Category Archives: Twenty 20

Preview: India Vs Ireland

clip_image002Match Details

Group A | Match No 12

Date: Jun 10, 2009

Time: 10:00 PM IST

TV Coverage: On Star Cricket in India

Venue: Trent Bridge, Nottingham

Playing Conditions

Weather: High: 15°C, Low: 8°C, Mostly Cloudy, Humidity: 94%

Teams Form

In chronological order from left to right

India: LWLLW

India has already qualified for the Super8. Although there is no significance of this match on the rest of the tournament but India would not like to give away this match. They will be looking to try out the bench and also give some rest to the members who have recently recovered from an injury.

Ireland: WWWNW

Ireland has already qualified for the Super8 and they have nothing to lose in this match. They have not lost any T20 International matches that they have played so far. However, 138 is the highest total that they have managed in any T20. Playing against the world champions could be the real test of their skills.

Team News

India

Sehwag has been ruled out of the tournament due to a shoulder injury. Dinesh Kartik gets a chance to replace him. India would be missing Sehwag in the Super8 where it faces stiffer competition from West Indies, England and South Africa.

Gautam and Rohit have been handling their job well at the top of the order and Dhoni need not worry about that. The middle order could be one thing where Dhoni would be using his own ideas deciding who goes in to bat. I would personally like to see Yusuf Pathan getting a free license today to hit the balls out of the ground.

Ireland

The heroes of the match against Bangladesh – O’Brien brothers to hold the key to the team’s performance. Niall O’Brien scored 40 off 25 balls in the early part of the innings while Kevin O’Brien scored 39 off 17 in the end confirming the win against Bangladesh.

Possible Eleven

Looks like Zaheer will be asked to rest in this game. Sehwag has been ruled out of the tournament and it is less likely that Dinesh will be available for today’s match.

Dhoni might give chance to Ravindra Jadeja and might try to play with only one specialist spinner.

India

  1. Gautam Gambhir
  2. Rohit Sharma
  3. Suresh Raina
  4. Yuvraj Singh
  5. MS Dhoni (capt./wk)
  6. Yusuf Pathan
  7. Ravindra Jadeja
  8. Harbhajan Singh /Pragyan Ojha
  9. Irfan Pathan
  10. Praveen Kumar / R P Singh
  11. Ishant Sharma

ICC World Twenty20 Super8 [Schedule and Fixtures]

clip_image002Pakistan has managed to qualify for the Super8 after defeating Netherlands quite handsomely. The teams were to retain their seeding for the Super8s stage, irrespective of whether they finish first or second in their group. The fixture details of the Super8 stage are already very clear.

Just to remind you, the rule is that if any of the 3rd seeded team from a group qualifies for the Super8, it will get the seeding of the team that they knock out for the purpose of deciding the Super8 matches.

Thus, Ireland and West Indies now get seeding of Bangladesh and Australia respectively for deciding their matches for the Super8 stage.

The group wise team seeding now stands as given below:

GROUP A GROUP B GROUP C GROUP D
India – A1 Pakistan – B1 West Indies – C1 New Zealand – D1
Ireland – A2 England – B2 Sri Lanka – C2 South Africa – D2
Bangladesh Netherlands Australia Scotland

Super8 – Groups

GROUP E GROUP F
A1 B1
B2 A2
C1 C2
D2 D1

Schedule and fixtures for Super8

Super 8s GROUP E GROUP F
11 THU England vs South Africa

(B2 vs  D2)

10:00 PM IST

 New Zealand vs Ireland

(D1 vs  A2)

6:00 PM IST
12 FRI India vs West Indies

(A1 vs C1)

10:00 PM IST

 Pakistan vs Sri Lanka

(B1 vs  C2)

6:00 PM IST
13 SAT West Indies vs South Africa

(C1 vs  D2)

6:00 PM IST

 New Zealand vs Pakistan

(D1 vs  B1)

10:00 PM IST
14 SUN India vs England

(A1 vs B2)

10:00 PM IST

 Ireland vs Sri Lanka

(A2 vs  C2)

6:00 PM IST
15 MON England vs West Indies

(B2 vs  C1)
10:00 PM IST

 Pakistan vs Ireland

(B1 vs  A2)

6:00 PM IST
16 TUE India vs South Africa

(A1 vs D2)

10:00 PM IST

 NewZealand vs Sri Lanka

(D1 vs  C2)

6:00 PM IST
18 THU Semifinal – E1 vs F2
10:00 PM IST
19 FRI Semifinal F1 vs E2

10:00 PM IST 2030 hrs BST
21 SUN Final

7:30 PM IST

Preview: India Vs Bangladesh

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Match Details

Group A | Match No 4

Date: June 6, 2009

Time: 10:30 PM IST

TV Coverage: On Star Cricket in India

Venue: Trent Bridge, Nottingham

Playing Conditions

Weather: High: 27°C, Low: 17°C, Partly Cloudy

Teams Form

In chronological order from left to right

India: WLWLL

Last two T20 Internationals that India played were against New Zealand and they lost both the matches. After a big win in the warm up match against Pakistan, India is looking good for this match.

