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 king_carlos Thu 27 Jun 2024, 5:15 pm

6 runs and a wicket from the over. Very, very good from Surran. He's quietly had a good tournament after starting not in the XI.

A strong end to the PP like that could suddenly be vital for any DLS adjusted total to chase...

Dilly into the attack. If he goes well, England tend to go well in the middle overs. If he gets hit, hmmm, we may be scratching our heads.

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 5:15 pm

Guess interruptions were always likely. But long time before overs could be lost. Hopefully showers will pass. 46/2 a decent power play but two wickets are handy...

by king_carlos Thu 27 Jun 2024, 5:20 pm

Rohit is looking very good indeed. Reverse sweep and a beautifully timed 'conventional' sweep behind square.

Dilly gets out the over conceding 9 from it. Showing his experience to limit the damage.

India take that every time from Rashid given how vital he is to this part of the innings where England have squeezed well all tournament.

by Duty281 Thu 27 Jun 2024, 5:23 pm

Two very good overs for India and the rain falls.

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 5:26 pm

India will be pleased to have taken 19 from those two Rashid and Jordan overs, straight after losing the second wicket. Slightly surprised Curran didn't bowl a second over. Rain looks pretty solid...

by king_carlos Thu 27 Jun 2024, 5:26 pm

God SKYs good at working the seamers behind square like that. His wrists are incredible. That down on one knee pickup that AB de Villiers used to play. Only very good players can do that regularly to seamers.

10 runs from Jordan's first. Another really good over for India.

I reckon 160 will be very tough to chase on this. India are setting a really good platform here. They're already scoring at over 8 RPO with wickets in hand. Dube, Hardik, Jadeja and Axar to come. England need a breakthrough.

Off for rain though. Probably good timing for England to have a wee regroup and go again.

England were about to gamble on another spinner by trying Livi.

by king_carlos Thu 27 Jun 2024, 5:58 pm

It seems to have blown through quickly again. Blue skies.

A good platform for India though, with England generally relying on spin through the middle it is far from ideal to have wet ball.

England need a wicket soon or this could start getting away from them I fear.

by king_carlos Thu 27 Jun 2024, 5:59 pm

Oh, good, they're waiting 20 minutes for a pitch inspection.

I f***ing hate this sport.

by guildfordbat Thu 27 Jun 2024, 6:03 pm

alfie wrote:India will be pleased to have taken 19 from those two Rashid and Jordan overs, straight after losing the second wicket. Slightly surprised Curran didn't bowl a second over. Rain looks pretty solid...

Totally agree about Curran. The pitch seemed ideally suited to his low skiddy bowling and he was on the money. When a bowler has rhythm like that, look to cash in rather than try to be clever and immediately change things.

by king_carlos Thu 27 Jun 2024, 6:12 pm

I'm wondering if they're expecting Curran to be key at the death? It looks a hard wicket to score square. Curran may be able to bowl straight, back of a length, pace off (i.e. his tricks from the T20 World Cup in Oz) with good success here.

Whereas it doesn't really feel like a wicket where yorkers will be worth the risk. You're taking the tricky pitch out the equation and opening up the chance to hit down the ground.

Dube and Jadeja are also lefties, who I'd rather have that left-hand option against.

I think I'd have kept Curran on for another, but, I can see the logic for holding him back and trying to get Jordan into the game with 2 RHBs to bowl to.

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 6:28 pm

Reasonable to want to get Jordan into the game ; but when a fellow has just bowled a very good over I'd lean to keeping him going...as I rather doubt they'll want Sam to bowl three at the death. Given the number of bowlers in the line-up not all of them will be bowling four of course. Fair point about the left and right handers .

Never mind. Key will probably be how the spinners work this next period . I'd expect to see Livingstone as well as Rashid in action when we get back on.

by Duty281 Thu 27 Jun 2024, 6:28 pm

Restarting in 10 minutes. Might not have been a bad break for England.

