T20 Super 8

BDS$2 MAY 5 – 9, 2010

WORLD

TWENTY20 CRICKET SPECIAL

Bring it!

May 5 – 9, 2010.

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TOURNAMENT FORMAT MEN’S EVENT THE MEN'S TOURNAMENT will be contested by 12 teams, which have been split into four groups of three. There are two seeded teams in each group.

Group A Pakistan – A1 Bangladesh – A2 Australia

Group B Sri Lanka – B1 New Zealand – B2 Zimbabwe

Group C South Africa – C1 India – C2 Afghanistan

Group D West Indies – D1 England – D2 Ireland

• Each group will be played on a round-robin

basis with the top two sides progressing to the Super Eight stages.

• Team names for the Super Eight stage are indicative, based on the top two teams from the Group stage qualifying.

• If these two teams do qualify, they will be seeded in position one and two as specified, regardless of whether they finish first or second in their group.

• For example, if Bangladesh win Group A and Pakistan come second, for the purposes of the Super Eights, Pakistan will still be A1 and Bangladesh will be A2. If one of the top teams is eliminated then the side qualifying will take the allocated seeding. If for example, Australia qualify instead of Bangladesh, Australia will be A2.

• Each side will play three matches in the Super Eights, on a round-robin basis, with the top two teams progressing to the semi-finals.

In the Super Eight Stage, the groups will be made up of the following teams: Group E A1 B2 C1 D2

Group F B1 A2 C2 D1

INSIDE The first six matches in pictures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pages 4-9 Team profiles . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pages 11-14 Innovative strokes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Page 15 Four to Watch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pages 16-17 Afghanistan’s fairy-tale story . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pages 18-19 The development of the women’s game . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Pages 21-22 FRONT COVER: From left, Mahela Jayawardene, Darren Sammy, Suresh Raina This World Twenty20 Special is published by The Nation Publishing Co. Limited, Nation House, Fontabelle, St Michael.

THE NATION was established in November 1973.

Publisher: Vivian-Anne Gittens Executive Editor: Roxanne Gibbs

Associate Editor (Sports): Haydn Gill Editorial contributors: Craig Cozier, International Cricket Council Pictures: Brooks LaTouche Photography, Associated Press Layout and design: Lyle Jones, Tamara Stuart, Julia Haynes

WOMEN’S

EVENT

THE WOMEN'S TOURNAMENT will be contested by eight teams, which have been split into two groups of four.

Group A

Group B

England Australia West Indies South Africa

New Zealand India Sri Lanka Pakistan

The top two teams from each group will progress to the semi-finals, with the winners of those matches contesting the final.

4. May 5 – 9, 2010.

Fight to the finish New Zealand vs Sri Lanka END OF THE ROAD: Sri Lanka captain Kumar Sangakkara is bowled

by Scott Styris.

RIDING HIGH: New Zealand opener Jesse Ryder going over the top during his 42 off 27 balls.

ON THE GO: Sri Lanka opener Mahela Jaywardene playing an upper cut during his 81.

WHAT a way to get the tournament going. New Zealand held their nerve in a tense finish to beat last year’s runners-up Sri Lanka by two wickets with a ball to spare in the opening match at the Providence Stadium.

Chasing 136 for victory, New Zealand scrambled the ten required off the last over with Nathan McCullum smashing pacer Lasith Malinga over long-off for six to bring an emphatic end to the game.

Sri Lanka’s effort was dominated by opener Mahela Jaywardene’s classy 81 from 51 balls but it came in a losing cause.

May 5 – 9, 2010.

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West Indies vs Ireland

ANOTHER ONE DOWN: Ravi Rampaul (third right) celebrating his dismissal of Paul Stirling with wicket-keeper Denesh Ramdin.

Sammy’s the man SWEET SAMMY: Darren Sammy hitting down the ground for one of his two sixes.

IRISH DELIGHT: Ireland players celebrating the dismissal of Denesh Ramdin.

DARREN SAMMY was the star of the show in inspiring West Indies to a crushing victory by 70 runs over Ireland on the opening day of the tournament at the Providence Stadium.

With the hosts struggling for runs, Sammy came in at the death to smash 30 off 17 balls that gave West Indies a competitive total of 138 for nine.

It was more than enough and Sammy returned to feature under the lights by hauling in four catches and capturing three wickets in a disappointing Ireland response of 68.

