ICC T20 Cricket World Cup (Oman/Dubai)

[cerbera45]

Opening round of matches currently underway today in Al Amarat. Game of the day looks like Bangladesh vs Scotland (2.30pm).

 

[ozzie]

When and what time are England playing???

 

[Ricky Otto]

Opening round of matches currently underway today in Al Amarat. Game of the day looks like Bangladesh vs Scotland (2.30pm).

Was a superb game, Scotland really impressive! It was no fluke them beating Bangladesh, the Scottish bowlers were superb.

 

[Ricky Otto]

When and what time are England playing???

England don't start until next week but they have a warm up game against India today at 3pm which IMO is the 2 best teams in the competition. Will be very interesting

 

[ozzie]

Is that game today on the "box"?

 

[Grayson]

Is that game today on the "box"?

Yes on Sky Sports Main Event & Cricket channels.

Scotland were excellent yesterday in turning that around from 53-6. Bangladesh's lack of intent with the bat was...curious.

So far every game has seen an insane batting collapse with 4 wickets in 4 balls by Ireland's Curtis Campher just now. Great start to the tournament.

Hoping Namibia turn over Sri Lanka later.

 

[ESG]

RTD got a first baller today against Ireland.

 

[Ricky Otto]

RTD got a first baller today against Ireland.

Didn't surprise me unfortunately, he looked like a walking wicket for Essex before he was dropped this season. Age catches us all eventually, what a player he was in his prime though

 

[cerbera45]

Was a superb game, Scotland really impressive! It was no fluke them beating Bangladesh, the Scottish bowlers were superb.

When I saw Scotland bat I didn't think they had got enough runs on the board

 

[Ricky Otto]

When I saw Scotland bat I didn't think they had got enough runs on the board

The flourish of runs at the end saw them get a competitive target for Oman Al ameret. The Scots had done their home work, the bowled to suit the pitch.

 

[Ricky Otto]

I thought England looked good in the warm up despite the loss. India are the best team we could have faced and they won the toss, it was a close game and I don't think we should fear anyone. Our bowling looks a bit weak missing jofra, I really think we should get tymal into the starting 11, I know Woakes and willey can bat but we have a deep enough batting line up and it's not like Mills is terrible with the bat

 

[cerbera45]

When and what time are England playing???

England's first proper group match is on Saturday

 

[Ricky Otto]

Englands 2nd warm up against NZ at 11 today

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

Malan fails again and does so while eating up a lot of power play balls. I know they want a left-handed in there but he looks like being a big brake in that middle order.

1. Roy
2. Buttler
3. Moeen
4. Bairstow
5. Livingstone
6. Morgan
7. Woakes
8. Jordan
9. Wood
10. Rashid
11. Mills

 

[Grayson]

Malan fails again and does so while eating up a lot of power play balls. I know they want a left-handed in there but he looks like being a big brake in that middle order.

1. Roy
2. Buttler
3. Moeen
4. Bairstow
5. Livingstone
6. Morgan
7. Woakes
8. Jordan
9. Wood
10. Rashid
11. Mills

That is so obviously the best side we can pick from this squad and I hope England stumble upon it in time. Malan is the antithesis to England's white ball cricket.

If we really wanted an anchor for 140 par pitches, we should have picked Root and enjoyed his spin on such pitches too.

 

[Yorkshire Blue]

That is so obviously the best side we can pick from this squad and I hope England stumble upon it in time. Malan is the antithesis to England's white ball cricket.

If we really wanted an anchor for 140 par pitches, we should have picked Root and enjoyed his spin on such pitches too.

Yep Root scores quicker, plays spin better, fields better, bowls better and runs between the wickets better than Malan. And Root wouldn’t be an automatic choice for me either!

 

[Grayson]

Yep Root scores quicker, plays spin better, fields better, bowls better and runs between the wickets better than Malan. And Root wouldn’t be an automatic choice for me either!

Agreed on all fronts. A team with this batting depth and skill doesn't need an anchor.

 

[cerbera45]

That is so obviously the best side we can pick from this squad and I hope England stumble upon it in time. Malan is the antithesis to England's white ball cricket.

If we really wanted an anchor for 140 par pitches, we should have picked Root and enjoyed his spin on such pitches too.

Would much prefer to save Root for the Test's imho

 

[Ricky Otto]

Yep Root scores quicker, plays spin better, fields better, bowls better and runs between the wickets better than Malan. And Root wouldn’t be an automatic choice for me either!

Does Root score quicker? Malans stats in t20is are an ave of 43.2 at a SR of 139.3 and Root is ave 35.7 SR 126.3. I know you said you wouldn't have either of them but I think Malan plays his part. T20 cricket is a lot more nuanced than some give it credit for and I think you need a balance (not Gary) of players. We have seen in the associate matches and warm ups that in these conditions with the new ball 2 or 3 wickets can go very quickly in the powerplay and someone to steady the ship is needed, not in all situations but it is something we will no doubt come up against. Malan is obviously there to do a specific job that is asked of him, but he does have the ability to clear the ropes and up his SR once he has filled his role, that is something I have doubts about with Root. I would certainly include Malan, although it seems like I am a minority on this one. There are other players who concern me a lot more! Morgan is woefully out of form and was in the IPL too, no chance of him being dropped but I just hope he can find some form early in the tournament. I'm not convinced Livingstone is right for this tournament either, watching the warm ups I saw our other batsmen be a bit more inventive in these conditions to get runs, all I saw from Livingstone was his standard trying to hit the ball as hard as he can and it wasn't working. He entertained me massively this summer but he does seem to be a one trick pony, a man who just muscles it, and I think on these pitches bowlers will be able to contain him. Bowling wise I am worried we are a spinner light, for me we need 2 in the starting 11. Rashid is superb and Moeen is going to have to bowl his full allocation I think. Moeen is good but he is a batting allrounder IMO and I think we should have another specialist spinner. I'd have gone leftfield and picked Jake Lintott after his heroics in the hundred and CPL.

 

[Grayson]

Agreed on Lintott, offers a lot more than Tom Curran in this squad.

Re Malan, his international stats are padded by having a nice long series in New Zealand with 200 par rugby grounds early on in his career. His overall T20 stats are much slower than his T20i stats and a better guide of his ability.

The issue also isn't necessarily his overall strike rate, he does catch up when he gets in. It's more that he starts slowly and chews up balls in the powerplay. We'll lose a wicket at 35-0 in the 4th over and finish the powerplay 47-1 rather than make a match-changing score in the first 6 overs. England have the batting lineup to maximise the powerplay and with a below average bowling attack, maximising the batting resources is crucial.