World T20 discussion thread

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

First topic message reminder :

This is fast approaching in the UAE, and squads are beginning to be announced. England have announced theirs this morning

England's preliminary squad for the World T20;

Jason Roy
Jos Buttler
Dawid Malan
Jonny Bairstow
Liam Livingstone
Eoin Morgan
Sam Billings
Moeen Ali
Sam Curran
Chris Woakes
David Willey
Adil Rashid
Mark Wood
Chris Jordan
Tymal Mills

Reserves: James Vince, Liam Dawson, Tom Curran

Looks a solid squad, albeit the team has taken a hit in recent months with Archer's injury and then Stokes's withdrawal from international duty.
Billings in as the main batting backup, makes sense to me. He's played well in limited opportunity the past few summers.
I am a touch surprised both Woakes and Willey are in the squad...seems like they both do the same role to me?
Seems harsh, but happy no Tom Curran. He's not played well enough to be included.
I see some "why no Parkinson?" and it does seem a tad weird he isn't in reserve...but ultimately in T20 can you afford to carry someone like him, who while is a good bowler, is a liability in the field and offers absolutely nothing with the bat. I can see why Dawson is the chosen reserve over him, with those considerations.

I think the likely XI is;

Roy
Buttler
Malan
Bairstow
Livingstone
Morgan
Ali
Woakes
Rashid
Wood
Mills

The real selection choices in there are between Woakes/Jordan, and Moeen/Sam Curran. Rest looks fairly set in stone to me

[Duty281]

Way too early to be predicting anyway and this format is more of a raffle than any other. But India look useful ; and surely won't have any trouble in their group. While the England /Australia/SA/West Indies group might be a pretty competitive one , I think...

As things stand, England's group will also see the unexpected inclusion of Bangladesh. Though PNG are making a good early scrap of it v Scotland, already getting two more wickets than they did against Oman.

[CaledonianCraig]

Scotland beginning to get into their stride and are now 55 for 2 after 8 overs,

[CaledonianCraig]

At the halfway mark Scotland are 67 for 2. They'll be looking to kick on from here.

[king_carlos]

Way too early to be predicting anyway and this format is more of a raffle than any other. But India look useful ; and surely won't have any trouble in their group. While the England /Australia/SA/West Indies group might be a pretty competitive one , I think...

As things stand, England's group will also see the unexpected inclusion of Bangladesh. Though PNG are making a good early scrap of it v Scotland, already getting two more wickets than they did against Oman.

I'm a touch torn with Scotland vs PNG. On the one hand I've lived in Scotland most my adult life, definitely call it home, am involved in cricket up here, know a few guys in the squad (it's a small world playing cricket in Edinburgh!) and tipped them as dark horses before the tournament.

On the other hand PNG are a great story and an incredibly likable cricket team. They also wear proper cricket caps in one day cricket which I adore.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KIxv-qVGh2g

That's a cracking wee video from Jarrod Kimber about their side.

[CaledonianCraig]

The run rate accelerating with this 70+ partnership between Berrington and Cross. Scotland 109 for 2 after 13 overs.

[king_carlos]

At the halfway mark Scotland are 67 for 2. They'll be looking to kick on from here.

Losing Munsey early will always stop Scotland having a quick start but Coetzer, Cross and Berrington playing so solidly together should prevent too many early collapses such as against Bangladesh.

MacLeod is an outstanding player of spin so he's a great option to have coming in at 5 in these conditions.

They are very well set to accelerate from here against a PNG team with lots of players that bowl but limited options in terms of 'gun' or go to bowlers that can turn things once a side are well set as Scotland are here.

Berrington has developed into a really smart T20 batsman that anchors well at 4 but can accelerate very well particularly against spin. That's fairly ideal in a T20 number 4. He's in maybe the best form of his life at the right time.

[CaledonianCraig]

Cross holes out for 45 finding the fielder out on the boundary. Papua New Guinea needed that wicket. Scotland 118 for 3 now.

[king_carlos]

That's really poor from Crossy, frustratingly.

Basically missed out on two long hops in a row with the first being a single and the second holing out. Both those deliveries should be getting hit out of Oman by as good a ball striker as Cross when he's well set at this stage of the innings.

[CaledonianCraig]

Ritchie Berrington becomes the first Scot to hit a 50 in a T-20 World Cup match. Scotland 126 for 3.

[king_carlos]

Cracking over for Scotland there. Means that they can start looking at 180ish again as a potential total.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

This is an elite matchup of kits - possibly the two best in the whole tournament

[king_carlos]

Good over from Pokana there.

Scotland should still be thinking around 180 though. A couple of maximums is all that would really take.