6. May 5 – 9, 2010.

Baptism of fire India vs Afghanistan

OPENING UP: India opener Murali Vijay cutting during his 48.

INDIA cruised to an easy sevenwicket victory over Afghanistan but the tournament newcomers had nothing to be ashamed of in their first match against a full ICC member.

Afghanistan’s 115 for eight was never going to challenge the 2007 champions who cantered home in 14.5 overs after the early impetus from opener Murali Vijay’s 48 off 46 balls.

The problems for Afghanistan at the Beausejour Stadium were caused mainly by the rising ball that claimed several of the wickets, including three to tall fast bowler Ashish Nehra.

KHAN CATCH: India’s Zaheer Khan accepting a catch that accounted for Ashgar Stanikzai.

MAN-OF-THE-MATCH: India fast bowler Ashish Nehra (right) celebrating his dismissal of Mohammad Shahzad.

May 5 – 9, 2010.

7 PAKISTAN launched their defence of the title with a hard fought victory over Bangladesh by 21 runs in a match that was full of excitement at the Beausejour Stadium.

An opening stand of 142 between Salman Butt and Kamran Akmal paved the way for Pakistan’s healthy 172 for three.

Both Butt and Akmal smashed 73, but Pakistan failed to provide fireworks in the last five overs.

Bangladesh took up the challenge when Mohammad Ashraful (65) and captain Shakib Al Hasan (47) were adding 91 for the fourth wicket that left them needing 53 at the start of the last five overs. Like Pakistan, they failed to push on at the end.

DOWN FOR THE COUNT: Bangladesh opener Tamim Iqbal is floored by a yorker from Mohammad Sami.

Spirited battle at Beausejour

NO BUTTS ABOUT IT: Salman Butt cutting on the way to his 73.

Pakistan vs Bangladesh

MAXIMUM: Kamran Akmal going all the way during his 73.

8. May 5 – 9, 2010.

Raina terror DRIVING FORCE: Suresh Raina driving down the ground during his splendid century.

SURESH RAINA struck the first century of the 2010 World Twenty20 to lead India to a 14-run victory over South Africa and a place in the Super Eights.

The left-handed Raina plundered a stroke-filled 101 off 60 balls that left South Africa’s bowlers shellshocked and guided India to a challenging 186 for eight at the Beausejour Stadium.

India then restricted the opponents to 172 for five to earn their second consecutive win of the tournament.

South Africa vs India

WELL DONE: India off-spinner Yusaf Pathan (second left) is congratulated by Harbhajan Singh (left) and Ravindra Jadeja after collecting another South Africa wicket.

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May 5 – 9, 2010.

GOING, GOING, GONE: David Hussey launching one of his fives sixes on the way to his hurricane 52.

ON BENDED KNEE: Shane Watson sweeping during his 81.

Aussies plunder Pakistan TIMBER: Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi is bowled by Australia fast bowler Shaun Tait.

AUSTRALIA made an impressive start to their World Twenty20 campaign with a convincing 34-run victory over defending champions Pakistan at the Beausejour Stadium.

Shane Watson hammered 81 off 49 balls and David Hussey smashed 52 from 29 balls in a total of 191 but Australia’s innings ended in bizarre fashion with a five wicket-maiden in which three

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Pakistan vs Australia scalps went to pacer Mohammed Aamer and two came via run outs.

Pakistan responded with 157 and never really looked in contention to win.

10. May 5 – 9, 2010.

ON THE ATTACK: England batman Eoin Morgan hitting through the on-side during his 55 against West Indies at the Providence Stadium.

ICC World Twenty20 Scores 2010 SRI LANKA v NEW ZEALAND Date: Friday, April 30 Venue: Providence Stadium Result: New Zealand won by two wickets Scores: SRI LANKA 135-6 in 20 overs (Mahela Jayawardene 81, Dinesh Chandimal 29; Shane Bond 2-35). NEW ZEALAND 139-8 in 19.5 overs (Jesse Ryder 42; Muttiah Muralitharan 2-25).

SOUTH AFRICA v INDIA Date: Sunday, May 2 Venue: Beausejour Stadium Result: India won by 14 runs Scores: INDIA 186-5 in 20 overs (Suresh Raina 101, Yuvraj Singh 37; Rory Kleinveldt 2-48).

SOUTH AFRICA 172-5 in 20 overs (Jacques Kallis 73, Graeme Smith 36, AB de Villiers 31; Yusuf Pathan 2-42).

