The ICC World T20

So it’s not long now until the ICC World T20 kicks off. Having witnessed the flair and style that was the IPL for the past month, I am now well and truly in 20 over mode, and combine this with the start of the English domestic season, there is lots to look forward to! Having played two pre season games during the Easter break from university, I now have to settle for watching it on the telly rather than playing it.

There are a few players that I expect to absolutely shine at this event in the West Indies that kicks off with New Zealand v Sri Lanka at the Providence Stadium Guyana on Friday the 30th of April.

Craig Kieswetter – having made to rather dodgy starts to his international career for England in Bangladesh, Kieswetter then knuckled down to score and uncharacteristically watchful century in only his third game. England will need him to change his approach from cautious to that of a mentalist as he has done for Somerset on numerous occasions, if they are to take advantage of the 6 Power Play overs.

Cameron White – another man who can hit the ball very very hard and very very far, White is a man that Australia will be looking to make some big scores. Once the holder of the highest individual score in 20/20 cricket with 141 not out for Somerset, White is now being viewed as one of the more experienced players in this youthful line-up.

Michael Lumb – thanks to a reasonably successful spell of opening the batting for the Rajasthan Royals in the IPL, Lumb has been shot into the international limited overs scene. He’s set to open with Craig Kieswetter and it will be interesting to see how he fairs against some world class bowling attacks.

Daniel Vettori – a class performer thorough and through, Daniel Vettori has carried the New Zealand bowling attack for years now. With everyone raving about how taking the pace off of the ball in limited overs cricket can have a massive affect on the run rate, Vettori is surely one of the most potent weapons in the World T20?! He needs the batsmen to fire though and get some decent totals for him to bowl at.

Shane Bond – having said that Vettori has carried New Zealand, that may have not been the case had this man have been fit more often and not retired when he did. He showed in the recent IPL that his pace and accuracy can be deadly and with slower balls and slower ball bouncers in his armoury, New Zealand could be the dark horses of the tournament.

Angelo Matthews – his IPL for off to an absolute flyer this year but soon fizzled out leading to him eventually being dropped. With his clean striking and good variations in his bowling, he could be the all rounder of the tournament. Let’s hope he brings his A game with him.

Graeme Swann – having had the international career that he has had so far, I predict that the metronomic Swann will keep doing what he does best in 2010. Take wickets (in the first over of his spell) and hit the ball like a mentalist.

All in all, I think I will be pretty much glued to the TV screen for the next few weeks. Things are not looking good for my final year exams that are fast approaching!

Paul

Michael Lumb - Future Star?

Another England player stars in the IPL today in the form of Michael Lumb. He’s been in really solid form so far for the Rajasthan Royals, but today he finally got himself past the fifty mark for the first time. Lumb smashed 83 off of 43 balls, which included 16 fours and 2 sixes, helping to set up a very straightforward 9 wicket win over the Kings XI Punjab.

He is one of only 8 English players to be in the IPL this year (Kevin Pieterson, Andrew Flintoff, Owais Shah, Paul Collingwood, Ravi Bopara, Eion Morgan and Graeme Napier). When you bear in mind that Lumb has only just been selected for England for the first time, he is doing remarkably well and repaying the selectors faith.

A lot of former professionals believe that the IPL is a poor way upon which to establish the quality of a player and their suitability for international cricket. How can they possible say this say this? It may not be suitable to pick potential future Test Cricket stars, sure. But bear in mind, every one of the ten IPL teams can play 4 of their overseas star players out of about 7 or 8 altogether in their squad. The any new or future International Cricket stars would get to ply their trade against the likes of Brett Lee and Matthew Hayden for example.

In county cricket, both four day and 40/50 over, the English players only get to face one class overseas player per game. The IPL has allowed them to play four times as many, and therefore (I think) gain valuable experience.

Michael Lumb has been able to not only get paid a decent amount of money for doing what he loves, thanks to the massive television coverage he has pushed himself to the forefront of the selectors minds.

Good luck to the lad!

Paul

T20 Squad Time!

So the past few days have been a story of ups and downs for English cricket players. Ravi Bopara was handed the news that he will be going to the World T20 at the end of April (don’t quote me on the exact date), but at the same time he managed to field appallingly in his last outing in the IPL. It’s also worth noting that his form has slumped rather significantly as of late after making back to back fifties in his first two appearances for the Kings Punjab XI this year.

This is classic England selection policy:

Step 1 - Wait till a player gets into good/great/amazing form.
Step 2 – Wait a tad more.
Step 3 – Form going slightly pear shaped/confidence waning.
Step 4 – Really out of form = selection made!

On a similar note, Craig Kieswetter has been chosen as the sole Keeper in the T20 part, which gives him a chance to flaunt his entire game to the selectors, and start banging on Matt Priors test and One day door’s. This is a brave move on the selectors part, bearing in mind that his international experience consists of a few appearances against Bangladesh, the worst team in the top flight of the game in all formats. On a downer, one of England’s best players as of late, and ranked 3rd best bowler in the world, Graeme Swann, has been arrested on suspicion of drunk driving after his 31st birthday.........MUPPET!

Michael’s Yardy and Lumb have been recalled/selected for the T20 too on the back of solid form which is great news as I have always been a fan of the south coast duo, and I fully expect them both to shine! All in all an interesting squad and one that could make any diehard test cricket purist slightly interested.

Paul

PS - please feel free to comment and follow guys! (I don’t bite!)

For more information please go to:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/cricket/england/8595614.stm

Which Catch Is better?

Ok, if anyone happened to be watching the IPL live on ITV 4 the other day when the Delhi Daredevils played the Kolkata Knight Riders.......... what about that catch from David Hussey!??! Is that not one of the best catches in recent years? Despite having played cricket for 13 or 14 years now I guess, and I can’t even begin to contemplate how the hell he managed to pull that one off!


It looked for all money that Collingwood had smashed another flat 6 off the over, only to be removed by an absolute stunner!

For all of you who have no idea whatsoever what I am talking about, feel free to check out the video below.



Too be fair it’s about time Paul Collingwood got a taste of his own medicine after the numerous belters that he’s managed to cling onto! This one ring any memories?



(I was lucky enough to be in Bristol watching that game) : D

Both Different catches but which one is better?? You tell me!

Paul

The IPL

The Little Master

Although the coverage is not the best, the pundits are truly woeful at times, it's still better than nothing! There are three major bees in my bonnet with regards to the IPL that I need to get off of my chest as it is really starting to nag at me:

1 - The Horn - During the games, wherever they are and regardless of who's playing, there is a loud Spanish sounding horn that the DJs love to play to get the crowd going. This gets used in the UK at football/rugby/cricket matches, but THEY use it every half hour or so. The IPL, the DJs like to sound this horn, and I’m not exaggerating here, every half a second! P*ss off!

2 - Ad Breaks – I know that the IPL is being staged in a country with over a billion people and have a viewing audience of hundreds of millions worldwide, buts is there really a need to have ad breaks ever couple of overs and in between balls?? REALLY??

3 - The Presenters – Yes I realise that ITV got the IPL at the last minute, but surely they could have got two people with more experience in the world of cricket? Come on ITV, you can do better!

Right, rant over! Now I’m going to be watching the rest of the current game Deccan Chargers vs Kings XI Punjab (follow it here - http://www.cricinfo.com/ipl2010/engine/current/match/419117.html) and keeping a close eye on the only Englishman in the game, Ravi Bopara.

Paul