2007 Twenty20 World Championship

[aussie1st]

Nathan really has risen through the ranks. Looked to be a good player going by the A games.

Don't know about bringing Martin over, from what I've seen of him he ain't the best ODI bowler.

 

[irottev]

Lucky this isn't an ODI tournament then. But I do agree. I think his lack of variation worries me the most. He can't be a death option. Anyway, lets hope Bond gets through it all unscathed and he isn't needed. I think he;s back-up.

He's not been that bad in his last few ODI's. I remember him taking 3 wickets in Christchurch.

I think i'd rather have seen James McMillan. I'm looking forward to his inclusion some day. I think the batsmen would find him difficult, he has a good yorker and bouncer as well.

 

[RoboRocks]

What no Franklin!!!

Didn't see Hopkins,Martin and Scott making the team would have loved to see Harry back in New Zealand colours.

Odd not to see Franklin there.

My Twenty20 squad for us would be:

Maddy
Wright
Pietersen
Flintoff
Bopara
Prior (wk)
Collingwood (c) - could come up to 5 or 6 if were in trouble and build a platform.
Snape
Broad
Sidebottom
Kirtley

 

[SaiSrini]

India's Twenty20 squad: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (capt), Yuvraj Singh, Virender Sehwag, Harbhajan Singh, Ajit Agarkar, Dinesh Karthik, Gautam Gambhir, Robin Uthappa, Joginder Sharma, Yusuf Pathan, Piyush Chawla, Sreesanth, Irfan Pathan, RP Singh, Rohit Sharma

Also, if anyone hasnt been following the Indian selection, the senior players (Sachin, Dravid, etc.) had opted out of the twenty20 tournament, wanting India to build a youthful team. Zaheer wasn't picked because of a bruised heel.

I am skeptical about the captaincy credentials of Mahendra Singh Dhoni. I always felt Yuvraj would make a better captain. I fear that Dhoni might come out the Dravid way and might not really think out of the box. Anyways, he is an aggressive player and lets hope that the aggressive streak rubs off on his captaincy too.

Sehwag is a good selection this time for this format. Its a hit 'n miss format and a quick 20-30 from Sehwag would do good. But being the unusual guy that he is (he is a bigger success in tests than ODI's even though his batting style is suited for the ODI's), I wouldnt bet on him too much. Harbhajan is a good choice too. His economical bowling can work in 20-20. And he has ODI experience.

I am impressed overall with the team. I think Zaheer excused himself from this format rather than being rested for bruised heel. If he had bruised heel, how come he is playing the Oval test which is in progress right now? Or does he have extra sensory powers that he is predicting that he will have a bruised heel by the end of the England ODI's? Anyways, Zaheer's fitness wont suit this format and its good that he is not there. Agarkar becomes the most experienced bowler now for India and needs to spearhead the attack (he can becoz he is a much improved bowler these days!). Agarkar, Pathan and RP Singh would be the three main bowlers. Sreesanth has very little chance of playing much games.

I feel India can do well this World Cup. We have given importance to all rounders like Yousuf Pathan and Joginder Sharma. We need to play either or both of them. Remember that we won the 1983 World Cup with utility cricketers like Madan Lal, Mohinder Amarnath, Roger Binny, etc. I will follow this World Cup with all earnest. Want to see what India's future looks like. The India - Pakistan match this time could be a really big cracker. I always felt that our seniors diluted the enormous importance of the India - Pakistan games and the tension and excitement associated with it. I hope with their absence, the old interest and excitement resumes.

 

[RoboRocks]

I suppose with Dhoni's aggressive nature, it might help with the frantic nature of twenty20 and he will lead from the front.
The question for me is, how is he tactically?

 

[surendar]

I am also eager to see Dhoni's captaincy. I wanted to see either Yuvraj or Karthik as the captain. I think there aren't many keeper-captains. So have to see how this goes.

My favourite Keeper-captain is, Lee Germon from NZ

 

[Sureshot]

I don't like the idea of a keeper-captain. The keeper is always in the play, whereas a captain like Vaughan can go to mid-on/cover/mid-wicket. I think it's just a little too much for him, especially in a timed innings too, he might need one of his bikes on the pitch! It'll certainly be a test for him.

 

[aussie1st]

SA 20/20 is looking pretty decent in the batting department. Not too surprised seeing Kallis dropped he just ain't made for this form of the game.

Squad Graeme Smith (capt), Gulam Bodi, Loots Bosman, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Justin Kemp, Albie Morkel, Mornè Morkel, Makhaya Ntini, Vernon Philander, Shaun Pollock, Thandi Tshabalala, Johan van der Wath.

http://content-nz.cricinfo.com/southafrica/content/current/story/306558.html

 

[BigCrickNan]

SA 20/20 is looking pretty decent in the batting department. Not too surprised seeing Kallis dropped he just ain't made for this form of the game.



http://content-nz.cricinfo.com/southafrica/content/current/story/306558.html

Decent squad, good to see the Morkel brothers. I would of loved to see Klusener playing for South Africa again if only in a Twenty20 :crying

 

[ZexyZahid]

Kallis not made for Twenty20? I remember he hit a lot of fours and sixes in the recent World Cup and had a healthy strikerate, except in the match against Australia. The guy is a real matchwinner. If I would be a South African, I would be disappointed him not being included. Nevertheless it's good to see that South Africa have chosen for some Twenty20 specialist.

And yeah, what's the story behind Klusener? Did he retire or is he simply rejected by the South African board. I really like his style of play and he is still getting a lot of runs.

 

[icyman]

And yeah, what's the story behind Klusener? Did he retire or is he simply rejected the South African board. I really like his style of play and he is still getting a lot of runs.

Last heard ,he was'nt getting along well with skipper Smith !

 

[ZexyZahid]

In each team you have people who don't get along with each other. For this type of game he should be included.

 

[eng-fan07]

amazed kallis and hall are left out.

Kallis is a class player and hall is an awesome death bowler.

 

[aussie1st]

Kallis not made for Twenty20? I remember he hit a lot of fours and sixes in the recent World Cup and had a healthy strikerate, except in the match against Australia. The guy is a real matchwinner. If I would be a South African, I would be disappointed him not being included. Nevertheless it's good to see that South Africa have chosen for some Twenty20 specialist.

That one match is probably the reason he isn't there. SA were off to a flyer and could have won but Kallis was unable to accelerate when required.

 

[angryangy]

Kallis hits the ball powerfully and there is rarely so much as a hint of sloppiness in his technique. The basics of a good T20 player are built in him, if not the style of play, which can be learnt. However, at the age he is at, there is probably more to be gained by exposing a less experienced player.