After the most sensational summer of sport one could possibly imagine, its finally cricket’s turn to step in to the global spotlight. The ICC World Twenty20 is back for its fourth edition - the third at which the women will be involved as well as the men - and it promises to offer two and a half weeks of fantastic cricket, and most importantly plenty of fun. In this third and final preview article I analyse the prospects of the teams that make up Groups C and D of the men’s tournament - Sri Lanka, South Africa, Zimbabwe, Pakistan, New Zealand and Bangladesh.
GROUP C
SRI LANKA
World Ranking: 3
Captain: Mahela Jayawardene
Home advantage could be a major factor in boosting Sri Lanka’s chances of challenging. The batting line-up likes home comforts, and it would be a major surprise if the big three of Tillekaratne Dilshan, captain Mahela Jayawardene and wicket-keeper Kumar Sangakkara did not all have excellent tournaments. Questions remain about the rest of the batting, although Angelo Mathews and Dinesh Chandimal are both undoubtedly talented.
However, the main area of concern will be the bowling attack. Lasith Malinga is the best death bowler in the world in this form of the game, but the rest of the seamers offer nothing special, and, unusually for Sri Lanka, even the spin cupboard is a little bare. Rangana Herath is the most experienced of the spin trio, which also includes 18 year-old Akila Dananjaya, who hadn’t played a single professional game until last month’s Sri Lanka Premier League, and wasn’t picked for the recent Under 19 World Cup in Australia. The team have a good chance of going far but, like India, are more likely to do so off the back of big totals than devastating bowling.
Key Man: Mahela Jayawardene. Sri Lanka appear to have steadied since Jayawardene was reinstated as captain over the winter, and with his return to the helm he has also found some much needed batting form. In Twenty20 he is an underrated player - when big shots are added to his natural poise and timing he is a devastating prospect for opposition bowlers.
Prediction: Runners-Up
SOUTH AFRICA
World Ranking: 2
Captain: AB de Villiers
As their ranking suggests South Africa are a fine outfit in all formats. However, they won’t go into this tournament as one of the most fancied sides. The batting line-up appears to be carrying a couple of passengers - Faf du Plessis and Justin Ontong in particular - and, as with England, the playing of spin in Asian conditions may be an area of concern. Nevertheless, Jacques Kallis and Hashim Amla have demonstrated an ability to adapt to Twenty20 and AB de Villiers is one of the finest short-form players in the world.
There is also, of course, real strength in bowling. Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel pose a major threat to the world’s batting line-ups, and Johan Botha is criminally under-rated as an off-spinner. They do lack a third seamer in these conditions though - is Albie Morkel good enough or should Tsotsobe play? And on flat pitches Steyn and Morkel could easily be tonked if they err slightly in line because of the extra pace they put on the ball.
Key Man: AB de Villiers. De Villiers’s tour of England was uncharacteristically unspectacular - he got starts most times he walked to the wicket, but it was ultimately others who grabbed the headlines. In this tournament, however, its likely that he’ll have to be the headline maker if South Africa are to stand a chance. He is regarded as the best all-round batsmen in the world, and, if he comes off, its sure to be to devastating effect.
Prediction: Super Eight
ZIMBABWE
World Ranking: 11
Captain: Brendan Taylor
Having played very little international cricket of late Zimbabwe come into the World Twenty20 as something of an unknown quantity. Their main strength is likely to be their restrictive spin bowlers - veteran Ray Price, Prosper Utseya and Graeme Cremer. The team have sometimes used 16 or more overs of spin in Twenty20 matches, and those tactics might just be the best way to spring a surprise, particularly on South Africa. They have, however, also discovered some seam bowling talent in the last year or so in the form of Brian Vitori and the improving Chris Mpofu.
The batting line-up would seem over-reliant on one man, captain Brendan Taylor. Still only 26, Taylor has a strike rate of more than 120 in the shortest form of the game, and has four half-centuries.
Zimbabwe are in a tough group and any hope of getting out of it is likely to be based on the success they enjoyed at home in an unofficial tournament featuring a South African XI and Bangladesh. But a global tournament is a completely different kettle of fish.
Key Man: Ray Price. He seems to have been around for ever but Ray Price is only 36. The former Warwickshire batsman goes at only just over six runs an over and is likely to be called upon with the new ball and at the death.
Prediction: Group Stage
GROUP D
PAKISTAN
World Ranking: 6
Captain: Mohammad Hafeez
Pakistan should never be written off in major tournaments but their shot at success here is likely to be based almost entirely on their irresistible spin attack. Saeed Ajmal has been tormenting batsmen the world over for the last two years, and will again be a major threat. Meanwhile, Shahid Afridi likes to turn it on on the biggest stage, and captain Mohammad Hafeez has turned himself into one of the best in the world at bowling spin with the new ball. England are sure to have breathed a sigh of relief when Abdur Rehman was strangely omitted, preventing Pakistan from throwing an attack of Ajmal, Afridi, Hafeez, Rehman and Umar Gul at them.
However, the batting is a major worry. They have a mix of those that struggle to score quickly - Hafeez, Asad Shafiq, Shaoib Malik - and those that are often far too reckless - the Akmal brothers, Afridi. Therefore, its hard to see how they win without spin being a major factor.
Key Man: Saeed Ajmal. Whether he’s in the running for the ICC Cricketer of the Year or not, Ajmal is clearly the world’s best spinner. Combining an accurate line with wicket-taking variations, it would be a huge surprise if he isn’t one of the bowlers of the tournament.
Prediction: Semi-Finalists
NEW ZEALAND
World Ranking: 5
Captain: Ross Taylor
Despite their recent win against tournament favourites India, New Zealand are perhaps the most vulnerable of all the major nations in the initial group stage.
