T20 World Cup 2012

[War]

I don't think Mitch Marsh was ever going to go. His batting was good in the Big Bash, but not his bowling. At shield and OD level it was useful, but I think he needs to build up experience against people who are trying to smash him eg. play more IPL, and get more overs in Big Bash etc. Plus his indiscretions at the academy in the offseason would have hindered his chances a bit. Not a lot, since he made the final 30, but it wouldn't have helped.

Agree with you about spinners though, no use playing 2 specialists in the final XI. I'd play Maxwell in that final XI of yours, if you play Watson, M.Marsh and Christian together they are 3 average bowlers of similar pace. In fact, I'd probably only play Watson and use 3 specialist fast bowlers.

Yea his bowling is not perfect, but neither is Christian or Maxwell's to be honest.

His batting ability though as six-hitter would have been very useful though, regardless of what he did at the academy.

 

[War]

ICC World Twenty20 : Kevin Pietersen misses World T20; Luke Wright, Michael Lumb recalled | Cricket News | ICC World Twenty20 2012 | ESPN Cricinfo

Well predictably England have left out KP.

Although its an obvious hole gone, this England t20 squad in recent years have developed since the world cup triumph and some have some quality players.

Especially when two excellent t20 players in Owais Shah and Peter Trego are not in this squad.

Given the average squads other teams have picked, i reckon England with this team have an excellent chance of defending their title still.

 

[sifter132]

I like the recall of both Lumb and Wright - both have good T20 histories and both are playing well. Would England try and copy Australia and play 3 spinners? (Swann, Patel & Briggs) I'd probably give it a shot at some stage of the tournament. With Wright and Bopara in a team, you could probably afford to only play 2 specialist fast bowlers. Depends what the pitches are like really.

Shame no KP though

 

[War]

ICC World Twenty20 2012 : Darren Bravo returns for World T20 | Cricket News | ICC World Twenty20 2012 | ESPN Cricinfo

Probably the best squad has been picked here.

I probably would have considered picking Roach or Best over Edwards, since I?m not sure about Fidel?s form in recent months. But if the selectors feel Edwards is back to his best, he is certainly a top t20 bowler.

Benn over Badree was a next option. Two spinners were always going to be picked given the conditions in sri lanka. But based on how badree bowled versus new Zealand I was not sure if he can really tie down opposition batsmen like how he does for Trinidad.

Thomas over Ramdin also. Sometimes I worry Ramdin?s batting could be slow for t20 cricket. Thomas looked good as gloves man vs. new Zealand and his batting looked more capable over scoring quickly from the outset in this format.

But overall the base of the squad is fine. Once Gayle and Pollard are in form with the bat and Narine continues to be a wicket taking threat, its not inconceivable to think the West Indies can win the world T20.

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I like the recall of both Lumb and Wright - both have good T20 histories and both are playing well. Would England try and copy Australia and play 3 spinners? (Swann, Patel & Briggs) I'd probably give it a shot at some stage of the tournament. With Wright and Bopara in a team, you could probably afford to only play 2 specialist fast bowlers. Depends what the pitches are like really.

Shame no KP though

Well the best XI from this probably would be:

Lumb
Hales
Kieswetter
Bopara
Morgan
Bairstow
Patel
Bresnan
Broad
Swann
Finn

If they want to pick Briggs, Bresnan is probably the man who would have make way.

 

[sifter132]

I'd rather have Dernbach than Bresnan TBH - I'm pretty negative on Bresnan right now and Swann and Broad are good enough batters at #8 and #9. Or can play Wright over Patel and play Briggs instead of Bresnan, giving you the same 3 fast, 2 spin combo in the bottom 5. Whatever...hope England goes crap anyway

As for WI, yeah looks a decent side. Just on Ramdin...I doubt Ramdin would be batting that high anyway. Won't Sammy and Russell come in ahead of him? Ramdin could a #9 and thus his batting would be pretty irrelevant.

 

[puddleduck]

My thoughts on Dernbach have been repeated regularly. I really don't know how he gets international cricket

 

[Auwais]

Brad Hogg?! What have I missed? I thought he retired a while back.

 

[War]

I'd rather have Dernbach than Bresnan TBH - I'm pretty negative on Bresnan right now and Swann and Broad are good enough batters at #8 and #9. Or can play Wright over Patel and play Briggs instead of Bresnan, giving you the same 3 fast, 2 spin combo in the bottom 5. Whatever...hope England goes crap anyway

Ha well otherwise on your negative hopes for England, those suggestions could work yea.

