The title of this post may may look ridiculous but, unfortunately, it is true. India are placed in tougher of the two groups in Super 8s. The groups, both at preliminary stage and Super 8s, are decided by pre-tournament seedings. For more on seedings and preliminary groupings look at my earlier post
Why Australia, WI and SL are in one group in ICC T20 World Cup?
It is this structure that will make India (Seeded 1 in group A - A1) play against B2 (England), C1(Australia) and D2 (SA) provided they all win and go through to Super 8. Based on their current forms and odds the qualification of all these teams is likely barring England who have lost their easier game against Netherlands. England need to win against Pakistan to qualify to Super 8.
The top three favourites to pick the cup are India, SA and Australia (in that order). Excerpt from my one of my previous posts
Why India is serious contender for the ICC T20 World Cup?
"The betting sites have also given best odds to India closely followed by SA and Australia. At the time of posting this articles the Ladbrokes' odds for India were 5/2 while for SA and Australia were 7/2 and 11/2 respectively."
The other Super 8 group will also be formed on the basis of pre-tournament seedings. The second group will likely to have Bangladesh, Pakistan, SL and NZ. This would be a much easier group to qualify for semis. Ladbrokes' odds, at the time of writing, for NZ, Pakistan and SL are 7, 9 and 9 respectively.
Whether England qualify or not, first group in Super 8 will be the toughest. The team who will top the first group would have the best chance to win the trophy. As for India, they will be seriously tested only in super 8 (if they qualify for it). Their groupings could be biggest setback for them for title hunt.
Saturday, June 6, 2009
England Woes - First it was Netherlands and now it is media
A collection of very good articles on England's defeat in the opening match of ICC T20 world cup
England produce the perfect capitulation
Dutch courage spares organisers' blushes
Netherland's glorious final over
England produce the perfect capitulation
Dutch courage spares organisers' blushes
Netherland's glorious final over
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Why India is serious contender for the ICC T20 World Cup?
India team is not only the defending champions but is also considered to be favourites to win ICC T20 World Cup again. Pundits, critics, media-personnel and fans alike have put their bets on India.
The betting sites have also given best odds to India closely followed by SA and Australia. At the time of posting this articles the Ladbrokes' odds for India were 5/2 while for SA and Australia were 7/2 and 11/2 respectively. The odds would change as tournament will progress. One can check the betting meter of various online sites at
Twenty20 World Cup Win Market Betting Odds
I am not a betting man but I like to analyze the cricket happenings. Why is everyone considering India as favourites? Is it because:
All these points definitely make India a world beating team. These points have been analyzed threadbare by media and cricket pundits; there is no point in repeating them here. SA and Australia too can run close if we just consider these points. Man for man SA and Australia too have brilliant team.
World Cup squads
India - http://www.cricinfo.com/wt202009/content/squad/402820.html
SA - http://www.cricinfo.com/wt202009/content/squad/402863.html
Australia - http://www.cricinfo.com/wt202009/content/squad/402963.html
So what is it that makes India favourites? Where is the wow factor? Why are odds what they are? I think there are more important points. These are:
Did anyone say odds in a T20 match change very quickly?
The betting sites have also given best odds to India closely followed by SA and Australia. At the time of posting this articles the Ladbrokes' odds for India were 5/2 while for SA and Australia were 7/2 and 11/2 respectively. The odds would change as tournament will progress. One can check the betting meter of various online sites at
Twenty20 World Cup Win Market Betting Odds
I am not a betting man but I like to analyze the cricket happenings. Why is everyone considering India as favourites? Is it because:
- India has a very strong team with fine balance.
- Indians have much more experience of T20 format than rival team players (courtesy IPL).
- All the 15 individuals in the team are proven performers - swash bucking batsmen, excellent fielders and wicket taking bowlers.
- Most of the players are is excellent form and are coming after a successful stint in IPL2.
- Dhoni is considered to be a fine leader with a cool head and astute thinking.
All these points definitely make India a world beating team. These points have been analyzed threadbare by media and cricket pundits; there is no point in repeating them here. SA and Australia too can run close if we just consider these points. Man for man SA and Australia too have brilliant team.
World Cup squads
India - http://www.cricinfo.com/wt202009/content/squad/402820.html
SA - http://www.cricinfo.com/wt202009/content/squad/402863.html
Australia - http://www.cricinfo.com/wt202009/content/squad/402963.html
So what is it that makes India favourites? Where is the wow factor? Why are odds what they are? I think there are more important points. These are:
- The bench - Out of 15 individuals in the squad only 11 will play. The bench strength of India is much better that rest of the teams. Dhoni has happy problem of who to take in playing 11 and who to leave. Indian team has the strongest bench among all teams playing in the world cup. One just has to consider how India thrashed Pakistan in a warm up game when their premier bowler (Zaheer) and the regular opener (Sehwag) were injured and warming the bench.