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 6:30 pm

Ten minutes , eh ? This is going to last all night I suspect . Might need more coffee...

by king_carlos Thu 27 Jun 2024, 6:41 pm

Duty281 wrote:Restarting in 10 minutes. Might not have been a bad break for England.

I think a lot might hinge on if (or how much...?) the wet ball harms England's spinners. It won't help the seamers bowling cutters either.

Maybe I'm misjudging the pitch, but this feels like a very good platform given I reckon 150-160 should be competitive.

by KP_fan Thu 27 Jun 2024, 6:41 pm

Ind would have liked to bat first but had they won the toss they might have gotten brain fogged and elected to chase to account for rain uncertainty...and choked under pressure.

I wanted India to bat first regardless of rain.
Eng gave Ind to bat first which I suspect Butler would have done even if there was no rain.
Good toss to lose and 8 overs hence an above par situation I would say....runs on board in a pressure game

BUT regardless of what India put, Eng will come out guns blazing and are very dangerous & inform.

Kohli has reached the end of road in T20is even if he gets to play the final and deliver a good score there.
Rohit has gas left in the tank and an ability to raise the level of his game as adversity increases.

We saw that in test series also.
There is enuf good weather to complete 20 overs apiece I feel.
Blockbuster next few hours

by king_carlos Thu 27 Jun 2024, 6:47 pm

Excellent restart from Livi. 4 runs from it.

SKY gets Dilly away for a four but singles otherwise, 8 from the over.

England have done well here to quickly rush through their first couple of overs at a run a ball.

by KP_fan Thu 27 Jun 2024, 6:49 pm

spinners not easy to get away

by Duty281 Thu 27 Jun 2024, 6:49 pm

Not a good over from Rashid, but wasn't massively punished.

India ticking to a strong platform here. 10 an over lifts them to 170.

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 6:49 pm

Pleased to see they didn't take a drink break after ten overs Wink

Rashid not quite getting it right that over ...

by KP_fan Thu 27 Jun 2024, 6:50 pm

that's the only way to get big runs off spinners....muscle them

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 6:53 pm

Better from Rashid. But England need a wicket soon I think.

by king_carlos Thu 27 Jun 2024, 6:53 pm

Rohit breaks the shackles, hits the final ball of Livi's over for 6. Only 3 runs from the first 5 balls as well. He's timed it completely differently to the other batters. That's the wicket that could change the look of the game completely.

Dilly's 3rd over only goes from 5 runs. Excellent stuff.

I wonder if they'll risk Mo against two right-handers in order to save an over of Dilly for later?

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 6:58 pm

Big over for India there ! On for a pretty good total now ...

by king_carlos Thu 27 Jun 2024, 6:58 pm

Bloody hell that's a good shot from Rohit. Completely premeditated sweep. I don't even think that's a bad ball from Curran.

And another 4 from SKY.

That's the big over that India needed to get on top.

Wickets needed otherwise Dube and Hardik will be coming in with exactly the sort of situation you want them hitting in.

by KP_fan Thu 27 Jun 2024, 6:58 pm

End should in my view use at least 10 overs of spin
Hitting a spinner requires more brute power here and hence more risk

pace, even 120kph gives batters something to work with

360 degree SKY takes 17 .....

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 7:00 pm

Tidy 4th over from Rashid ...and a big wicket , desperately needed !

by KP_fan Thu 27 Jun 2024, 7:02 pm

That Curran over at that time was a bit of bonus...thry needed to continue with Liam or give Ali a go

by king_carlos Thu 27 Jun 2024, 7:02 pm

Get in Dilly!

That's the wicket England direly needed. Jos gambled by bowling Dilly out with 6 overs left. He delivers.

I was just thinking that I'd risk bringing Jof back next over to try to force that breakthrough. They should be able to hold him back for the 17th and 19th now if they want.

by KP_fan Thu 27 Jun 2024, 7:03 pm

spin, grip, balls keeping low from Rashid.......3 runs and a wicket
Very heartening for India

by king_carlos Thu 27 Jun 2024, 7:04 pm

One thing I would say. Rashid looked so much tougher when he bowled a bit quicker. India will have seen that and will surely do so from the first over their spinners come on for.