WEST INDIES v IRELAND Date: Friday, April 30 Venue: Providence Stadium Result: West Indies won by 70 runs Scores: WEST INDIES 138-9 in 20 overs (Darren Sammy 30, Ramnaresh Sarwan 24; George Dockrell 3-16, Andre Botha 2-7, Alex Cusack 2-19, Boyd Rankin 2-35). IRELAND 68 in 16.2 overs (Gary Wilson 17; Darren Sammy 3-8, Ravi Rampaul 3-17, Dwayne Bravo 2-5).

PAKISTAN v AUSTRALIA Date: Sunday, May 2 Venue: Beausejour Stadium Result: Australia won by 34 runs Scores: AUSTRALIA 191 in 20 overs (Shane Watson 81, David Hussey 53, David Warner 26; Mohammad Aamer 3-23, Saeed Ajmal 3-34). PAKISTAN 157 in 20 overs (Misbah-ul-Haq 41, Shahid Afridi 33; Shaun Tait 3-20, Dirk Nannes 3-41, Michell Johnson 2-21).

INDIA v AFGHANISTAN Date: Saturday, May 1 Venue: Beausejour Stadium Result: India won by seven wickets Scores: AFGHANISTAN 115-8 in 20 overs (Noor Ali 50, Asghar Stanikzai 30; Ashish Nehra 3-19, Praveen Kumar 2-14).

INDIA 116-3 in 14.5 overs (Murali Vijay 48, Yuvraj Singh 23 not out).

PAKISTAN v BANGLADESH Date: Saturday, May 1 Venue: Beausejour Stadium Result: Pakistan won by 21 runs Scores: PAKISTAN 172-3 in 20 overs (Kamran Akmal 73, Salman Butt 73; Shakib Al Hasan 2-27). BANGLADESH 151-7 in 20 overs (Mohammad Ashraful 65, Shakib Al Hasan 47; Mohammad Sami 3-29, Mohammad Aamer 2-16).

SRI LANKA v ZIMBABWE Date: Monday, May 3 Venue: Providence Stadium Result: Sri Lanka won by 14 runs under Duckworth/Lewis method.

Scores: SRI LANKA 173-7 in 20 overs (Mahela Jayawardene 100, Thissara Perera 23; Ray Price 2-31, Greg Lamb 2-34). ZIMBABWE 29-1 in 5 overs.

ENGLAND v WEST INDIES Date: Monday, May 3 Venue: Providence Stadium Result: West Indies won by eight wickets under Duckworth/Lewis method.

Scores: ENGLAND 191-5 in 20 overs (Eoin Morgan 55, Luke Wright 45, Michael Lumb 28, Craig Kieswetter 26, Kevin Pietersen 24; Darren Sammy 2-22). WEST INDIES 60-2 in 5.5 overs (Chris Gayle 25; Graeme Swann 2-24).

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May 5 – 9, 2010.

Teams in profile PAKISTAN 2007 performance: Runners-up 2009 performance: Champions Twenty20 record: Matches-30. Wins-22. Losses-7. Ties-1.

Shahid Afridi (captain), Salman Butt, Mohammad Hafeez, Khalid Latif, Misbah-ul-Haq, Fawad Alam, Umar Akmal, Abdul Razzaq, , Hammad Azam, Kamran Akmal, Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Asif, Mohammad Aamer, Saeed Ajmal, Abdur Rehman SQUAD:

•Won ICC World Twenty20 2009, beating Sri Lanka by eight wickets in the final at Lord’s •Lost by five runs in the final of ICC World Twenty20 2007 to India •Pakistan’s Umar Gul was the leading wicket-taker at both previous World Twenty20 tournaments, with 13 each time •Mohammad Asif bowled the first maiden over in a Twenty20 International against England at Bristol in 2006 •Failed to advance to the Super Eight stage of the 2007 World Cup after losing to Ireland •Pakistan have appeared in two World Cup finals, winning in 1992 and losing in 1999 •Pakistan first held a domestic Twenty20 competition in the 2004-05 season. Amazingly, the past five tournaments have all been won by the Sialkot Stallions

BANGLADESH 2007 performance: Qualified for Super Eights 2009 performance: Eliminated after Group Stage Twenty20 record: Matches 14. Wins-3. Losses-11.