- Beyond the bench - Players like Karthink, Nehra, Munaf, Mishra, Balaji are not in the 15 member squad. These players performed exceptionally well in recently concluded IPL and have donned India colours before; they can walk in any other international side based on their performance. Alas! There is no space for them in Indian team. And I am not talking about the other young guns who also performed well in IPL but do not have the international exposure. Surely they will put positive pressure on the players in world cup squad.
- Fear Factor - There are very few players in world cricket who induce fear in the mind of opposition. These players are reverved by fans and opposition alike. India have couple of them - Sehwag, Yuvraj and Dhoni. Australia also used to have few before they lost them to retirement and indiscipline (read Symmonds).
- Pressure situations - Most Indian players are accustomed to pressure cooker like situations. Over past two years they have seen extremely adverse conditions (both in one dayers and tests) where they have come out strongly. They have won matches from extreme odds. As an old adage goes - been there, done that. Players like Dhoni, Yuvraj, Rohit, Pathan brothers, Zaheer, Harbhajan and Raina have won matches on their own from seemingly impossible situations. They are all big match players.
Did anyone say odds in a T20 match change very quickly?
Emotions unlimited...
Yesterday I posted an article about intensity of cricket when India and Pakistan play each other.
Emotions and India vs. Pakistan encounter
Even though India won comfortably, hoards of fans provided their whole hearted support to their respective teams. It seemed as if World cup final was being played - from the fans was feverish and noise was deafening. Here is a small collection of news stories as reported by media today:
Raw emotions rule Oval 'super show'
Excerpt from http://www.cricinfo.com/wt202009/content/current/story/407210.html
Nothing about this encounter suggested it was a warm-up game. The sell-out crowd, and the intensity in the first innings was something even the final of the actual tournament will be proud of.
Excerpt from http://www.cricinfo.com/wt202009/content/current/story/407286.html
Rohit's innings, and Gambhir's supporting half-century, denied the match of an exciting finish that would have done justice to the feverish atmosphere at The Oval. The ICC wanted everyone to 'Catch the Spirit' and it was impossible not to. Celebrations were adrenalin-filled and every ball - be it dot, six or out - was cheered by an emotionally-charged full house, evenly divided in support between the teams. This was more than a warm-up game.
The players felt the same way, with India shelving all thoughts of experimentation. Dhoni said the bowlers had attempted a back-of-a-length approach in the previous game but merely tried to stick to basics today. "We were not experimenting," Dhoni said. "An India-Pakistan game, even though it's a warm-up, is a tough game to play. We were looking to do the basics, bowl yorkers."
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Emotions and India vs. Pakistan encounter
Today there are a few warm-up matches of ICC T20 World Cup. One of them is between arch rivals India and Pakistan while other is between Netherlands and Ireland. I watched bits and pieces of Netherlands vs. Ireland game which preceded India vs. Pakistan encounter. It was scheduled to end an hour before India vs. Pakistan match. The stadium looked to be full when Netherlands and Ireland match was going on. Looking closely, one could notice that most of the fans were wearing either Indian or Pakistani colours and they were already in mood for impending India vs. Pakistan encounter.
Few games raise as much emotions as a India vs. Pakistan encounter. Traditionally there has been immense political animosity between two countries; due to which a game between two countries is not considered less than a tiny battle. There has been no scientific research to determine the level of emotions when these two countries play each other as compared to any other match but the way fans behave or the manner in which media reports says it all. Nothing seems bigger than an India vs. Pakistan encounter.
Media also tries to sell the hype around the match for its own good. But somehow, I think, over past few years the emotions attached with a India vs. Pakistan encounter have diminished - at least among Indian fans. I think it all started with rise of India a financial powerhouse in cricketing world. And around the same time Mr. Vajpayee also came to power in India and started exploring congenial relations with Pakistan which culminated in a few bilateral series between two countries. These bilateral series had salubrious effect on the fans and the craze started dying down.
A long time Indian fan would remember 80s and 90s when there were very few matches between the two countries. And fans used to religiously follow each and every ball of the scarce encounter. Pitched battles in Sharjah and One Day World Cups are part of cricketing folklore. Can you remember anything significant from the matches that were played in last 10 years?
A third interesting thing happened around the same time - rise of Australia as a cricketing powerhouse. Indian team may have a chequered record over last 10 years but they have given nothing away to Australia in their encounters. And many encounters, in last 10 years, between these two countries have been as acrimonious as an India vs. Pakistan encounter. In fact, it is because of India that Australia seems to be relegating the number 1 spot in world cricket. In my opinion, an Indian fan today, relishes thrashing Australia more than beating Pakistan.
