time...because sod the evening, right?

by KP_fan Thu 27 Jun 2024, 1:18 pm

scene from ANI journos's hotel in Guyana , 30 miin ago. LINK

by KP_fan Thu 27 Jun 2024, 1:22 pm

Duty281 wrote:Currently raining in Guyana. Actually it's just stopped. But probably one of those days.

Latest a ten over game can begin is 16:14 local time...because sod the evening, right?

I don't think Indian players would like to play a 10 over game.
Therefore it's unlikely that BCCI will agree for a 10 over game.

Hence I suspect either a Full Game happens else the match officials will procrastinate until they run out of time for even 10 overs

by KP_fan Thu 27 Jun 2024, 1:28 pm

and here is Hourly Forecast 2024 T20 World Cup - Page 17 1f447

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 2:22 pm

Oh wow...I am really not relishing the prospect of sitting up all night waiting for the rain to pause. But I don't buy the conspiracy theory that the umpires would fiddle with the rules to defer to the wishes of BCCI ; so suspect unless conditions are hopeless they will attempt to get a game played...and hopefully one of meaningful length.

Perhaps they should have played this one on the same pitch as used for the other semi as it probably wouldn't take long Smile

by Duty281 Thu 27 Jun 2024, 2:35 pm

Currently raining, so the toss (set to be in 25 minutes) might be delayed*.

*Why not just do the toss anyway?!

by KP_fan Thu 27 Jun 2024, 2:45 pm

Duty281 wrote:Currently raining, so the toss (set to be in 25 minutes) might be delayed*.

*Why not just do the toss anyway?!

Cricket is a slave to meaningless conventions.
Convention dictates that the captains would have to make choice of bat or bowl....and declare the teams at toss.
Both options they would want to reserve until the game actually starts......and rightly so in such uncertain conditions
They could & should do the toss, play out the anthems and let the captains make their batting/ fielding and XI decision when game actually starts.

by king_carlos Thu 27 Jun 2024, 2:59 pm

The anthems getting performed before starting the Namibia game was peak cricket. I genuinely forget that anthems even happen before cricket games until I happen to tune in halfway through them and start laughing at about 43 people mumbling along like they're embarrassed they have to do it.

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 3:00 pm

Yes can't save time by holding the ceremonies before starting time or just forgetting them...would be too...practical.

I see a poster on Cricinfo claiming to be a local resident is confident all will be well and a full game played. Hope his local knowledge is on the money !

by Marky Thu 27 Jun 2024, 3:04 pm

KP_fan wrote:
Duty281 wrote:Currently raining, so the toss (set to be in 25 minutes) might be delayed*.

*Why not just do the toss anyway?!

Cricket is a slave to meaningless conventions.
Convention dictates that the captains would have to make choice of bat or bowl....and declare the teams at toss.
Both options they would want to reserve until the game actually starts......and rightly so in such uncertain conditions
They could & should do the toss, play out the anthems and let the captains make their batting/ fielding and XI decision when game actually starts.

I don't think it's a bad thing, especially confirming the teams as late as possible, you might pick a different bowling attack for a 10 over game than you would for a 20 over game. And the decision at the toss will be dictated by the live conditions.

by king_carlos Thu 27 Jun 2024, 3:15 pm

alfie wrote:Yes can't save time by holding the ceremonies before starting time or just forgetting them...would be too...practical.

I see a poster on Cricinfo claiming to be a local resident is confident all will be well and a full game played. Hope his local knowledge is on the money !

I've given up predicting things after the Namibia game. That outfield was underwater when the game was meant to start. Instincts of watching cricket in England, even at grounds with elite drainage, was that they were cooked. Then it drained almost as soon as the rain stopped. Sand based outfield.

In other games the forecast looked dreadful but the rain seemed to be very localised and blow through quickly. Folk would be posting photos of sunshine and blue skies 5 minutes from the ground, whilst at the ground it was hammering down. And vice versa.

We'll see.

Instinct tells me that a shortened game suits England better. They've been having to choose between batting or bowling depth. Whereas Jadeja, Hardik and Axar gives India both at full strength. In a significantly shortened game that batting depth isn't as pressing though. You could feasibly go bowling heavy with Surran at 7 without needing that lower middle order batting as much. England's batters are also more inclined to attack early. Whereas Kohli has a SR from Noughties ODI cricket for the tournament so far.

9:40pm our time is the cut off to start a 10 over game.

by KP_fan Thu 27 Jun 2024, 3:21 pm

While we wait for toss I can rant on my favorite convention.
"I want 20 minutes to drink tea 🫖 regardless of whether we lost an hour of play or likely to lose to highly probable bad light / weather in final session"
And this in a day and age when players are drinking vitamin & electrolytes all day and can also sip bottled caffeine drinks shud they really crave for it.
That's 5 overs daily and 25 in a game, that's a session of play and that's a lot in a curtailed test.

by Duty281 Thu 27 Jun 2024, 3:22 pm

Apparently if the ICC scheduled the final for Sunday then this game would have had a reserve day...so why not schedule the final on Sunday?