[CaledonianCraig]

Callum MacLeod chasing the big one skies it to a fielder in the deep. PNG having a good spell here. Scotland 151 for 4.

[king_carlos]

This is an elite matchup of kits - possibly the two best in the whole tournament

I'm pretty sure that Scotland kit was designed in part by a kid that won a competition to get to design it as well!

Little stories like that are why I adore associate cricket so much.

[CaledonianCraig]

Well forget that 180. Scotland now 155 for 5 as Berrington replicates MacLeod's exit.

[king_carlos]

Maybe 160 rather than 180 then...

Berrington goes as well, third player in a row to hole out. Cracking innings from Berrington though.

A pretty poor finish from Scotland really. PNG have bowled well going either very full or shorter with pace off but the batsman just haven't adapted to it.

[CaledonianCraig]

Maybe 160 rather than 180 then...

Berrington goes as well, third player in a row to hole out. Cracking innings from Berrington though.

A pretty poor finish from Scotland really. PNG have bowled well going either very full or shorter with pace off but the batsman just haven't adapted to it.

Agreed. And Greaves goes the same way. Scotland 158 for 6 with four balls left to set a record.

[CaledonianCraig]

Scotland set their highest T-20 score ending up with a total of 165 for 9. Could have been better but after a shaky start could have been worse. Fine finish from PNG with four wickets in the final over for Morea.

[CaledonianCraig]

Scotland on course for a vital win here. PNG are 35 for 5 with 6 overs bowled.

[CaledonianCraig]

Cracking one handed catch from Berrington that.

[guildfordbat]

Only saw the last 3 overs of Scotland's innings where they fell away badly.

PNG currently 41/5 after 7 overs. So 165 is easily going to be more than good enough for the win. However, if Olly's net run rate comes into play in this group (and I think it 's possible*), they might regret leaving 15 to 20 runs out there.

* Bangla beat Oman and PNG whilst Scotland win today but lose to Oman is not a ridiculous possibility and would leave the top 3 all on 4 points.

Couple of further points:

* Brad Wheal is a massively improved bowler from just a couple of years ago when he was struggling to make the Hants team.

* Like Carlos, Mrs Bat is very taken with the PNG caps!

[guildfordbat]

Sorry, Craig! I jinxed Wheal for his come back over. Still rate him though.

[Duty281]

Blimey, late rally from PNG threatening an extraordinary comeback. 34 off the last two overs, including a Scottish fielder dropping a quite simple catch in the deep.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

50 partnership in 25 balls between Doriga and Vanua - Scotland suddenly looking a touch ragged with a dropped catch and the odd misfield

PNG still need 46 from the final four overs - unlikely, but they have a chance!

[guildfordbat]

Very neat stumping by Cross to ease Scottish nerves.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Very neat stumping by Cross to ease Scottish nerves.

Ease nerves yes...but as you noted above, any hopes of a great day on the net run rate have been extinguished by that partnership.

[CaledonianCraig]

Great fight put up by PNG but Scotland win by 17 runs. An interesting game of T-20 that.

[Duty281]

Good fight from PNG, but Scotland had enough to close it out. As above it has harmed Scotland's NRR that they didn't win by a more decisive margin, but of course that only comes into play with the certain set of results listed above.

Oman winning next puts them and Scotland through. How will Bangladesh cope with the pressure?

Looking at the updated table I think if Bangladesh beat Oman and Oman beat Scotland, it's almost certain that Scotland would be the team eliminated on NRR.

[king_carlos]

Cracking match that.

Davey and Wheal are such important additions for Scotland when available. Those two with either Evans or Sharif is a strong seam bowling trio. It allows Sharif and Evans to be role bowlers, which they are both reliable at, rather than attack leaders, where they can be limited against the stronger sides. Outside of big tournaments when Davey and Wheal are with their counties it's usually Evans and Sharif with Gav Main or Adrian Neill. With them added in it's a completely different proposition as an attack. Especially with the conditions seeming to suit Davey very well indeed.

Mark Watt could continue to cause all sides issues on these pitches too. He's a really smart and accurate spinner.

[Duty281]

Odd call from Bangladesh to bat first. It's the type of conditions where it's difficult to evaluate what a good 1st innings score is, plus there's the added dew factor for the side fielding second.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Odd call from Bangladesh to bat first. It's the type of conditions where it's difficult to evaluate what a good 1st innings score is, plus there's the added dew factor for the side fielding second.

Extremely odd - and a poor start too, Liton now given a life in the deep. Oman started well outside that drop though

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

But he is out LBW next ball - great review by Oman!

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

29-2 off 6 overs for Bangladesh - Oman well on top here. As ever, it rests on Shakib for Bangladesh here...