Only time will tell what future hold for an India vs. Pakistan encounter but today's encounter may be as bitter as an 80s or a 90s encounter. Why?
1. Pakistan has never beaten India in a World Cup match.
2. ICC T20 2007 World Cup final is still remembered by both nations albeit for different reasons.
2. After 26/11, Lahore attacks and ultimately isolation of Pakistan from world cricket, Pakistan team and fans want to prove a thing or two to rest of the world.
Let's keep our fingers crossed and enjoy the match as a sporting encounter. :)
Few games raise as much emotions as a India vs. Pakistan encounter. Traditionally there has been immense political animosity between two countries; due to which a game between two countries is not considered less than a tiny battle. There has been no scientific research to determine the level of emotions when these two countries play each other as compared to any other match but the way fans behave or the manner in which media reports says it all. Nothing seems bigger than an India vs. Pakistan encounter.
Media also tries to sell the hype around the match for its own good. But somehow, I think, over past few years the emotions attached with a India vs. Pakistan encounter have diminished - at least among Indian fans. I think it all started with rise of India a financial powerhouse in cricketing world. And around the same time Mr. Vajpayee also came to power in India and started exploring congenial relations with Pakistan which culminated in a few bilateral series between two countries. These bilateral series had salubrious effect on the fans and the craze started dying down.
A long time Indian fan would remember 80s and 90s when there were very few matches between the two countries. And fans used to religiously follow each and every ball of the scarce encounter. Pitched battles in Sharjah and One Day World Cups are part of cricketing folklore. Can you remember anything significant from the matches that were played in last 10 years?
A third interesting thing happened around the same time - rise of Australia as a cricketing powerhouse. Indian team may have a chequered record over last 10 years but they have given nothing away to Australia in their encounters. And many encounters, in last 10 years, between these two countries have been as acrimonious as an India vs. Pakistan encounter. In fact, it is because of India that Australia seems to be relegating the number 1 spot in world cricket. In my opinion, an Indian fan today, relishes thrashing Australia more than beating Pakistan.
Only time will tell what future hold for an India vs. Pakistan encounter but today's encounter may be as bitter as an 80s or a 90s encounter. Why?
1. Pakistan has never beaten India in a World Cup match.
2. ICC T20 2007 World Cup final is still remembered by both nations albeit for different reasons.
2. After 26/11, Lahore attacks and ultimately isolation of Pakistan from world cricket, Pakistan team and fans want to prove a thing or two to rest of the world.
Let's keep our fingers crossed and enjoy the match as a sporting encounter. :)
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
Why Australia, WI and SL are in one group in ICC T20 World Cup?
Is it pure (bad) luck that Australia, SL and WI are slotted together in group playoffs for Super 8?
The answer is simple 'no'.
There are 12 teams competing in 2009 T20 World Cup. 9 of the 12 teams, including Bangladesh, are ICC full-members countries while remaining 3 (Ireland, Scotland and Netherlands) qualified through a qualifying tournament.
These 12 teams are divided in 4 groups of 3 each based on their seedings. As it is in other sports (like in Lawn Tennis Grand Slams), the teams are divided into groups based on their seedings. The seedings are based on inaugural T20 World Cup played in 2007. Top 4 seeded teams from 2007 World Cup are placed in separate groups. The next 4 seeded teams are placed in these same groups in the reverse order while the last 4 seeds are slotted based on similar logic. WI didn't win a single game in 2007 World Cup in group playoffs; by virtue of their poor performance they are seeded 11th.
2007 seedings and current groupings
Group A: 1-India, 8-Bangladesh, 9-Ireland
Group B: 2-Pakistan, 7-England, 10-Netherlands
Group C: 3-Australia, 6-SL, 11-WI
Group D: 4-NZ, 5-SA, 12-Scotland
So Australia and SL can blame WI for making it difficult for them at group stage. Or they can treat it as an opportunity in disguise; they will be better prepared for Super 8 if they qualify for it.
As for WI, I don't think they have a strong team to challenge either SL or Australia. Predictions, based on team strength can go wrong. As we have seen in 2007 World Cup and recently in IPL, in this format reputation does not matter; course of a match can change in couple of overs and a weak team can beat a potentially strong team. But the chances of WI losing at group stage look very strong.
And if WI lose again, they can look forward to anther group of death in next World Cup.Well! They can certainly blame themselves for 2007 debacle.
The answer is simple 'no'.
There are 12 teams competing in 2009 T20 World Cup. 9 of the 12 teams, including Bangladesh, are ICC full-members countries while remaining 3 (Ireland, Scotland and Netherlands) qualified through a qualifying tournament.