Is there a stupider organisation in all of sport than the ICC?

Rain has stopped and restarted about four times in the last hour.

by Duty281 Thu 27 Jun 2024, 3:46 pm

Inspection in 30 minutes!

by GSC Thu 27 Jun 2024, 3:54 pm

An actual inspection or a poke your head out the window and schedule another in 30 minutes inspection

by Duty281 Thu 27 Jun 2024, 3:56 pm

Actual, I think. The sun's out and all looks well.

Starting at 16:45 our time.

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 4:15 pm

Duty281 wrote:Actual, I think. The sun's out and all looks well.

Starting at 16:45 our time.

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 4:21 pm

Suggestions England unchanged. They do like their bowling options. Obviously was a case for loading the batting ; but considering Jacks has faced just 17 balls in the tournament , and Duckett hasn't got on the field , it might be a questionable gamble.

by king_carlos Thu 27 Jun 2024, 4:22 pm

Wonderful stat from Henry Moeran on BBC.

Beeb wrote:Jasprit Bumrah has taken more wickets this tournament than he has conceded boundaries.

The guy's a freak. We're witnessing an all timer. Obviously, I hope he doesn't succeed today! There's still something so special about players hitting this sort of peak even if they are in the opposition.

by Duty281 Thu 27 Jun 2024, 4:22 pm

England win the toss and bowl first, that's a big toss to win.

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 4:22 pm

Jos wins another toss ! England to field - they do like chasing. And indeed , unchanged line-up.

by king_carlos Thu 27 Jun 2024, 4:23 pm

Duty281 wrote:England win the toss and bowl first, that's a big toss to win.

Agreed. I like England chasing anyway. Especially so if it's potentially a shortened and DLS hit game.

by king_carlos Thu 27 Jun 2024, 4:26 pm

What a performance by Shastri Laugh

Main character energy. Like he's been on the same nasal multivitamins that generation of sportsmen were infamous were.

by Duty281 Thu 27 Jun 2024, 4:53 pm

Solid start from Archer and Topley. Salt missing a chance, seemed to go right through him.

by Duty281 Thu 27 Jun 2024, 4:56 pm

Topley not shying away after Kohli hit him for six. Very Happy

Kohli's terrible tournament continues/ends.

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 4:56 pm

Good comeback for Topley after getting hammered for six.

by king_carlos Thu 27 Jun 2024, 4:58 pm

Duty281 wrote:Solid start from Archer and Topley. Salt missing a chance, seemed to go right through him.

Should be taken but it was hit hard. Yep, a good first two overs in general but no wicket yet. As has been a feature of the PP for England.

Virat goes after finally connecting with one though. It felt like they were just starting to time it there. A very timely wicket.

This feels like it may be similar to the SA vs England game where it just seem to get harder to bat through the innings. QdK took advantage of the early conditions. It's felt like India are trying to do similar given the intent. That might just put a break on them.

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 5:07 pm

Rohit starting to look a bit menacing.

by king_carlos Thu 27 Jun 2024, 5:09 pm

Rohit's just getting going now. 40/1 after 5 overs but England have used 3 overs from Topley (which I like, stacking Topley in the PP) and 2 from Jof.

England need a good 6th over or this will be a strong PP on what looks like a tough batting wicket.

Surran to bowl the typically tough final over of the PP.

by king_carlos Thu 27 Jun 2024, 5:11 pm

alfie wrote:Rohit starting to look a bit menacing.

PTSD of Rohit doing this when others are scratching around a bit makes me worry. He has that tendency the very best talents have of looking like they've batted on another wicket to everyone else.

Pant goes. Dot and a wicket to start the 6th. Brilliant from Surran, just when England needed it given the decent India start whilst England have gone bowling heavy with their XI.

by Duty281 Thu 27 Jun 2024, 5:11 pm

Two in the PowerPlay?! Are England feeling OK?

Looks like it's about to rain, sadly. One disadvantage of bowling first is if the overs get reduced, England might have no more overs from Topley and possibly Jofra. Which is what we saw in the Scotland game.

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 5:11 pm

Curran an immediate strike...but don't like the way the ground staff are fussing with the covers...

by Duty281 Thu 27 Jun 2024, 5:13 pm

46/2, decent PowerPlay from England. Remarkable if we're judging by previous ones!

Rohit looking very dangerous. Can Rashid be the man to take him out and put England firmly in front?

Will also credit Buttler for some superb keeping so far.

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