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 7:06 pm

Fine over Livingstone.. .he's bowled well. But only one left. Pressure over now from Archer...

by KP_fan Thu 27 Jun 2024, 7:06 pm

Look at the spin Liam is getting

by king_carlos Thu 27 Jun 2024, 7:07 pm

Bloody hell that ripped. That's from Livi too... Erm

Kuldeep should be lethal on this track.

Really good from Livi to get 4 dots and single in after the 4 first ball.

I think they're on for an excellent score for the wicket.

by Duty281 Thu 27 Jun 2024, 7:09 pm

Couple of wickets pulling it back, but 150 is going to be tough, and India are still on for 160+.

by KP_fan Thu 27 Jun 2024, 7:10 pm

Pace-off is working even for Archer
hope India doesn't get off track and can compile 160

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 7:11 pm

...and gets the wicket .end of an excellent knock from Sky. Jadeja in .. will Moeen bowl one now ?

by KP_fan Thu 27 Jun 2024, 7:16 pm

so many times now Pandya, Sky and Rohit could not connect spinners becase of slowness of ptich

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 7:17 pm

Good spell Livingstone...but can see India 's spinners being very tough to hit on this Jordan not finding these chaps as easy to bowl to as USA Wink

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 7:19 pm

India heading for an over par score ...though getting Pandya then might trim it a little...

by KP_fan Thu 27 Jun 2024, 7:20 pm

they should have tried Moeen for an over.....looks like 2nd bonus over, inspite of the wicket of Pandya

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 7:20 pm

Two in two !

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 7:30 pm

Jadeja did well taking Archer for a few there. Jordan needs a good finish or this could get away a bit...

by KP_fan Thu 27 Jun 2024, 7:36 pm

Eng needed to timely get in atlest 2 more overs of spin
spin and pace off is very hard
India realized at the fall of SKY that they haad a platform and need their exprienced batters to get safe runs...and hence promoted Pandya & Jadeja over Dubey and Axar

and jadeja's cameo unexpect but very useful in giving a good finish

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 7:37 pm

So 171
Think that looks like a winning score. England just have to go for it ; but it is going to take at least a couple of bats really producing some magic. Kuldeep , Axar , Bumrah...looks like hard work...

by Duty281 Thu 27 Jun 2024, 7:37 pm

Decent closing over from Jordan.

171 will be tough. Not impossible, but tough. The key innings will probably have to come from either Buttler, Salt or Brook, unless someone else more unheralded so far steps up. Not much batting depth as we know. If Moeen comes out at 3 or 4, I'll scream.

Lot of turn on this track and Bumrah's as good as ever. Plus the track is likely to slow up.

70/30 in India's favour, maybe a little more.

by KP_fan Thu 27 Jun 2024, 7:39 pm

Spin 8 overs 49 runs
Pace 12 overs 122 runs

last 3 overs 39 runs

by Duty281 Thu 27 Jun 2024, 7:40 pm

Yes, if LL can get 0/24 in four, I wonder what Kuldeep, Axar and Jadeja can do!

by king_carlos Thu 27 Jun 2024, 7:53 pm

I missed the final few overs there. Had to pop out. The last I checked Jordan had gone for back to back 6s. So I'd have taken 171 after that. It's a very good total on this deck though.

Strongly in India's favour. It's going to take an outstanding innings from someone.

Bumrah being used straight away up top. Exactly the right call from Rohit I think. They're on top, keep attacking.

by alfie Thu 27 Jun 2024, 8:00 pm

Hands over ears as Duty screams...

by KP_fan Thu 27 Jun 2024, 8:01 pm

Eng have 12 overs of spin + 4 overs of Bumrah to overcome on this pitch
That leave 4 relatively easier overs of whihc they have played 2 already

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