Bangladesh: LLLLL

They scored 206 against Netherlands in the warm up match and Australia piled 219 against them in another match. Their batting looks good in patches but bowling is the weak link.

Team News

India

There is still uncertainty over fitness of Sehwag and Zaheer to be in the playing XI for today’s match.

Rohit Sharma has impressed everyone with his knock in the warm up matches replacing unfit Sehwag.

Bangladesh

Shakib Al Hasan shall be the key player to watch out for from the Bangladesh side. He gave a fighting performance against Australia in the warm up match.

Possible Eleven

India

  1. Gautam Gambhir
  2. Rohit Sharma
  3. Suresh Raina
  4. Yuvraj Singh
  5. MS Dhoni (capt./wk)
  6. Yusuf Pathan
  7. Ravindra Jadeja / R P Singh
  8. Harbhajan Singh
  9. Irfan Pathan
  10. Praveen Kumar
  11. Ishant Sharma

Bangladesh

  1. Tamim Iqbal
  2. Junaid Siddique
  3. Mohammad Ashraful (capt.)
  4. Shakib Al Hasan
  5. Mahmudullah
  6. Raqibul Hasan
  7. Mushfiqur Rahim
  8. Mashrafe Mortaza
  9. Rubel Hossain
  10. Shahadat Hossain / Naeem Islam
  11. Syed Rasel / Abdur Razzak

Can India Retain the World Cup?

clip-imageThis time when the Indian team starts its campaign in the World T20 Cup, there are two major differences more than any other.

First, the team looks stronger and better prepared for the shortest form of cricket.

Second, the expectations from the fans are way more than expected.

Given the balance and experience of the side, fans have all the rights to demand nothing less but retain the cup.

Pick any playing 11 out of the 15 member squad and you will have around 8 batsmen and 9 bowlers, courtesy – a big bunch of the all-rounders… A world class seam attack, superb spin attack, very successful part time spinners, a great opening pair, a solid middle order and a super cool minded captain!

If the trophy was to be given based on the cumulative talent of the players on papers, India would have already won it. J No doubt, they start the tournament as the favorites. With a very narrow margin loss to New Zealand and a huge win over Pakistan in the warm-up matches, India has announced that they are in England to win the title.

The line-up

Opening

Be it Shewag and Gambhir OR Rohit and Gambhir (in case Sehwag is not fit) both the pairs have the potential to make the opposite team’s captain run out of ideas. Gambhir got back his form in the match against Pakistan and Rohit looked good filling in Sehwag’s place in his absence during the warm-up matches.

Middle Order

Raina, Dhoni, Yuvraj and Yusuf

All of them are so good in hitting the ball outside the stadium and rotating the strike at almost every ball other than that. The middle order of the team is like a big fort wall and any team playing against India will have to work really hard on their strategy to stop them.

Batting Depth

Jadeja, Irfan, Zaheer and Harbhajan

Jadeja got some good practice in the warm-up match against New Zealand and has placed his candidature well to be in the playing eleven, but then who will sit out to give him space? Not at least in first few matches.

Spin Attack

Harbhajan and Ojha

Both are in good form and have the potential not to allow opposition take middle overs easily.

Pace Attack

Zaheer, Ishant, RP Singh, Praveen and Irfan

Ishant looked good on English pitches during the warm-up matches… good to see him getting over the IPL non-performance in a quick time. The only question that remains is who amongst these five will sit out from the playing eleven?

Part-time Bowlers

Yuvraj, Jadeja, Rohit, Raina, Sehwag and Yusuf

Plenty of options for Dhoni… he can comfortably use them to complete at least one bowler’s quota of 4 overs.

The overall balance of the side displays an immense talent and energy required to defend the title. But, the format of the tournament is such that a single ‘off’ day can put the team out of the contest.

Overall, it should be exciting to see how team India plays and progresses during the tournament to defend its title.

