In its short history of seven years (and four editions), the World T20 has thrown up many surprises. Four different winners (each of them unfancied at the start of the tournament), with even England winning silverware. Australia have made just one final and have yet to win (but then it took them till the fifth edition to win the Champions Trophy too). Possibly the most surprising fact about the World T20 is that we're into the fifth edition but India are yet to host one. Given that their victory in the inaugural tournament led to the IPL and the face of the modern game changing, I would have expected a 1987 like scenario with the BCCI doing its utmost to host the championships but that has not been the case. Maybe the IPL brand needs protection in their opinion?
The latest version in Bangladesh will throw up plenty more to add to the list of the surprises I'm sure. Its been a pleasant change already to have a proper qualifying tournament between the lower ranked teams as opposed to the long drawn out first group phase from the previous edition. The contests are much more even and the two qualifiers will truly have earned their place alongside the "big boys" for the tournament proper. Remarkably the groups of five are very similar to the second phase of the 2012 edition with only South Africa and the West Indies swapped around. Group 1 is seemingly the easier of the two with the real battle between Sri Lanka, South Africa, and maybe New Zealand. England look too far gone to provide an honest challenge and the qualifier will have had to win at least five games to get to the semis which seems unlikely. Group 2 would be called the "group of death" in footballing terms with the presence of three current and former champions in the West Indies, Pakistan, and India all of whom are equally capable of going unbeaten through the tournament or losing all their matches. Australia are the fourth but by far the most in-form team at the moment despite the loss of Johnson.
The squads haven't thrown up too many unknowns with James Muirhead, Moeen Ali, and Mohammad Talha being possibly the most unexpected selections though it remains to be seen if any of them play much of an active role. Interestingly six of the eight captains (of the top eight Test nations) do not lead their side in ODIs but only du Plessis and Chandimal are leading for the first time in a world tournament. Brendon McCullum too will be leading the Kiwis for the first time in a world tournament though he's got years of experience in the format itself as well as in contests of this nature.
Its all very wide open though given that teams don't play international T20s too often and that various domestic T20 leagues around the world have led to fewer unknowns/wild cards. And given my poor history of predicting results (here, here, and here), I wouldn't be surprised if what I foretell turns out to be the exact opposite of what happens. Nevertheless, for what its worth here's my view: Sri Lanka vs. West Indies in SF1 and Australia vs. South Africa in SF2 with South Africa to beat West Indies in the final. Happy watching!
The latest version in Bangladesh will throw up plenty more to add to the list of the surprises I'm sure. Its been a pleasant change already to have a proper qualifying tournament between the lower ranked teams as opposed to the long drawn out first group phase from the previous edition. The contests are much more even and the two qualifiers will truly have earned their place alongside the "big boys" for the tournament proper. Remarkably the groups of five are very similar to the second phase of the 2012 edition with only South Africa and the West Indies swapped around. Group 1 is seemingly the easier of the two with the real battle between Sri Lanka, South Africa, and maybe New Zealand. England look too far gone to provide an honest challenge and the qualifier will have had to win at least five games to get to the semis which seems unlikely. Group 2 would be called the "group of death" in footballing terms with the presence of three current and former champions in the West Indies, Pakistan, and India all of whom are equally capable of going unbeaten through the tournament or losing all their matches. Australia are the fourth but by far the most in-form team at the moment despite the loss of Johnson.
The squads haven't thrown up too many unknowns with James Muirhead, Moeen Ali, and Mohammad Talha being possibly the most unexpected selections though it remains to be seen if any of them play much of an active role. Interestingly six of the eight captains (of the top eight Test nations) do not lead their side in ODIs but only du Plessis and Chandimal are leading for the first time in a world tournament. Brendon McCullum too will be leading the Kiwis for the first time in a world tournament though he's got years of experience in the format itself as well as in contests of this nature.
Its all very wide open though given that teams don't play international T20s too often and that various domestic T20 leagues around the world have led to fewer unknowns/wild cards. And given my poor history of predicting results (here, here, and here), I wouldn't be surprised if what I foretell turns out to be the exact opposite of what happens. Nevertheless, for what its worth here's my view: Sri Lanka vs. West Indies in SF1 and Australia vs. South Africa in SF2 with South Africa to beat West Indies in the final. Happy watching!
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