Their batting is furnished with destructive players (Brendan McCullum and Ross Taylor), but for the most-part they struggle at international level, and in particular in Asia. McCullum scored 91 against India and the team still didn’t manage 170. A reliance on a few wouldn’t be a problem if McCullum and Taylor are reliable. But they’re not. For players who have now been playing international cricket for a number of years my impression is that they are far too inconsistent.
And its not as if the bowling will bail them out. Tim Southee has become a decent bet in one-day cricket and is well suited to Asian conditions with his skiddy action, but Kyle Mills and Jacob Oram look spent forces, and you’ve got to question whether youngsters like Adam Milne, whose gone at almost 12 an over in his 3 matches to date, are ready for Twenty20 Internationals. Daniel Vettori was formerly a linchpin, but for whatever reason has struggled of late. One theory is that the responsibility he has burdened for so many years is finally starting to effect his bowling.
Key Man: Ross Taylor. Taylor is an extremely dangerous one-day batsman as he has shown on a number of occasions. But New Zealand need more from him if they’re to make an impression in Sri Lanka.
Prediction: Group Stage
BANGLADESH
World Ranking: 8
Captain: Mushfiqur Rahim
On the evidence of this year’s Asia Cup, in which they reached the final and competed well in every match, Bangladesh’s long awaited improvement may finally have arrived. Off the back of the Bangladesh Premier League a team which were thrust together when barely out of school are finally starting to mature. Captain Mushfiqur Rahim, who is just 23 but has played international cricket since 2005, has been an important part of that process, as has the talismanic Shakib-al-Hasan.
Shakib will be the main batsmen and the main bowler, but he does now have a wider range of support acts than at one stage. Tamim Iqbal, who has showed signs of a return to the form that saw him score a century in the 2010 Lord’s Test, will open the batting, whilst Abdur Razzak and Elias Sunny provide support in the spin department. Seam bowling may still be an issue - Shafiul Islam and Mashrafe bin Mortaza tend to blow hot and cold.
Overall, Bangladesh have a real chance to go well in this tournament. But if they don’t they’ll have questions to answer.
Key Man: Shakib-al-Hasan. Shakib is probably the best Twenty20 all-rounder in the world. He is Bangladesh’s leading player in both disciplines, and by all standards has a fantastic record. His left-arm spin in particular is likely to cause difficulties to Bangladesh’s group rivals.
Prediction: Super Eight
Showing posts with label T20. Show all posts
Showing posts with label T20. Show all posts
Friday, 14 September 2012
Thursday, 13 September 2012
ICC World Twenty20 Preview: Part 2 - Groups A and B
After the most sensational summer of sport one could possibly imagine, its finally cricket’s turn to step in to the global spotlight. The ICC World Twenty20 is back for its fourth edition - the third at which the women will be involved as well as the men - and it promises to offer two and a half weeks of fantastic cricket, and most importantly plenty of fun. In this second of three preview articles I analyse the prospects of the teams that make up Groups A and B of the men’s tournament - England, India, Afghanistan, Australia, West Indies and Ireland.
GROUP A
ENGLAND
World Ranking: 1
Captain: Stuart Broad
England won this tournament two years ago, and for the most part have remained a force in the intervening years. However, as the tournament approaches it is difficult to retain confidence in the team. Kevin Pietersen is a major loss, and they have historically struggled to make an impact in sub-continental conditions. But that is not to say that all is lost. Four of the top six from 2010 are in the squad, and to that we can add the in-form Jonny Bairstow and Alex Hales, who made 99 against the West Indies in June.
Nevertheless, the strength is in the seam bowling department which, along with South Africa, is the strongest in the tournament - you must be good to leave James Anderson out. Stuart Broad and Steven Finn will look to work over Asian and West Indian batsmen who struggle against aggressive quick bowling, whilst Jade Dernbach will be critical at the death. Graeme Swann also has an important role to play - his form has dipped of late, but after a short rest the team need him to be at his best, particularly if the pitches take the amount of turn that is anticipated.
Key Man: Eoin Morgan. In the absence of Pietersen, Morgan is undoubtedly England’s leading Twenty20 batsman. He shouldn’t have a problem with playing in Sri Lanka, and has come into some superb form in recent months.
Prediction: Semi-finalists
INDIA
World Ranking: 7
Captain: MS Dhoni
Despite a mixed record in Twenty20 cricket, India will rightly start as favourites to win the competition. The main reason for this is their batting - Virender Sehwag remains one of the most dangerous openers around, Virat Kohli is fast becoming one of the leading batsmen in the world, and MS Dhoni is the best finisher around. When you add Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina and the returning Yuvraj Singh to this group it is easy to see why scores of 200 should almost always be within their reach.
However, the stardom in their batting line-up contrasts to a mediocre looking bowling attack, which didn’t cost them the 2011 World Cup but must have an effect at some point - it certainly means that whilst an England or South Africa can feel confident in defending a par score, they will always have to look higher. Irfan Pathan has found some form, and Zaheer Khan is fit again. But Ravichandran Ashwin will be the most important bowler - his subtle variations have the potential to flummox sides who are uncomfortable against slow bowling, and I’d expect him to be used with the new ball on most occasions.
Key Man: MS Dhoni. There is quite simply no better finisher in the world game - get down to the last few overs with him at the crease and you know what’s coming. He’ll also have the important job of working out how to juggle an average bowling line-up, and is one of the best ‘keepers standing up to the stumps in the tournament.
Prediction: Winners
AFGHANISTAN
World Ranking: Currently unranked because of having played fewer than eight matches since August 2010
Captain: Nawroz Mangal
The Afghanistan story is an incredible one. They went from lowly ranked no-hopers to the 2010 World Twenty20 in little more than a year, and since then have improved further. However, the format for this tournament is unforgiving, making it difficult to see how they can advance to the Super Eights.