These 12 teams are divided in 4 groups of 3 each based on their seedings. As it is in other sports (like in Lawn Tennis Grand Slams), the teams are divided into groups based on their seedings. The seedings are based on inaugural T20 World Cup played in 2007. Top 4 seeded teams from 2007 World Cup are placed in separate groups. The next 4 seeded teams are placed in these same groups in the reverse order while the last 4 seeds are slotted based on similar logic. WI didn't win a single game in 2007 World Cup in group playoffs; by virtue of their poor performance they are seeded 11th.
2007 seedings and current groupings
Group A: 1-India, 8-Bangladesh, 9-Ireland
Group B: 2-Pakistan, 7-England, 10-Netherlands
Group C: 3-Australia, 6-SL, 11-WI
Group D: 4-NZ, 5-SA, 12-Scotland
So Australia and SL can blame WI for making it difficult for them at group stage. Or they can treat it as an opportunity in disguise; they will be better prepared for Super 8 if they qualify for it.
As for WI, I don't think they have a strong team to challenge either SL or Australia. Predictions, based on team strength can go wrong. As we have seen in 2007 World Cup and recently in IPL, in this format reputation does not matter; course of a match can change in couple of overs and a weak team can beat a potentially strong team. But the chances of WI losing at group stage look very strong.
And if WI lose again, they can look forward to anther group of death in next World Cup.Well! They can certainly blame themselves for 2007 debacle.
Monday, June 1, 2009
Why Australia is the best test team in world?
Australians got a stiff competition from SA and India in 2008. Australians barely managed to overcome stiff Indian resistance in their own backyard while Indians trounced them 2-0 in India. India is a vastly improved test side from what it was 2 years ago. On the other hand SA was on the verge of dethroning Australia as number 1 test side in the world. Alas! They stumbled at the last step. Some would say that they are perennial chokers.
I think, even though SA and India have challenged Australian hegemony over last few years, Australia will remain number 1 team in times to come. In my earlier post "Why is Australia the number 1 team?" we looked at one aspect of Australian cricket - their bench strength. But more than their bench strength, it is their seriousness about about the test cricket that sways the ranking in their favour. Test cricket is considered to be the holy grail in Australia. 2008 was just an aberration for Australian cricket.
When the best players of the were playing in IPL 2009, Australian stalwarts were resting at home. They renounced playing lucrative IPL and also didn't participate in one dayers against Pakistan. Why so? Because they wanted to keep themselves fresh for Ashes. While IPL was in full flow, the voices emanating from Australian cricket suggested that the team was getting into groove for Ashes. Even today, when rest of the world is focused on ICC T20 championship (which is just round the corner), all the news coming from Australian team is about Ashes preparation.
ICC T20 championship is the most prestigious international T20 tournament in the world. Barring 1 or 2 T20 matches in a bilateral series, all the teams play international T20 matches only during ICC T20 championship. And what is the news from Australian camp about ICC T20 championship? Nothing...This says it all. Australians attach immense importance to test cricket and that is why they have been so successful in this format.
What hopes does Australia have in ICC T20 championship? Even though they are placed in group of Death, along with WI and SL, Australia has a strong T20 team. They should be able to go through to next round. Anyway, that is another story...
I think, even though SA and India have challenged Australian hegemony over last few years, Australia will remain number 1 team in times to come. In my earlier post "Why is Australia the number 1 team?" we looked at one aspect of Australian cricket - their bench strength. But more than their bench strength, it is their seriousness about about the test cricket that sways the ranking in their favour. Test cricket is considered to be the holy grail in Australia. 2008 was just an aberration for Australian cricket.
When the best players of the were playing in IPL 2009, Australian stalwarts were resting at home. They renounced playing lucrative IPL and also didn't participate in one dayers against Pakistan. Why so? Because they wanted to keep themselves fresh for Ashes. While IPL was in full flow, the voices emanating from Australian cricket suggested that the team was getting into groove for Ashes. Even today, when rest of the world is focused on ICC T20 championship (which is just round the corner), all the news coming from Australian team is about Ashes preparation.
ICC T20 championship is the most prestigious international T20 tournament in the world. Barring 1 or 2 T20 matches in a bilateral series, all the teams play international T20 matches only during ICC T20 championship. And what is the news from Australian camp about ICC T20 championship? Nothing...This says it all. Australians attach immense importance to test cricket and that is why they have been so successful in this format.
What hopes does Australia have in ICC T20 championship? Even though they are placed in group of Death, along with WI and SL, Australia has a strong T20 team. They should be able to go through to next round. Anyway, that is another story...
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