[king_carlos]

Morgan says Livingstone is fit and expected to be available for Thursday's warm-up against New Zealand. Great news for England!

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Oman now have dropped three catches, Naim let off twice in one over here...(albeit, he's hardly punishing them for the drops at the moment!)

[Duty281]

Oman dropping a couple, not as dominant a position as it could have been.

I think 140 will be a tough chase for Oman on this pitch.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

I think Oman will be pretty happy with 112-4 off 15 overs, Shakib and Nurul in quick succession has just checked Bangladesh. Think they're in with a chance with anything around 150-160 here...will be a tough chase, but certainly not beyond them (annoyingly will miss the conclusion to this game - hope for a good finish!)

[Duty281]

153ao. If only Oman fielded that well in the first half of the innings they may be chasing 20-30 fewer!

Think Bangladesh should be pretty comfortable from here...but we also thought that on Sunday!

[Duty281]

70/2 at halfway, Oman are definitely in with a shout.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Mahedi putting in a potential match winning spell here - haven’t seen the coverage, was there any mention as to why Mahmudullah batted at 7 and Mushfiqur at 8????

[Duty281]

I think it was just some weird strategical decision, not one that I or many others agree with it has to be said.

Oman five down now and it looks as though their race is run.

[CaledonianCraig]

Oman collapsing to a heavy defeat. They are now 112 for 9.

[Duty281]

Sets the group up nicely for the final two games -  all four teams can get through, even PNG although that is a terrific long shot. We should expect Bangladesh to hammer PNG, then it comes down to Scotland v Oman. Scotland will be favourites, but not massively so.

If Bangladesh and Scotland win then Bangladesh advance in second, Scotland in first.

If Bangladesh and Oman win it'll be three teams tied on four points, decided on NRR. I'm not an expert, or even intermediate, at NRR, but I think in that scenario Bangladesh and Oman would be the ones qualifying, unless Bangladesh only beat PNG very narrowly and Scotland's defeat is similarly tight.

PNG can squeeze through, but they'd need to smash Bangladesh and would need Scotland to win convincingly v Oman.

Scotland/Oman is the second game on Thursday.

[CaledonianCraig]

Bangladesh win by 26 runs and it is all down to the last round of matches as to who goes through. Scotland must beat Oman to go through. A defeat and you feel they will be sure to lose out on net run rate.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Scotland’s net run rate is +0.575, Bangladesh’s is +0.5 and Oman’s is +0.613

So basically that Scotland/Oman game is a straight shootout (providing Bangladesh do the business against PNG, which barring something incredible they will). Can’t really see a scenario where Scotland lose, Bangladesh win and that net run rate stays in Scotland’s favour

[CaledonianCraig]

Scotland’s net run rate is +0.575, Bangladesh’s is +0.5 and Oman’s is +0.613

So basically that Scotland/Oman game is a straight shootout (providing Bangladesh do the business against PNG, which barring something incredible they will). Can’t really see a scenario where Scotland lose, Bangladesh win and that net run rate stays in Scotland’s favour

Agreed.

[guildfordbat]

Scotland’s net run rate is +0.575, Bangladesh’s is +0.5 and Oman’s is +0.613

So basically that Scotland/Oman game is a straight shootout (providing Bangladesh do the business against PNG, which barring something incredible they will). Can’t really see a scenario where Scotland lose, Bangladesh win and that net run rate stays in Scotland’s favour

Agreed.

Oh no, Craig! For ancient posters like me, this threatens to rival memories of the '74 Football World Cup. Scotland drew against holders Brazil and Yugoslavia but went out at the group stage on goal difference just because they didn't score enough when beating lowly Zaire. Your boys were even the only team in that tournament (including eventual winners West Germany) who didn't lose a game.

[alfie]

At 35/5 I assumed PNG were going to be totally buried - which would have given Scotland a bit of insurance for last round results going awry. But it seems the latter part of both their batting and bowling efforts rather fell away so now they have to win against Oman. Which I think they should on what I've seen ; but it isn't a sure thing.

Must say some of these preliminary group games have been quite entertaining. And mostly reasonably close. Hope the "main draw" follows the trend...

[Duty281]

Today:

Netherlands-Namibia - Should be comfortable for the Dutch.
Sri Lanka-Ireland - Wouldn't be surprised to see the Irish upset the Sri Lankans, a lot depends on how the Irish play the Sri Lankan spinners.

Also got a handful of warm-up games, the final handful, with England/New Zealand, Aus/India, Pak/SA and Afghanistan/WI.

[Good Golly I'm Olly]

Not sure we can read a lot into a 12 man XI! Bah damn you England

Hope Malan/Morgan get some runs

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