Although they suffer from a lack of depth, they do have three players in their ranks who would come close to a place in just about any international side. Wicket-keeper Mohammad Shahzad averages 56 in first-class cricket, and packs a punch in Twenty20 too, where he has six international 50s. Meanwhile, in Hamid Hassan and Dawlat Zadran they have arguably the best new ball pair amongst the Asian teams. Its likely that scoring runs will be the major challenge - if they do, then who knows what can happen?
Key Man: Dawlat Zadran. Demonstrated fantastic use of pace, variation and swing in the World Twenty20 Qualifier and a recent ODI against Pakistan. Could just be the find of the tournament if he comes good.
Prediction: Group Stage
GROUP B
AUSTRALIA
World Ranking: 9
Captain: George Bailey
Much was made of Australia slipping to 9th in the Twenty20 World Rankings, and whilst that might not be a fair reflection of the teams abilities it does reflect their poor results, and the fact that they’ve got a number of issues in this format.
Foremost amongst these is the captain. Chief selector John Inverarity appointed George Bailey on the basis of his domestic captaincy record, but its difficult to see how he gets into Australia’s best XI in this form of the game. A number of other selections are also confusing. Ryan Harris, arguably Australia’s best seam bowler, has been left out and the main spinner is a 41 year-old who thought he’d retired from international cricket four years ago. Brag Hogg may yet prove to be an inspired selection, but whatever happens spin is unlikely to be a strength.
The batting, however, certainly has the capacity to succeed. Shane Watson and David Warner are one of the more dangerous opening pairs around, although they can expect to face spin up front more often than not. Meanwhile, the Hussey brothers remain dangerous Twenty20 players and Glenn Maxwell has been brought into the side after a hot run of form, and could prove a shrewd pick.
Key Man: Mike Hussey. Mr. Cricket is in the twilight of his career, but Australia will be relying on him to make a big contribution to their run-making. He is likely to bat at three, and so will have the tough job of scoring at a good rate whilst not getting himself out.
Prediction: Super Eight
WEST INDIES
World Ranking: 4
Captain: Darren Sammy
Somewhat surprisingly the same West Indies team that were roundly beaten by England in all formats a couple of months ago are now being touted in some quarters as potential title challengers. With a look down the names on their team sheet it is easy to see why: Chris Gayle is consistently the most devastating Twenty20 batsmen in the world, Kieron Pollard hits the ball further than anybody, and nobody has yet mastered Sunil Narine in helpful conditions. The team as a whole has also undergone considerable improvements since Darren Sammy took over the captaincy.
However, consistency is required to win a tournament like this and the team are yet to produce the performances which suggest they can do that. You also feel that all-rounders like Pollard, Dwayne Bravo and Dwayne Smith can be worked out by top notch international bowlers, the likes of which are few and far between at the IPL and other Twenty20 jamborees. That was certainly the case in England this summer, when Pollard was targeted with the short ball and Bravo and Smith also struggled for runs.
Key Man: Chris Gayle. Since his en-passé with the West Indies Cricket Broad, Gayle has turned himself into indisputably the most consistent Twenty20 bludgeoner. It would be a major surprise if he didn’t score a century in the tournament, and when he does, West Indies will be well on course to winning games.
Prediction: Super Eight
IRELAND
World Ranking: 10
Captain: William Porterfield
Ireland have been standard bearers for Associate cricket over a number of years now, to the point where they will now feel they’ve underperformed if they don’t pull off upsets. On paper they should have a chance. Paul Stirling and Kevin O’Brien are potentially as destructive as just about anyone in the world, whilst Ed Joyce and William Porterfield add the glue to the batting line-up. They also have George Dockrell in their ranks. The 20 year-old left-arm spinner has already been to two global tournaments before this one, and has become a critical cog in Somerset’s Championship side. On the pitches in Sri Lanka he’ll be vital to the team’s success.
The main area of doubt will be in the seam bowling department. Trent Johnston is not the force he was a few years ago, and Boyd Rankin prefers the longer formats of the game. Therefore, a lot will rest on Tim Murtagh, the Middlesex new ball bowler who only started playing for Ireland this summer. Ireland will also be concerned that the weather has denied them a lot of vital match practice this summer, and that when they have got on the field the team has never really got going. But they should never be written off, and Australia and West Indies will both have to take their matches against Ireland extremely seriously.
Key Man: George Dockrell. Dockrell has the potential to be a fine international bowler and has already put in some excellent displays in global tournaments. With two years more county experience since the 2011 World Cup, Ireland will hope that he can consistently offer a threat to the better batsmen in world cricket.
Prediction: Group Stage
GROUP A
ENGLAND
World Ranking: 1
Captain: Stuart Broad
England won this tournament two years ago, and for the most part have remained a force in the intervening years. However, as the tournament approaches it is difficult to retain confidence in the team. Kevin Pietersen is a major loss, and they have historically struggled to make an impact in sub-continental conditions. But that is not to say that all is lost. Four of the top six from 2010 are in the squad, and to that we can add the in-form Jonny Bairstow and Alex Hales, who made 99 against the West Indies in June.
Nevertheless, the strength is in the seam bowling department which, along with South Africa, is the strongest in the tournament - you must be good to leave James Anderson out. Stuart Broad and Steven Finn will look to work over Asian and West Indian batsmen who struggle against aggressive quick bowling, whilst Jade Dernbach will be critical at the death. Graeme Swann also has an important role to play - his form has dipped of late, but after a short rest the team need him to be at his best, particularly if the pitches take the amount of turn that is anticipated.