‘Catch the Spirit’ – WT20 India vs Pakistan warm-up match

clip_image002The International Cricket Council (ICC) has designated the World T20 2009 warm-up match between India and Pakistan as a ‘Catch the Spirit’ match. The match is scheduled to be played at the Oval on June 3 from 10:00 PM IST.

‘Catch the Spirit’ highlights the respect with which the game is played around the world and is one of the themes of the ICC’s ongoing centenary year of 2009.

As per ICC media release, the funds raised by this match will go to support the families of the victims of the attack on the Sri Lankan team and match officials in Lahore in March.

Though, complete details are still not available but the funds will be raised primarily through requests for contributions from spectators inside the ground, appeal for donations from the spectators outside the ground via television broadcasts and internet coverage of the match and contributions from other parties having direct or indirect interest in cricket.
This stands out as a testimony of a great spirit that sport events can show to support a noble cause. I wish all the success to the organizers and hope spectators and cricket stakeholders across the globe contributes wholeheartedly during the match.

The match will be broadcasted live in India on TV on Star Cricket.

The Indian Squad for WT 20

india-cricket-teamThe young Indian team with an average age of 24.6 years looks pretty balanced and much stronger than the team that won the last title.

The suspense around Zaheer’s fitness and availability still continues. In case he is not able to join the squad, he could be replaced with Ashish Nehra who did well at this IPL or perhaps Munaf Patel. If Nehra is included in the squad, it will be his first international match after 2005.

image

Though Sehwag and Gambhir seemed a little out of touch during the IPL, but they need just one match to get back into the demolishing form again and promise a solid fort at the top of the order. Part time bowlers have proved that they are more than a utility option and with any combination from the playing eleven, Dhoni will have a choice of 9 players whom he can ask to bowl.

No doubt, the defending champions will start their campaign being the tournament’s favorite!

ICC World Twenty20 2009 Women’s Tournament [Schedule]

clip_image002The second edition of ICC World Twenty20 will feature two parallel tournaments – the women’s tournament featuring 8 teams and the men’s tournament featuring 12 teams.

The groupings and schedule of the women’s tournament is given below:

Group A Group B
Australia India
New Zealand England
West Indies Sri Lanka
South Africa Pakistan

Warm-up matches

JUNE 2009
08 MON NZ vs ENG
4:30 PM IST		 RSA vs SL
4:30 PM IST
08 MON AUS vs IND
8:30 PM IST		 WI vs PAK
8:30 PM IST
09 TUE RSA vs PAK
4:30 PM IST		 NZ vs IND
4:30 PM IST
09 TUE WI vs SL
8:30 PM IST		 ENG vs AUS
8:30 PM IST

Group Stage

JUNE 2009 GROUP A GROUP B
11 THU WI vs RSA
4:30 PM IST		 IND vs ENG
8:30 PM IST
12 FRI AUS vs NZ
4:30 PM IST		 PAK vs SL
8:30 PM IST
13 SAT WI vs NZ
4:30 PM IST		 IND vs PAK
8:30 PM IST
14 SUN AUS vs WI
4:30 PM IST		 ENG vs SL
8:30 PM IST
15 MON NZ vs RSA
4:30 PM IST		 IND vs SL
8:30 PM IST
16 TUE AUS vs RSA
4:30 PM IST		 ENG vs PAK
8:30 PM IST
18 THU

Women’s S/F – A1 v B2
5:30 PM IST
19 FRI

Women’s S/F – B1 v A2
5:30 PM IST
21 SUN

Women’s Final
3:00 PM IST

This is a welcome decision by ICC to hold Women’s T20 World Cup along with Men’s T20 World Cup as this will surely bring extra media attention and a definite boost to women’s cricket, the otherwise ignored aspect of international cricket.

With so many matches happening every day during the World Cup, it sure is going to be absolute delight for the cricket fans!

ICC World Twenty20 2009 Men’s Tournament [Schedule]

clip_image002[6]The second season of ICC World Twenty20 will start from June 5, 2009 in England. This time the ICC World Twenty20 will also feature a parallel competition between 8 women’s teams, along with the men’s tournament in which 12 teams are participating.

