A
An Tarbh
Guest
So it's less than a week before the second Twenty20 World Cup.
India are the defending champions but are complaining about being tired having played too much cricket in the IPL, oh please better excuse needed lads, you're not exactly toiling like you would have been in a 5 series test match.
Australia and South Africa both look like the realistic contenders alongside the Indians with both having looked impressive in their recent clashes over the Winter.
As for the hosts their players domestic form doesn't seem to transfer to the international arena and having gone for specialists again this time round could find themselves struggling to make the semi finals.
Dark horses would be West Indies/NZ/Sri Lanka and Pakistan, plenty of talent in all sides and given the shorter form of the game teams like the West Indies won't have any issue with concentration and NZ have shown that with their bowlers consistent in their good economy rates that they always give their batsmen a chance.
It will be interesting to see how Pakistan go following what's been a traumatic year for them, the talent is always there but then there's always the risk that they'll implode like they did in the 99 final or just not perform as they did in 2007. Different game I know, but same mentality.
As for Sri Lanka, possibly doing them a disservice by saying they're an outsider, given the power of their batting lineup, qualty wicket keeper and a bowling attack that will trouble anyone at this level they could be worth a serious bet to win this thing.
Obviously though this is all about how Ireland do and seeing as we've only got to beat India and Bangladesh you should be seeing us in the knock out stages!
India are the defending champions but are complaining about being tired having played too much cricket in the IPL, oh please better excuse needed lads, you're not exactly toiling like you would have been in a 5 series test match.
Australia and South Africa both look like the realistic contenders alongside the Indians with both having looked impressive in their recent clashes over the Winter.
As for the hosts their players domestic form doesn't seem to transfer to the international arena and having gone for specialists again this time round could find themselves struggling to make the semi finals.
Dark horses would be West Indies/NZ/Sri Lanka and Pakistan, plenty of talent in all sides and given the shorter form of the game teams like the West Indies won't have any issue with concentration and NZ have shown that with their bowlers consistent in their good economy rates that they always give their batsmen a chance.
It will be interesting to see how Pakistan go following what's been a traumatic year for them, the talent is always there but then there's always the risk that they'll implode like they did in the 99 final or just not perform as they did in 2007. Different game I know, but same mentality.
As for Sri Lanka, possibly doing them a disservice by saying they're an outsider, given the power of their batting lineup, qualty wicket keeper and a bowling attack that will trouble anyone at this level they could be worth a serious bet to win this thing.
Obviously though this is all about how Ireland do and seeing as we've only got to beat India and Bangladesh you should be seeing us in the knock out stages!