Key Man: Eoin Morgan. In the absence of Pietersen, Morgan is undoubtedly England’s leading Twenty20 batsman. He shouldn’t have a problem with playing in Sri Lanka, and has come into some superb form in recent months.
Prediction: Semi-finalists
INDIA
World Ranking: 7
Captain: MS Dhoni
Despite a mixed record in Twenty20 cricket, India will rightly start as favourites to win the competition. The main reason for this is their batting - Virender Sehwag remains one of the most dangerous openers around, Virat Kohli is fast becoming one of the leading batsmen in the world, and MS Dhoni is the best finisher around. When you add Gautam Gambhir, Suresh Raina and the returning Yuvraj Singh to this group it is easy to see why scores of 200 should almost always be within their reach.
However, the stardom in their batting line-up contrasts to a mediocre looking bowling attack, which didn’t cost them the 2011 World Cup but must have an effect at some point - it certainly means that whilst an England or South Africa can feel confident in defending a par score, they will always have to look higher. Irfan Pathan has found some form, and Zaheer Khan is fit again. But Ravichandran Ashwin will be the most important bowler - his subtle variations have the potential to flummox sides who are uncomfortable against slow bowling, and I’d expect him to be used with the new ball on most occasions.
Key Man: MS Dhoni. There is quite simply no better finisher in the world game - get down to the last few overs with him at the crease and you know what’s coming. He’ll also have the important job of working out how to juggle an average bowling line-up, and is one of the best ‘keepers standing up to the stumps in the tournament.
Prediction: Winners
AFGHANISTAN
World Ranking: Currently unranked because of having played fewer than eight matches since August 2010
Captain: Nawroz Mangal
The Afghanistan story is an incredible one. They went from lowly ranked no-hopers to the 2010 World Twenty20 in little more than a year, and since then have improved further. However, the format for this tournament is unforgiving, making it difficult to see how they can advance to the Super Eights.
Although they suffer from a lack of depth, they do have three players in their ranks who would come close to a place in just about any international side. Wicket-keeper Mohammad Shahzad averages 56 in first-class cricket, and packs a punch in Twenty20 too, where he has six international 50s. Meanwhile, in Hamid Hassan and Dawlat Zadran they have arguably the best new ball pair amongst the Asian teams. Its likely that scoring runs will be the major challenge - if they do, then who knows what can happen?
Key Man: Dawlat Zadran. Demonstrated fantastic use of pace, variation and swing in the World Twenty20 Qualifier and a recent ODI against Pakistan. Could just be the find of the tournament if he comes good.
Prediction: Group Stage
GROUP B
AUSTRALIA
World Ranking: 9
Captain: George Bailey
Much was made of Australia slipping to 9th in the Twenty20 World Rankings, and whilst that might not be a fair reflection of the teams abilities it does reflect their poor results, and the fact that they’ve got a number of issues in this format.
Foremost amongst these is the captain. Chief selector John Inverarity appointed George Bailey on the basis of his domestic captaincy record, but its difficult to see how he gets into Australia’s best XI in this form of the game. A number of other selections are also confusing. Ryan Harris, arguably Australia’s best seam bowler, has been left out and the main spinner is a 41 year-old who thought he’d retired from international cricket four years ago. Brag Hogg may yet prove to be an inspired selection, but whatever happens spin is unlikely to be a strength.
The batting, however, certainly has the capacity to succeed. Shane Watson and David Warner are one of the more dangerous opening pairs around, although they can expect to face spin up front more often than not. Meanwhile, the Hussey brothers remain dangerous Twenty20 players and Glenn Maxwell has been brought into the side after a hot run of form, and could prove a shrewd pick.
Key Man: Mike Hussey. Mr. Cricket is in the twilight of his career, but Australia will be relying on him to make a big contribution to their run-making. He is likely to bat at three, and so will have the tough job of scoring at a good rate whilst not getting himself out.
Prediction: Super Eight
WEST INDIES
World Ranking: 4
Captain: Darren Sammy
Somewhat surprisingly the same West Indies team that were roundly beaten by England in all formats a couple of months ago are now being touted in some quarters as potential title challengers. With a look down the names on their team sheet it is easy to see why: Chris Gayle is consistently the most devastating Twenty20 batsmen in the world, Kieron Pollard hits the ball further than anybody, and nobody has yet mastered Sunil Narine in helpful conditions. The team as a whole has also undergone considerable improvements since Darren Sammy took over the captaincy.
However, consistency is required to win a tournament like this and the team are yet to produce the performances which suggest they can do that. You also feel that all-rounders like Pollard, Dwayne Bravo and Dwayne Smith can be worked out by top notch international bowlers, the likes of which are few and far between at the IPL and other Twenty20 jamborees. That was certainly the case in England this summer, when Pollard was targeted with the short ball and Bravo and Smith also struggled for runs.
Key Man: Chris Gayle. Since his en-passé with the West Indies Cricket Broad, Gayle has turned himself into indisputably the most consistent Twenty20 bludgeoner. It would be a major surprise if he didn’t score a century in the tournament, and when he does, West Indies will be well on course to winning games.
Prediction: Super Eight
IRELAND
World Ranking: 10
Captain: William Porterfield
Ireland have been standard bearers for Associate cricket over a number of years now, to the point where they will now feel they’ve underperformed if they don’t pull off upsets. On paper they should have a chance. Paul Stirling and Kevin O’Brien are potentially as destructive as just about anyone in the world, whilst Ed Joyce and William Porterfield add the glue to the batting line-up. They also have George Dockrell in their ranks. The 20 year-old left-arm spinner has already been to two global tournaments before this one, and has become a critical cog in Somerset’s Championship side. On the pitches in Sri Lanka he’ll be vital to the team’s success.