The groupings and schedule of the men’s tournament is given below:

Groups

GROUP A GROUP B GROUP C GROUP D
India – A1 Pakistan – B1 Australia – C1 New Zealand – D1
Bangladesh – A2 England – B2 Sri Lanka – C2 South Africa – D2
Ireland Netherlands West Indies Scotland

Group Stage

JUNE 2009 GROUP A GROUP B GROUP C GROUP D
05 FRI ENG vs NED
10 PM IST
06 SAT IND vs BAN
10:30 PM IST		 AUS vs WI
6:30 PM IST		 NZ vs SCO
2:30 PM IST
07 SUN ENG vs PAK
10:00 PM IST		 RSA vs SCO
6:00 PM IST
08 MON IRE vs BAN
6:00 PM IST		 AUS vs SL
10:00 PM IST
09 TUE PAK vs NED
6:00 PM IST		 NZ vs RSA
10:00 PM IST
10 WED IND vs IRE
10:00 PM IST		 SL vs WI
6:00 PM IST

Super 8’s – Groups

GROUP E GROUP F
A1 B1
B2 A2
C1 C2
D2 D1

The teams will retain their initial seeding for the Super 8’s, irrespective of whether they finish first or second in their group. In case they are knocked out by team 3 of their group, then team 3 will replace the seeding of the team that they knock out.

If India qualifies for Super 8’s, even if it comes second, India will still be A1. If for example, Ireland qualifies instead of India, Ireland will become A1.

Super 8s GROUP E (A1, B2, C1, D2) GROUP F (B1, A2, C2, D1)
11 THU B2 vs  D2
10:00 PM IST		 D1 vs  A2
6:00 PM IST
12 FRI India (A1) vs  Australia (C1)
10:00 PM IST		 B1 vs  C2
6:00 PM IST
13 SAT C1 vs  D2
6:00 PM IST		 D1 vs  B1
10:00 PM IST
14 SUN India (A1) vs  England (B2)
10:00 PM IST		 A2 vs  C2
6:00 PM IST
15 MON B2 vs  C1
10:00 PM IST		 B1 vs  A2
6:00 PM IST
16 TUE India (A1) vs South Africa (D2)

10:00 PM IST

 D1 vs  C2
6:00 PM IST
18 THU

Semifinal – E1 v F2
10:00 PM IST
19 FRI

Semifinal F1 v E2

10:00 PM IST 2030 hrs BST
21 SUN

Final

7:30 PM IST

India will play a warm-up match against New Zealand at 10 PM on 1 June.

For those of you who are interested in watching a T20 match between India and Pakistan, which otherwise will not happen in the Group matches or Super 8’s, then watch out for a warm-up game on 3 June at 10 PM when both the teams play against each other.

All the matches (including the warm-up matches) will be broadcasted live in India on ESPN, Star Sports and Star Cricket.

Champions League to be held in October and this time with 12 teams!

clip_image002The Champions League Twenty20 tournament has expanded the participation window from 8 to 12 teams now. The additional teams will be the domestic champions from West Indies, New Zealand and Sri Lanka. India will now have the participation from the top 3 teams of the IPL.

Last year the first Champions League had been scheduled to feature two teams each from India, Australia, South Africa and England. However, it was later postponed after the terror attacks in Mumbai.

The $6 million prize money tournament will now be held from October 8 – October 23 in India.

  1. All 12 teams will be divided into four groups of three each to play on a league basis.
  2. The top two teams from each group will move on to the second stage.
  3. The four top teams from the second stage will play the Semifinals.

From India, the league topper Delhi Daredevils will participate along with the two finalists of IPL-2.

The teams for the Champions League include:

#

Team

From
1 Victoria Australia
2 New South Wales Australia
3 Cape Corbas South Africa
4 Eagles South Africa
5 Otago New Zealand
6 Trinidad and Tobago West Indies
7 Wayamba Sri Lanka
8 Deccan Chargers India
9 Royal Challengers India
10 Delhi Daredevils India
11 To be decided England
12 To be decided England

The two English teams will be decided after the domestic Twenty20 championship in August.

IPL to be held twice in a year?

In an interview to Daily Telegraph, the IPL commissioner – Lalit Modi has dropped a hint that the IPL could be held twice a year.

In Modi’s own words:

“The IPL will be based in India, but the second season (of a year) that we are planning gives us the chance to see if a market exists and we are seriously looking at what we can do with it”

The response that IPL-2 got from cricket fans in South Africa has definitely encouraged Modi to think bigger now and he is looking at various possible opportunities.

imageNow the big question that arises is whether or not there is any scope for another IPL within the same year? We already have the World Cup T20 happening every alternate year, annual Champions League starting this year, other ODI series and Test matches that happen all the year around… wow, isn’t  that a lot of cricket?

Do you think it could end up being too much of T20 to handle? How will it impact the audience of test matches and ODIs, I wonder…?