Still think Owais Shah would be perfect for this squad, especially with KP not around. His ability vs spin could have been invaluable, since i'm not 100% sure about Lumb's ability to play spin, although he is a good t20 bat.

As for WI, yeah looks a decent side. Just on Ramdin...I doubt Ramdin would be batting that high anyway. Won't Sammy and Russell come in ahead of him? Ramdin could a #9 and thus his batting would be pretty irrelevant.

Well yea Ramdin would bat # 9 most likely and i'm guessing that what the windies selectors may be thinking too. If they bat to potential he probably should not bat at all.

I guess its just Sri Lanka left to pick their team and somehow i already suspect they don't have the spinners anymore to intimidate teams at home, like they did during the 2011 world cup.

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My thoughts on Dernbach have been repeated regularly. I really don't know how he gets international cricket

Ha why so?. I'd say since Gough/Flintoff retired he has the best death bowling skills by any English bowler for limited overs cricket.

I've seen him being suggested as test option though, but i don't really agree with that just yet.

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Brad Hogg?! What have I missed? I thought he retired a while back.

Ha ye Auwais football got you busy. Hogga came back to cricket during the AUS big bash last decemeber. He impressed all and got a recall to the T20 national team.

He has since played in the IPL, South africa t20 and the bangladesh premier league too in a few games in recent months.

 

[puddleduck]

His ODI average of 38 with an economy rate over 6 is why

His T20 record is actually decent though to be fair to him. I suppose when bowling 4 overs his liquorice bowling is tough to smash for 10+ an over. Any other form though and he's just fodder.

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To add though, his first class, List A, and domestic 20-20 numbers are all average at best.

 

[icyman]

West Indies have a powerfully ,balanced squad. But a lot of us do seem to think that they are highly under-rated. My bet is they'd reach the Top 4, anything beyond that and the World Cup would travel back to the Caribbean after 1979.


Just in:

The hosts have named their XV

Mahela Jayawardene (capt), Angelo Mathews (vice-capt), Kumar Sangakkara, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Lahiru Thirimanne, Jeevan Mendis, Dilshan Munaweera, Thisara Perera, Lasith Malinga, Nuwan Kulasekara, Rangana Herath, Ajantha Mendis, Dinesh Chandimal, Shaminda Eranga, Akila Dhanajaya

A couple of new faces there-notably another rookie spinner-as we know they are famous for wrecking oppositions.

 

[StinkyBoHoon]

glad mendis is back in, i've never seen a player so succesfully destroyed by bad media. one minute he was the next murali, then a month later he had been "decoded" (this word was used literally every time he was mentioned) and was rubbish. the worst thing is, even sri lanka fell for it, dropping him for the final of the world cup after he had been their best bowler, I really think that was a major reason they lost that final.

they should play mathews at 5 at least, he's too good a batsman to bung down in the 6 or 7 just because he's an all-rounder.

 

[sifter132]

^Agree with you completely on Mendis! Has been getting the short end of the stick. Hope he plays a lot so we can see which countries actually have 'decoded' him or whether that's a bunch of hot air.

If Mathews doesn't bat at #7, who gets that spot? Is it Jeevan Mendis? Perera? Or a specialist bat?

 

[War]

Although i agree with the specific sentiment that Sri Lanka seemingly ranked scared of India's ability to play spin and dropped him quite strangely for the 2011 world cup final. Based on what i've seen of him in recent series, i think their is much evidence to such some form of "decoding" of his bowling has happened since superb 2008 debut series of his vs India.

Kumar and Mahela are smart leaders of SRI too who i know rate him. The fact that they too in tests since Murali has retired has being using Herath and Randiv alot too, is also a pretty good sign that they also think something is not right with him, instead of being influenced by media hype etc

 

[Aalay]

Mendis performed brilliantly against India in 2008 series. He had a dream start to his career but the problem arrived when his mystery(Carrom ball) was reveled. When Sri Lanka came to India in 2009, Indians figured out that mystery ball of him. Especially Sehwag was the one who hammered him and afterwards he became a joke. Though I really want to see him playing again.

 

[Auwais]

Looking forward to seeing how Eranga does, heard some good things about him.