The main area of doubt will be in the seam bowling department. Trent Johnston is not the force he was a few years ago, and Boyd Rankin prefers the longer formats of the game. Therefore, a lot will rest on Tim Murtagh, the Middlesex new ball bowler who only started playing for Ireland this summer. Ireland will also be concerned that the weather has denied them a lot of vital match practice this summer, and that when they have got on the field the team has never really got going. But they should never be written off, and Australia and West Indies will both have to take their matches against Ireland extremely seriously.
Key Man: George Dockrell. Dockrell has the potential to be a fine international bowler and has already put in some excellent displays in global tournaments. With two years more county experience since the 2011 World Cup, Ireland will hope that he can consistently offer a threat to the better batsmen in world cricket.
Prediction: Group Stage
Wednesday, 12 September 2012
ICC World Twenty20 Preview - Part 1: Women's tournament
After the most sensational summer of sport one could possibly imagine, its finally cricket’s turn to step in to the global spotlight. The ICC World Twenty20 is back for its fourth edition - the third at which the women will be involved as well as the men - and it promises to offer two and a half weeks of fantastic cricket, and most importantly plenty of fun. In this first of three preview articles I look ahead to the women’s tournament, which might just offer yet more English success in the Indian summer of 2012.
Holding the women’s tournament at the same time as the men’s is a fantastic way of promoting the ladies game. As well as reducing the costs of running the event, it allows a captive media and television audience to enjoy a fast improving branch of the game, and therefore for the exceptionally talented players to take their places in the spotlight. The semi-finals and finals take place before their male equivalents, using a formula used to some success for women’s international matches in England, Australia and New Zealand. Unlike the men’s tournament there are only eight teams participating and so go straight into two groups of four and then onwards to the knock-out stages. England are joined by Australia, India and Pakistan in Group A, with New Zealand, West Indies, South Africa and hosts Sri Lanka making up Group B.
The favourites
England will undoubtedly go into this event as heavy favourites. Charlotte Edwards’s team have won their last eighteen completed fixtures and, on the evidence of this summer, are as far ahead of the field as Sarah Storey was for Great Britain in the Paralympic cycling (a long way for those that weren’t watching!).
The team benefit from fantastic levels of funding from the ECB these days, and all of the players are now near enough professional cricketers. Like the men’s setup they have an extensive coaching team - Mark Lane plays Andy Flower and Cookie Patel fills Richard Halsall’s role - and it is clear that as a result of these factors they are comfortably the best drilled unit. Edwards herself has been a fantastic batter for a number of years as well as an inspiration to the team, whilst Laura Marsh and Sarah Taylor are comfortable with scoring at a good rate - something which some of England’s opponents have struggled with. Katherine Brunt and Anya Shrubsole form the most fearsome new ball pair in the women’s game, although with this tournament being staged on the traditionally spin-friendly ground in Galle, it is very likely that one of Marsh, Holly Colvin or Danielle Wyatt will bowl spin with the new nut.
And if you thought that was all bases covered its not. Lydia Greenway is perhaps the one fielder in the world - male or female - to keep an eye on over the coming weeks; some of her work in the outfield during the recent matches against India would have been impressive from any male cricketer. And Sarah Taylor is not only fast becoming the world’s best batter but is the women’s games best ‘keeper too.
Overall, England would appear champions elect already. But they messed up in the last World Twenty20 - going out in the group stage after a loss to West Indies - and will know that in this form of the game anything can happen. They’ll also need to be wary of how they go in Asian conditions - the make up of their team suggests that they shouldn’t be a problem, but its true that many of the last eighteen wins have come in England, Australia and New Zealand.
The pretenders
After beating New Zealand 4-0 in a home series earlier this year, its Australia that will lead the chasing pack. Included in their ranks are Ellyse Perry, who has also played international football, and is a very useful right-arm seam bowler. Other players to watch out for include Lisa Sthalekar, an experienced off-spinning all-rounder who played a key part in her team’s 2010 success and Alyssa Healy, niece of fellow wicket-keeper Ian, who scored 90 in a recent Twenty20 International against India in Asian conditions. All being well they would expect to make the final, and they’ll be telling themselves that anything can happen after that.
New Zealand are a team in decline but can still expect to put up a decent showing in this event, and would certainly expect to win Group B. Captain Suzie Bates, who hit 168 in a Super Six match at the 2009 World Cup aged just 22 and represented New Zealand in Basketball at the Beijing Olympics, remains one of the stars of the women’s game and if she really gets going could prompt an upset in the semi-finals. However, a number of retirements have weakened the team overall, putting a lot of pressure on Bates, wicket-keeper Sara McGlashan (brother of one time Black Cap Peter) and the experienced all-rounder Amy Satterthwaite.
Shane Warne once said that Monty Panesar hadn’t played 30 Tests; instead he’d played the same Test 30 times. And that can also be said of India’s Women’s Twenty20 team. In the form of Mithali Raj, who with a superb technique would appreciate less focus on the shortest form of the game, and tall fast bowler Jhulan Goswami they have two of the leading lights of the women’s game. But as a team they constantly post under-par totals in the 110 region, and lack the depth of bowling to make a sustained impact against the best teams. Any hope for this tournament is therefore likely to rest on being the most at home in Asian conditions among the top five. Whether that will be enough to take home the trophy is highly doubtful.
West Indies surpassed all expectations in reaching the semi-finals of their home World Twenty20 two years ago. Unlike India they like to play their shots, but, on the evidence of their ongoing series in England that is unlikely to get them out of trouble. They will expect to get out of the easier Group B though, and with Stefanie Taylor, the 21 year-old batting all-rounder who has been nominated for the ICC’s Cricketer of the Year in their ranks, will have hopes of perhaps beating the Kiwis. They are a young side, with most of the squad in their late teens and early twenties, but despite their shock victory over England in 2010, it is hard to see them reaching the final this time round.