SQUAD: Shakib Al Hasan (captain), Mushfiqur Rahim, Tamim Iqbal, Imrul Kayes, Mohammad Ashraful, Aftab Ahmed, Mahmudullah, Naeem Islam, Mashrafe Mortaza, Abdur Razzak, Shafiul Islam, Rubel Hossain, Syed Rasel, Suhrawadi Shuvo, Jahurul Islam.

•Played their first Twenty20 International against Zimbabwe at Khulna in November 2006, winning by 43 runs •Reached the second round of 2007 World Twenty20 after beating West Indies by six wickets at Johannesburg •Reached the Super Eight stage of 2007 World Cup, beating India in the first round •Have achieved ODI wins against all other full-member teams except England •Had successful tour to West Indies last year, winning both Tests and all three ODIs. •Was accorded ODI status in 1997 and Test status in 2000

AUSTRALIA 2007 performance: Losing semifinalists 2009 performance: Eliminated after Group Stage Twenty20 record: Matches-29. Wins-15. Losses-12. Ties-1. No-results-1.

SQUAD: Michael Clarke (captain), Dan Christian, Brad Haddin, Ryan Harris, Nathan Hauritz, David Hussey, Michael Hussey, Mitchell Johnson, Dirk Nannes, Tim Paine, Steven Smith, Shaun Tait, David Warner, Shane Watson, Cameron White.

•Played in the inaugural Twenty20 International match, defeating New Zealand at Auckland in February 2005 by 44 runs •Reached the semifinal of 2007 World Twenty20, despite having lost to Zimbabwe in the Group stages •Failed to qualify for the second round of 2009 World Twenty20, losing both first round matches •Made the highest total batting second in a Twenty20 International, scoring 214-4 against New Zealand at Christchurch in February this year to tie the match. They lost on the Super over •Won the last three World Cups: 1999, 2003 and 2007 •Won the last two Champions Trophy tournaments, in India in 2006 and South Africa in 2009 •Their domestic Twenty20 competition began in 2005-06 and the current holders are Victoria

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12. May 5 – 9, 2010.

Teams in profile SRI LANKA 2007 performance: Qualified for Super Eights 2009 performance: Runners-up Twenty20 record: Matches-25. Won-15. Lost-10.

SQUAD: Kumar Sangakkara (captain), Muttiah Muralitharan, Tillakaratne Dilshan, Mahela Jayawardene, Dinesh Chandimal, Angelo Mathews, Thissara Perera, Nuwan Kulasekera, Suraj Randiv, Ajantha Mendis, Lasith Malinga, Chanaka Welagedara, Chamara Kapugedara, Sanath Jayasuriya, Chinthaka Jayasinghe.

•Lost to Pakistan in the 2007 World Twenty20 final •Finished third in their group in the second round at the 2007 World Twenty20, thus missing out on a semi-final place •Scored a Twenty20 International world record total of 260-6 against Kenya at Johannesburg during 2007 World Twenty20 •Tillakaratne Dilshan was the leading run-scorer at 2009 World Twenty20 with 317 at a strike-rate of 144.74 •Reached the final of 2007 Word Cup and lost to Australia by 53 runs on the Duckworth/Lewis method at Kensington Oval •Won the 1996 World Cup, beating Australia by seven wickets in the final at Lahore.

•Shared the trophy with India at the 2002 Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka after rain washed out the final •Have staged domestic Twenty20 tournaments at both club and provincial level. Wayamba have won all three of the provincial competitions held thus far NEW ZEALAND 2007 performance: Losing semifinalists 2009 performance: Qualified for Super Eights Twenty20 record: Matches-33. Wins-13. Losses-17. Ties-3.

SQUAD: Daniel Vettori (captain), Brendon McCullum, Jesse Ryder, Martin Guptill, Ross Taylor, Scott Styris, Aaron Redmond, Jacob Oram, Gareth Hopkins, Rob Nicol, Nathan McCullum, Kyle Mills, Tim Southee, Shane Bond, Ian Butler.

•Played in the inaugural Twenty20 International against Australia at Auckland on 17 February 2005, losing by 44 runs •Was involved in the first tied Twenty20 International – v West Indies at Auckland in 2006. New Zealand won a bowl-out after the game ended in a tie •Lost by six wickets to Pakistan in the semi-finals of 2007 World Twenty20 •Reached the semi-final of 2007 World Cup where they lost by 81 runs to Sri Lanka at Sabina Park •They have reached the semi-final five times in World Cups but have yet to reach a final •Only ICC tournament win came in 2000 Champions Trophy in Kenya, where they beat India by four wickets in the final •Going into the 2010 World Twenty20, they played more Twenty20 Internationals than any other team, with 33 •New Zealand’s first domestic Twenty20 competition was held in the 2005-06 season. Central District won the trophy in 2009-10

ZIMBABAWE 2007 performance: Eliminated after Group Stage 2009 performance: Did not compete Twenty20 record: Matches-8. Wins-3. Losses-4. Ties-1.

