Cricket: ICC World Twenty20 tournament Sept 2007 in South Africa

Chris Gayle is a supremely talented batsman. Unfortunately he is so incredibly frustrating to watch - you know he has talent but keeps giving his wicket away stupidly.

Still, he has 85 off 42 balls, and is taking the Saffers to the sword
 
fecking hell...this is worse than I thought it would be.

Problem now is...noone's ever going to look at ODI's the same way ever again.Not that I give a feck...but this sort of shit might just eat up the game.
 
Why are they using male cheerleaders?

Don't think it will spell the end for ODIs. Game has invested too much in that form for last 30 odd years to just let it slip away.
 
What are your thoughts on abandoning the 50 over game and just keeping 20-20 and Tests?

I would personally be for it but the Indians would never allow it so I doubt it will ever happen.

However another dodgy world cup like at the West Indies and you never know..
 
I bet it'll become the most popular form of the game, sadly. If OD wasn't bad enough.

I hope it does not affect test cricket. If the money in this thing grows, which it probably will, we will never see a textbook, technically pure batsman. It will be all hard hitting sloggers who would'nt know what a straight bat looks like.
 
It won't. Indians only care about international cricket. And unless T20 takes a priority in calendar year, situation won't change much. And India so far has only T20 international to it's name, no domestic T20 match has been played yet. We were the only opponents to the idea on ICC board as well.

I don't think this will last, at least on the international scene. Bowlers have been totally marginalised, there will be a backlash 4-5 years down the line.
 
I hope it does not affect test cricket. If the money in this thing grows, which it probably will, we will never see a textbook, technically pure batsman. It will be all hard hitting sloggers who would'nt know what a straight bat looks like.

Test cricket has already been affected, though. No one bothers with the game in the Sub-continent, West Indies and possibly New Zealand(Kiwi Red?). Which is the majority of the cricket watching public. People, especially the younger generation just don't have the patience for the proper form of the game.
 
Which is what people said about One Day cricket.
What?

Before 3-4 years bowlers always had a key role to play in ODIs, still do if one creates a decent pitch unlike the flat one we get now days. A bowler is still capable of winning you an one dayer, 4 over is way too short time for any bowler to make his mark even if you give him a friendly pitch.
 
What?

Before 3-4 years bowlers always had a key role to play in ODIs, still do if one creates a decent pitch unlike the flat one we get now days. A bowler is still capable of winning you an one dayer, 4 over is way too short time for any bowler to make his mark even if you give him a friendly pitch.

That it's just a fad. . .an experiment. I see no reason why 20/20 won't take off. As I said, the younger generation loves everything quick and fast, and they're the ones who'll lap it up.
 
I don't agree.

Even in India, most people would still prefer to represent Indian in test cricket than ODIs.

T20 are going to get terribly mundane after a period of time. There is no variation in the game whatsoever. Everyone wants a high scoring football game but give them a 5-4 scoreline every weekend and soon they will be crying out a decent defense to battle the attack. Same is going to happen here, soon people will realise they won't have the opportunity to see a classic bowling spell if they persist with this shit. There is an overkill in everything.
 
I have so far derived no joy from watching the SA innings. For all the big hitting, there has not been a single great drive in the match.
 
Well, the West Indies have cocked this right up. You really should be able to defend 205 in a 20 overs game, no excuses.

Have to say their fielding has let them down, it counts in Twenty20, there have been a fair few wide balls as well.

Final Score:

South Africa 208-2 (17.4 ovs) bt
West Indies 205-6 (20 ovs) by 8 wkts
 
Not really, it was an awfully small ground and they themselves should have scored another 20 runs.
 
I don't agree.

Even in India, most people would still prefer to represent Indian in test cricket than ODIs.

T20 are going to get terribly mundane after a period of time. There is no variation in the game whatsoever. Everyone wants a high scoring football game but give them a 5-4 scoreline every weekend and soon they will be crying out a decent defense to battle the attack. Same is going to happen here, soon people will realise they won't have the opportunity to see a classic bowling spell if they persist with this shit. There is an overkill in everything.


Well, that's exactly what I think of the 50 overs stuff.
 
Not really, it was an awfully small ground and they themselves should have scored another 20 runs.

Would you have backed Australia, India, Pakistan or even England to defend that total? I certainly would, even though they were playing at the Wanderers.

They gave away 18 wides and dropped Gibbs twice, not to mention the ridiculously poor fielding.
 
fecking hell Kenya.

Fall of wickets1-0 (Ouma, 0.2 ov), 2-0 (Mishra, 0.5 ov), 3-0 (DO Obuya, 1.1 ov), 4-1 (Tikolo, 1.5 ov), 5-37 (Odoyo, 8.3 ov), 6-39 (Odhiambo, 10.4 ov), 7-42 (CO Obuya, 11.4 ov), 8-46 (Obanda, 13.2 ov), 9-73 (Kamande, 16.3 ov), 10-73 (Ongondo, 16.5 ov)
 
fecking hell Kenya.

Fall of wickets1-0 (Ouma, 0.2 ov), 2-0 (Mishra, 0.5 ov), 3-0 (DO Obuya, 1.1 ov), 4-1 (Tikolo, 1.5 ov), 5-37 (Odoyo, 8.3 ov), 6-39 (Odhiambo, 10.4 ov), 7-42 (CO Obuya, 11.4 ov), 8-46 (Obanda, 13.2 ov), 9-73 (Kamande, 16.3 ov), 10-73 (Ongondo, 16.5 ov)

Yea they were shocking. I'm slightly annoyed by Vettori's choice to bowl first, surely it would have been better to give the batsmen some practice as well and batted first.

Did you hear about Flem? Tis a sad day :(
 
We have played one T20 international only and no domestic one to date, so players have no experience. Anyway squad is not as strong.

I think we'll do well. We have a good enough squad. Can even win it.
 
We'd be the most succesful team in the world if we were shit at this new sport.

I wonder if they'll think of a new name...
 
Pakistan won Scotland - both teams bowled out in the last over - a lot of wickets fell due to catches off shots.

Pakistan looked okay in the end I guess but it's far from what should be expected of them. Younis showed the class and experience others were missing in my view - maybe the rest were just trying too hard. Boom boom Afridi came in and hit a massive 6 first ball, hit a few more boundaries and then got out. Credit to Scotland, they gave it a go.

Its Australia v Zimbabwe later on...
 
India winning this tournament is probably the worst thing that could happen to the sport. Everyone would jump on this bandwagon and we'd have to endure more of this.

The 4 spastics who keep dancing aren't helping anything either.
 
I personally don't see India winning the tournament but who knows what to expect in this cup, I suppose any of the big teams having a good day are capable of winning it...

Saying that its going to take something special to beat Australia.. They are going to bat first against Zimbabwe - expect some runs - I may just go and watch it.

PS I've updated the first post and added a provisional second round group table going off the seedings...