The outsiders
Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka are perennial outsiders in the women’s game, largely because of a lack of funding from their respective boards. Given the health of South Africa’s men’s team it is probably most disappointing to see that they have failed to make any impact at all on the ladies game. Recent defeats to Bangladesh, who failed to qualify, suggest that an immediate improvement is beyond them. Meanwhile, Pakistan were roundly beaten by England in two recent matches, and also lost to both England’s Academy and Under-19 sides on the tour. Sri Lanka can at least claim home advantage in their favour but a win over South Africa must be their only realistic target.
Overall, it would be foolish to put money on anybody other than Charlotte Edwards’s England girls. But Twenty20 is a funny old game and an upset shouldn’t be ruled out. Whatever happens the tournament is sure to continue the promotion of the women’s game, and holding it in Sri Lanka, a country without a tradition in women’s cricket, could be what is needed to accelerate the global growth of a form of the game which allows female cricketers to demonstrate how good they now really are.
Holding the women’s tournament at the same time as the men’s is a fantastic way of promoting the ladies game. As well as reducing the costs of running the event, it allows a captive media and television audience to enjoy a fast improving branch of the game, and therefore for the exceptionally talented players to take their places in the spotlight. The semi-finals and finals take place before their male equivalents, using a formula used to some success for women’s international matches in England, Australia and New Zealand. Unlike the men’s tournament there are only eight teams participating and so go straight into two groups of four and then onwards to the knock-out stages. England are joined by Australia, India and Pakistan in Group A, with New Zealand, West Indies, South Africa and hosts Sri Lanka making up Group B.
The favourites
England will undoubtedly go into this event as heavy favourites. Charlotte Edwards’s team have won their last eighteen completed fixtures and, on the evidence of this summer, are as far ahead of the field as Sarah Storey was for Great Britain in the Paralympic cycling (a long way for those that weren’t watching!).
The team benefit from fantastic levels of funding from the ECB these days, and all of the players are now near enough professional cricketers. Like the men’s setup they have an extensive coaching team - Mark Lane plays Andy Flower and Cookie Patel fills Richard Halsall’s role - and it is clear that as a result of these factors they are comfortably the best drilled unit. Edwards herself has been a fantastic batter for a number of years as well as an inspiration to the team, whilst Laura Marsh and Sarah Taylor are comfortable with scoring at a good rate - something which some of England’s opponents have struggled with. Katherine Brunt and Anya Shrubsole form the most fearsome new ball pair in the women’s game, although with this tournament being staged on the traditionally spin-friendly ground in Galle, it is very likely that one of Marsh, Holly Colvin or Danielle Wyatt will bowl spin with the new nut.
And if you thought that was all bases covered its not. Lydia Greenway is perhaps the one fielder in the world - male or female - to keep an eye on over the coming weeks; some of her work in the outfield during the recent matches against India would have been impressive from any male cricketer. And Sarah Taylor is not only fast becoming the world’s best batter but is the women’s games best ‘keeper too.
Overall, England would appear champions elect already. But they messed up in the last World Twenty20 - going out in the group stage after a loss to West Indies - and will know that in this form of the game anything can happen. They’ll also need to be wary of how they go in Asian conditions - the make up of their team suggests that they shouldn’t be a problem, but its true that many of the last eighteen wins have come in England, Australia and New Zealand.
The pretenders
After beating New Zealand 4-0 in a home series earlier this year, its Australia that will lead the chasing pack. Included in their ranks are Ellyse Perry, who has also played international football, and is a very useful right-arm seam bowler. Other players to watch out for include Lisa Sthalekar, an experienced off-spinning all-rounder who played a key part in her team’s 2010 success and Alyssa Healy, niece of fellow wicket-keeper Ian, who scored 90 in a recent Twenty20 International against India in Asian conditions. All being well they would expect to make the final, and they’ll be telling themselves that anything can happen after that.
New Zealand are a team in decline but can still expect to put up a decent showing in this event, and would certainly expect to win Group B. Captain Suzie Bates, who hit 168 in a Super Six match at the 2009 World Cup aged just 22 and represented New Zealand in Basketball at the Beijing Olympics, remains one of the stars of the women’s game and if she really gets going could prompt an upset in the semi-finals. However, a number of retirements have weakened the team overall, putting a lot of pressure on Bates, wicket-keeper Sara McGlashan (brother of one time Black Cap Peter) and the experienced all-rounder Amy Satterthwaite.
Shane Warne once said that Monty Panesar hadn’t played 30 Tests; instead he’d played the same Test 30 times. And that can also be said of India’s Women’s Twenty20 team. In the form of Mithali Raj, who with a superb technique would appreciate less focus on the shortest form of the game, and tall fast bowler Jhulan Goswami they have two of the leading lights of the women’s game. But as a team they constantly post under-par totals in the 110 region, and lack the depth of bowling to make a sustained impact against the best teams. Any hope for this tournament is therefore likely to rest on being the most at home in Asian conditions among the top five. Whether that will be enough to take home the trophy is highly doubtful.
West Indies surpassed all expectations in reaching the semi-finals of their home World Twenty20 two years ago. Unlike India they like to play their shots, but, on the evidence of their ongoing series in England that is unlikely to get them out of trouble. They will expect to get out of the easier Group B though, and with Stefanie Taylor, the 21 year-old batting all-rounder who has been nominated for the ICC’s Cricketer of the Year in their ranks, will have hopes of perhaps beating the Kiwis. They are a young side, with most of the squad in their late teens and early twenties, but despite their shock victory over England in 2010, it is hard to see them reaching the final this time round.
