World Twenty20 Betting… Or Not
It might be nearing the end of the season here in England but the news and events going on are thick and fast at the moment! Not only does the World Twenty20 start tomorrow, but today they also announced the next round of central contracts and the touring party for the one dayers to Sri Lanka!
However, with the World Twenty20 starting in earnest tomorrow afternoon I had to come with my view on the tournament from a betting perspective after my previous successes! Although having said that I am now going to proceed to sit on the fence I think due to the uncertainty over the form in this flavour of the game!
Australia are, as always, the favourites, but they havn’t done so well in the warm up to the first game. I still think they’ll probably win it mind, but at the pathetic odds offered on them there doesn’t seem much point. So much can happen in a couple of games here to knock them out and early on I don’t see betting on them as the cleverest thing to do. One team that catch my eye are Sri Lanka - at only fourth favourites and with some real match winners in their team I can see them doing well in this form of the game.
I said there isn’t much form to go on with this, and that is because since Twenty20 has been played, there have been only 19 international matches played, with a variety of players in each of the teams. Pakistan actually have the best record so far, and Australia have only won 2 of the 5 games they’ve played. You can say anything with stats though - chuck the players out there and just see what happens if you ask me!
Right, that was suitably vague… I’m off to stick a couple of quid on Sri Lanka now though! (Just don’t blame me when they don’t win!)
Australian World Twenty20 Kit
I’ve been sitting on this post for a while since I saw the “interesting” kit that the Aussies will be wearing in the World Twenty20, but now the tournament is nearly here I better talk about it!
If you havn’t seen it yet, it is basically a cricket shirt without the sleeves. Yes, it looks ridiculous! In addition to this sleeveless top, the players will also be wearing a base layer shirt in grey, so the whole thing looks like a mish mash really. If you want to take a look, I suggest you go to this link.
The ICC don’t allow advertising or even the make of the kit on the front of any shirt during the official tournaments, and this kit also gives Adidas much greater exposure. Call me a cynic if you like but I bet this had a big part to play when they decided to wear this kit but at least it gives us a chance to laugh at them! Its just not cricket!
For a preview of the groups, teams and potential stars, the best I’ve read is by David Lloyd who gives a good overview. Go take a read of it at the SkySports site. And look forward to the tournament starting Tuesday!
Another Reason Why Australia Are No 1
When England lost Troy Cooley as fast bowling coach it was known then that they had made a big mistake letting him go back to his native country.
Now the news is coming through that the Australians are holding specific twenty20 practice for its pace bowlers this week, getting them to perfect some of the variations required from slower balls to yorkers. And it won’t just be the established players, but also those upcoming, so should they be required they will know their game correctly. Sounds like a good idea for them before what is going to be a very busy period, but not really one England can replicate due to the overload of games we have to currently play!
There hasn’t been much news coming out of Australia in their winter, and with a bit of a break until they play their next meaningful game it may just be some PR bod spinning something that happens anyway, but you can’t help but think they push preparation to the next level and that everyone else is catching up!
ICC World Twenty20 squad
The English squad for the inaugral Twenty20 World Cup was announced today and in time honoured fashion I disagree with it! I posted previously about the ridiculous preliminary squad, and everything I said then stands in my thoughts. We have players in the squad who have done well in domestic cricket, but to succeed at international level you need to have more than a bit of previous experience.
I won’t go on moaning though as I’d be repeating myself from that previous post, and being miserable isn’t much fun either! Come back soon for the next post, and I’ll make it positive next time!
Ridiculous ICC World Twenty20 Squad
Well, the preliminary squad for the Twenty20 World Cup was announced yesterday, and as I predicted yesterday there are some names in there that shouldn’t be anywhere near the England side. I don’t really know where to start, but I’m going to try and not get too worked up about it as half of the squad will be discarded before the tournament starts.
I think I also have such a problem that this squad resembles nothing like the team that played against the West Indies a couple of weeks ago in a Twenty20 game. Their argument then was that the one day players are good enough to adapt to the shorter game and they were the best players then – so what exactly has changed now?!
I suppose batsmen is as good a place as any to start, and a player of recent times who has been in and out of the side – Vikram Solanki. Its not really been his fault as he’s been chucked in and out of the side without much thought, but when he has been there he has done nothing – so why pick him now? Mal Loye seems to be the new Solanki as well, he’s back in now but will probably dropped like a stone again soon! I’m unsure as well about Mark Pettini as I havn’t seen or heard much about him, but I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt until I do so! Apart from Loye though I can’t see any of these scoring the runs needed to set and chase big targets.
Moving to All Rounders – and there’s a ton of them in this squad. We’ve had bit-part players in the England team before without much success, and players such as Glen Chapple, Darren Maddy, Jeremy Snape and Michael Yardy are hardly going to change that success ratio. The other thing the first three of those mentioned have in common is their age – they’re no spring chickens. I don’t understand how these three players get in the side; ok they’ve had a bit of success in the domestic competition, but the international scene is a completely different kettle of fish. I am pleased to see young players such as Luke Wright included – he is a real prospect and Bopara and Bresnan have some potential as well.
Onto bowlers and possibly the most ridiculous decision so far – choosing Chris Schofield in the squad. He was actually the top wicket taker this season in Twenty20 domestic cricket, but that’s because half of the games weren’t played and better bowlers didn’t bowl enough overs! Schofield was released by Lancashire and played minor counties cricket for a couple of seasons, but half a season playing for Surrey and he’s back in the England side! Ludicrous! Saj Mahmood has got to feel a bit unlucky as well – he’s a better batsman and bowler than Chris Tremlett but doesn’t get a look in, while two other England in and out players Kirtley and Lewis are there as well.
So its fair to say I don’t really agree with the squad but then it is only a preliminary squad and I promised myself I wouldn’t get too worked up about it!
