“The ICC World T-20 2010 West Indies – Now is the time!”

Apr 15, 2010 Sports

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By Colin Croft

The Easter kites have flown. The IPL has grown, and the WICB’s plans for the next few years have been sown. Now comes the “ICC WT-20 – 2010 West Indies”, which starts on April 30; in Guyana, and includes St. Lucia and Barbados, for the men; and St. Kitts, St. Lucia and Barbados, for the women. If the West Indies ladies and men play at their very best, both genders can make this WT-20 competition their own!
FYI: The West Indies men’s team won both the inaugural 50-overs World Cup, in 1975, and in 1979. India stopped the “Three-Peat” in 1983. Since then, the West Indies has won only one other competition, unlikely victors in the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy.
The Windies women recently beat England, the defending 2009 Ladies T-20 champions, so anything is now possible. Marissa Aguilliera and her girls will do their best!
Somehow, those dates; 1975, 1979, even 2004, seem very distant and ancient. West Indies, men or women, must win something else soon, even if the cricket has changed much in the last 5 years, not to mention the last 30!
The groups and seeding are curious. GROUP A contains Pakistan (1), Bangladesh (8) and Australia (9). GROUP B contains Sri Lanka (2), New Zealand (7) and Zimbabwe (10). GROUP C contains South Africa (3), India (6) and Afghanistan (11), and GROUP D includes West Indies (4), England (5) and Ireland (12).
No. 1 ranking for Pakistan, even with internal upheavals, may be acceptable, since they are the defending 2009 champions, but how did India become ranked No. 6, with so much T-20 cricket there, even if they had been beaten, and eliminated, by Bangladesh, in 2007, over 50 overs? The recent IPL excursion should help all countries’ players.
Ireland deserves more than No. 12. In 2007, over 50 overs, they nearly embarrassed South Africa in the warm-ups, and did so, to Pakistan, in the group stages.
Australia, at No. 9, is at too long odds. Sri Lanka, at No. 2, is overpriced. I would not count out England or South Africa, even though they both seem to always wobble when it matters most. West Indies, at No. 4, is a good each-way bet.
Game 1 of the competition, in Guyana, features Sri Lanka versus New Zealand. This game is too close to call. Sri Lanka is led by the inspirational Kumar Sangakkara, and includes luminaries like Muttiah Muralitharan, Tillikeratne Dilshan, the ever-green Sanath Jayasuriya, Mahela Jayawardene, the quick Lasith Malinga, the tricky Ajantha Mendis, and the very promising Angelo Mathews. If the Sri Lankans fire as they potentially can, they could win.
New Zealand will not be outdone. The ever reliable Daniel Vettori will lead, abetted by two returning speedsters, Shane Bond and Ian Buttler, the highly capable Brendon McCullum, Scott Stris and Jacob Oram, and the classy Ross Taylor.
West Indies play Ireland immediately afterwards, also in Guyana; Game 2, that same day. This is a major game, either way. Whichever team loses could be close to elimination at the very first hurdle!
Ireland has been hurt by defections or retirements since 2007. Dave Langford-Smith, Jeremy Bray, Eoin Morgan and Peter Gillespie are all missing.
Their Coach Phil Simmons, and the wily captain, William Porterfield, will look to veterans Trent Johnson and Andre Botha. They also have the tallest fast bowler around, Boyd Rankin, along with the experienced John Mooney and Niall O’Brien. Like in 2007, they could make other teams choke.
The West Indies include surprises, especially Andre Fletcher. The selectors, and captain Chris Gayle, have shown great faith in him, along with having two leg-spinners, Suleiman Benn and Nakita Miller. Ramnaresh Sarwan, Jerome Taylor and Dwayne Bravo return from recent injuries. Shiv Chanderpaul and Darren Sammy should come good. Wavell Hinds’ inclusion is very interesting.
Afghanistan is a dark-horse, considering their country’s situation. They have also come through a very tough qualifying series. They beat Ireland twice, including in the final of the ICC T-20 qualifying tournament, Scotland, the USA and United Arab Emirates, to be here. Captain Nowroz Mangal and Hamid Hassan are two to watch!
India will hope that this tournament allows class players to excel. There is no Sachin Tendulkar, but captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, Virender Sehwag, Gautam Ghambir, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan and Yuvraj Singh are all capable tournament winners.
Bangladesh too has had recent upheaval, but captain Shakib-al-Hassan would remember, with great fondness, that they beat the West Indies easily last year.
Fast bowler Mashrafe Mortaza returns after serious injury, while Tamim Iqbal continues to make runs like dust. Marmadullah, Musfiqur Rahim, Mohammed Ashraful and Abdur Razzaq are always exciting. As in 2007, Bangladesh could pull off major surprises.
Pakistan will always be Pakistan, confused, but always mercurial. Expect anything from them, which makes them so exciting, not unlike the West Indies.
Captain Shahid Afridi could be the best player one day, the ugliest the next. Abdul Razzaq is back to lend support. Kamran Akmal, Salman Butt and veteran Misbah-ul-Haq are quite good, while Mohammed Asif, Umar Gul and Umar Akmal complete the picture.
The South Africans are proverbial chokers. They have been touted as potential winners of almost every competition since coming back to international cricket in 1992. For their charismatic captain, Graeme Smith, time is running out for a major world victory.
Herschelle Gibbs, Jacques Kallis and Mark Boucher constitute great experiences. AB De Villiers and Charl Langerveldt can change any game, while Dale Steyn and the Morkel Brothers, Albie and Morne, will provide the pace. With this combination, this could really be the last big hurrah for a few of these players, perhaps the entire team!
Australia is always a good bet whenever they play, even if T-20 is their least favoured format. After all, they are the world’s defending 50-over champions.
Captain Michael Clarke is like Tiger Woods, coming back from personal emotional trauma. He will be hoping to continue his run-scoring. We have all seen what Brad Hadden, Mike and David Hussey, Shane Watson, Cameron White, Michel Johnson and Brett Lee can do. If Australia remain firing fit, they could be a great handful.
Zimbabwe sent shots across bows with their recent showing in the West Indies. They are still maturing, but like Bangladesh and Afghanistan, the Zims have nothing to lose.
Captain Prosper Utseya has to be more aggressive. In Elton Chigumbura, Charles Coventry, Hamilton Masakadza, Vusi Sibanda, Ray Price and Tatenda Taibu, he has very talented and experienced lieutenants. Look out for the pace and improvement of Christopher Mpofu.
England is similar to South Africa, promising much but producing little. Paul Collingwood has proved to be an intelligent leader, while James Anderson, Stuart Broad, Tim Bresman, Graeme Swann and Ryan Sidebottom are a good bowling attack. Kevin Petersen, Ravi Bopara and Eoin Morgan; him of Irish fame; could control the batting. They have nothing to show for all of their perceived potential. Now could be their time.
To select a winner is hard. Fitness, staleness and tiredness from the IPL could be crucial.

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