The outsiders
Pakistan, South Africa and Sri Lanka are perennial outsiders in the women’s game, largely because of a lack of funding from their respective boards. Given the health of South Africa’s men’s team it is probably most disappointing to see that they have failed to make any impact at all on the ladies game. Recent defeats to Bangladesh, who failed to qualify, suggest that an immediate improvement is beyond them. Meanwhile, Pakistan were roundly beaten by England in two recent matches, and also lost to both England’s Academy and Under-19 sides on the tour. Sri Lanka can at least claim home advantage in their favour but a win over South Africa must be their only realistic target.
Overall, it would be foolish to put money on anybody other than Charlotte Edwards’s England girls. But Twenty20 is a funny old game and an upset shouldn’t be ruled out. Whatever happens the tournament is sure to continue the promotion of the women’s game, and holding it in Sri Lanka, a country without a tradition in women’s cricket, could be what is needed to accelerate the global growth of a form of the game which allows female cricketers to demonstrate how good they now really are.
Wednesday, 4 July 2012
Franchises not the answer for English Twenty20
When the ECB launched the Twenty20 Cup in 2003 the stated aim was to widen the appeal of county cricket, and introduce supporters to the county sides who could go on to support them in the more traditional formats. The other incentive was to safeguard the financial futures of the counties, by creating the opportunity to host full houses in a prime-time after work slot on warm June evenings. As an infant expectations were not only matched but surpassed - almost every game was sold out in those initial years, and the numbers of families in attendance was significantly higher than at other forms of the game. But in recent seasons Twenty20 has reached its adolescent stage. It asserts its independence by flexing its muscles in India, Bangladesh and Australia. And, back at home, those that adored it as a baby are less interested than they were before.
All this has led to a flurry of suggestions from players as highly respected as Muttiah Muralitharan, Scott Styris, Dirk Nannes and the number two Twenty20 batsman in the world Eoin Morgan that our Friends Life t20 is falling behind franchise-based competitions such as the Indian and Bangladesh Premier Leagues and Australia’s Big Bash. The answer, they say, is that we must follow their lead and implement a franchise-based system in the UK. I say that, as well as being unworkable, franchises would in fact be disastrous for English cricket.
The first reason for my position is that a franchise based system would undoubtedly go against the stated aim of English Twenty20 - to rejuvenate county cricket. Some interest might actually be created in the Manchester Mavericks, or the Leeds Leopards, at least whilst the novelty lasts. But what is to say that young supporters of those teams will go on to follow Lancashire and Yorkshire in the Championship? We are not India where the Ranji Trophy is attended by practically none and followed by few more - the County Championship has a stronger following than any other domestic first-class competition, and we must not let anything threaten that. The dominance of franchise cricket could easily do just that, creating the impression that county cricket is second class and driving those newspapers that still cover the Championship away.
Additionally, a franchise system would be sure to centre around our major international venues - the likes of The Oval, Headingley and Trent Bridge. The management at these venues would love a franchise system, to create more major match days, and perhaps bring in more income than the existing competition. But that fails to recognise that Surrey, who brought in an astounding 82,843 for Twenty20 group games last year aside, the counties to make the best success of Twenty20 have been the smaller ones - in particular Somerset, Essex and Sussex. Under a franchise system all three counties would almost certainly be sidelined, and even were a second T20 competition introduced to keep the clubs sweet, it is doubtful that attendances could be maintained. The end of T20 cricket as we know it would almost certainly be disastrous for these counties - the primary income stream would be cut off, and financial turmoil would be the likely result. Even were hefty compensation provided by the ECB, along with the chance to host games in the new competition, that would hardly be the way to treat the loyal supporters of those clubs.
The success of Twenty20 in smaller towns also highlights a major difference in our culture from that in the countries some think we should copy. In India, cricket dominates the sporting scene and fans will come from far and wide to see their heroes. That isn’t how things work over here. Cricket has to be taken to the people who, in areas where the county cricket club is at the heart of the local community, will happily take advantage of the opportunity to see top class professional sport. For this reason it might well be an uphill struggle for city based franchises to galvanise local support in areas where international cricket and other sports teams dominate. Mancunians have their sport fix from the two Premier League clubs, and Old Trafford’s international cricket. Domestic cricket will thus always have a niche following their.
A more fundamental reason that franchise cricket will never work in the UK is that it is hard to see who would be willing to put hefty sums of money down to buy a domestic cricket team over here. In India some of the highest profile public figures - from Shah Rukh Khan to Vijay Mallya to Shilpa Shetty - have forked out for IPL teams. But in England the domestic cricket market is narrow, and you have to think that the super-rich would be better off spending their cash on Premier League football clubs than Twenty20 franchises. Certainly, it is unrealistic to imagine Sir Richard Branson, David Beckham and Simon Cowell investing in cricket. Therefore, it is hard to see where the money would come from to lure top Twenty20 players with IPL, or at least Big Bash, style contracts. In fact franchises might be little better off than the counties.
Most pundits seem to agree that we ask too much of our international cricketers these days. It goes without saying that a franchise competition would struggle to work without the presence of Kevin Pietersen, Graeme Swann, James Anderson and all of our other iconic England cricketers. To make itself viable it would have to be contested over at least as many matches as the current Friends Life t20 and probably more, if the Morgan Review’s suggestion of 14 is anything to go by. This would do nothing to ease the schedule, and with international cricket unlikely to be reduced either, it is therefore inconceivable that the England players would be available for more than a couple of games. It would simply be incompatible with the laudable goals of the Strauss-Flower regime to be the best team in the world.
The preceding paragraphs cover the major points, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. Some other factors to consider are that many young (and older) English players would probably be sidelined in a franchise competition, that dumping counties wouldn’t suddenly make AB de Villiers, Lasith Malinga and Chris Gayle available, and that the problems the Friends Life t20 has encountered this year have been accentuated by the weather - something that franchises won’t change.
Of course, we shouldn’t forget that England are both World Twenty20 champions and ranked number one in the world in that form of the game. What we are doing can’t be that wrong then.
As a final thought we should return to the list of players to put their names to wanting franchise cricket in England - Eoin Morgan, Scott Styris, Dirk Nannes, Murali. Three are overseas players, who probably wouldn’t care if Leicestershire collapsed. And all four would rate their chances of using an English franchise system to further top up their bank accounts. In fact they’ve probably given little thought to whether it would be the right way for English cricket to go. All my evidence suggests it wouldn’t be.
All this has led to a flurry of suggestions from players as highly respected as Muttiah Muralitharan, Scott Styris, Dirk Nannes and the number two Twenty20 batsman in the world Eoin Morgan that our Friends Life t20 is falling behind franchise-based competitions such as the Indian and Bangladesh Premier Leagues and Australia’s Big Bash. The answer, they say, is that we must follow their lead and implement a franchise-based system in the UK. I say that, as well as being unworkable, franchises would in fact be disastrous for English cricket.
The first reason for my position is that a franchise based system would undoubtedly go against the stated aim of English Twenty20 - to rejuvenate county cricket. Some interest might actually be created in the Manchester Mavericks, or the Leeds Leopards, at least whilst the novelty lasts. But what is to say that young supporters of those teams will go on to follow Lancashire and Yorkshire in the Championship? We are not India where the Ranji Trophy is attended by practically none and followed by few more - the County Championship has a stronger following than any other domestic first-class competition, and we must not let anything threaten that. The dominance of franchise cricket could easily do just that, creating the impression that county cricket is second class and driving those newspapers that still cover the Championship away.
Additionally, a franchise system would be sure to centre around our major international venues - the likes of The Oval, Headingley and Trent Bridge. The management at these venues would love a franchise system, to create more major match days, and perhaps bring in more income than the existing competition. But that fails to recognise that Surrey, who brought in an astounding 82,843 for Twenty20 group games last year aside, the counties to make the best success of Twenty20 have been the smaller ones - in particular Somerset, Essex and Sussex. Under a franchise system all three counties would almost certainly be sidelined, and even were a second T20 competition introduced to keep the clubs sweet, it is doubtful that attendances could be maintained. The end of T20 cricket as we know it would almost certainly be disastrous for these counties - the primary income stream would be cut off, and financial turmoil would be the likely result. Even were hefty compensation provided by the ECB, along with the chance to host games in the new competition, that would hardly be the way to treat the loyal supporters of those clubs.
The success of Twenty20 in smaller towns also highlights a major difference in our culture from that in the countries some think we should copy. In India, cricket dominates the sporting scene and fans will come from far and wide to see their heroes. That isn’t how things work over here. Cricket has to be taken to the people who, in areas where the county cricket club is at the heart of the local community, will happily take advantage of the opportunity to see top class professional sport. For this reason it might well be an uphill struggle for city based franchises to galvanise local support in areas where international cricket and other sports teams dominate. Mancunians have their sport fix from the two Premier League clubs, and Old Trafford’s international cricket. Domestic cricket will thus always have a niche following their.
A more fundamental reason that franchise cricket will never work in the UK is that it is hard to see who would be willing to put hefty sums of money down to buy a domestic cricket team over here. In India some of the highest profile public figures - from Shah Rukh Khan to Vijay Mallya to Shilpa Shetty - have forked out for IPL teams. But in England the domestic cricket market is narrow, and you have to think that the super-rich would be better off spending their cash on Premier League football clubs than Twenty20 franchises. Certainly, it is unrealistic to imagine Sir Richard Branson, David Beckham and Simon Cowell investing in cricket. Therefore, it is hard to see where the money would come from to lure top Twenty20 players with IPL, or at least Big Bash, style contracts. In fact franchises might be little better off than the counties.
Most pundits seem to agree that we ask too much of our international cricketers these days. It goes without saying that a franchise competition would struggle to work without the presence of Kevin Pietersen, Graeme Swann, James Anderson and all of our other iconic England cricketers. To make itself viable it would have to be contested over at least as many matches as the current Friends Life t20 and probably more, if the Morgan Review’s suggestion of 14 is anything to go by. This would do nothing to ease the schedule, and with international cricket unlikely to be reduced either, it is therefore inconceivable that the England players would be available for more than a couple of games. It would simply be incompatible with the laudable goals of the Strauss-Flower regime to be the best team in the world.
The preceding paragraphs cover the major points, but that is only the tip of the iceberg. Some other factors to consider are that many young (and older) English players would probably be sidelined in a franchise competition, that dumping counties wouldn’t suddenly make AB de Villiers, Lasith Malinga and Chris Gayle available, and that the problems the Friends Life t20 has encountered this year have been accentuated by the weather - something that franchises won’t change.
Of course, we shouldn’t forget that England are both World Twenty20 champions and ranked number one in the world in that form of the game. What we are doing can’t be that wrong then.
As a final thought we should return to the list of players to put their names to wanting franchise cricket in England - Eoin Morgan, Scott Styris, Dirk Nannes, Murali. Three are overseas players, who probably wouldn’t care if Leicestershire collapsed. And all four would rate their chances of using an English franchise system to further top up their bank accounts. In fact they’ve probably given little thought to whether it would be the right way for English cricket to go. All my evidence suggests it wouldn’t be.
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