SQUAD: Prosper Utseya (captain), Brendan Taylor, Charles Coventry, Andy Blignaut, Hamilton Masakadza, Tatenda Taibu, Greg Lamb, Elton Chigumbura, Vusi Sibanda, Ray Price, Graeme Cremer, Chamu Chibhabha, Chris Mpofu, Timycen Maruma, Craig Ervine.

•Beat Australia in Cape Town in 2007 in their first World Twenty20 match, to emulate their victory over the same team in their first World Cup match in 1983 •Did not participate in 2009 World Twenty20 in England •Beat West Indies by 26 runs in a Twenty20 International at Queen’s Park Oval in February this year •Their highest Twenty20 International total is 184-5 against Canada in Toronto in 2008 •Two Zimbabweans, Ray Price and Prosper Utseya, are amongst the four bowlers who have conceded just six runs in four overs of a Twenty20 International •Reached the Super Six stage in the 1999 World Cup and 2003 World Cup, but have yet to reach a semi-final in an ICC event •Have recorded ODI wins over all other full members of the ICC •The domestic Twenty20 tournament held in Zimbabwe in February this year was won by Mountaineers

SOUTH AFRICA 2007 performance: Qualified for Super Eights 2009 performance: Losing semifinalists Twenty20 record: Matches-26. Wins-17. Losses:9.

SQUAD: Graeme Smith (captain), Jacques Kallis, Loots Bosman, Johan Botha, Mark Boucher, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Herschelle Gibbs, Rory Kleinveldt, Charl Langeveldt, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn, Juan Theron, Roelof van der Merwe.

•Hosted the inaugural World Twenty20 in 2007, but failed to reach the semi-finals in the competition •Lost to Pakistan by seven runs in the semi-final of the 2009 World Twenty20 •Set a record with seven consecutive wins in Twenty20 Internationals in 2009. This has subsequently been emulated by Pakistan •Their only trophy in an ICC event is the ICC Knockout Trophy (now ICC Champions Trophy) in 1998 in Bangladesh •Lost to Australia in the semi-final of the 2007 World Cup •Have a poor record in semi-finals of ICC events, having won only one of the eight in which they have participated •First staged a domestic Twenty20 competition in 2003-04. The current holders are Warriors

INDIA 2007 performance: Champions 2009 performance: Qualified for Super Eights Twenty20 record: Matches-20. Wins-10. Losses-8. Ties-1. No-results-1.

SQUAD: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (captain), Gautam Gambhir, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Yusuf Pathan, Dinesh Karthik, Ravindra Jadeja, Zaheer Khan, Praveen Kumar, Ashish Nehra, Harbhajan Singh, Piyush Chawla, Vinay Kumar, Rohit Sharma, Murali Vijaj.

•Won the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa in 2007, beating Pakistan by five runs in the final •Finished fourth in their group in the second round of 2009 World Twenty20 •Failed to reach the second round of 2007 World Cup after losing to Bangladesh •Scored the highest World Cup total when making 413-5 against Bermuda at Queen’s Park Oval in 2007 •Won the 1983 World Cup, beating West Indies by 43 runs in the final at Lord’s. They bowled West Indies out for 140 in reply to their total of 183 •Shared the Champions Trophy 2002 title with Sri Lanka after the final was abandoned to due rain

AFGHANISTAN 2007 performance: Did not compete 2009 performance: Did not compete Twenty20 record: Matches-6. Wins-4. Losses-2.

SQUAD: Nawroz Mangal (captain), Mohammad Nabi, Karim Sadiq, Mirwais Ashraf, Rais Ahmadzai, Dawlat Ahmadzai, Mohammad Shahzad, Hamid Hassan, Samiullah Shinwari, Noor Ali, Asghar Stanikzai, Shahpoor Zadran, Shabir Noori, Sayed Nasrat, Shafiq Shafaq.

•Is the first affiliate member of the ICC to qualify for a senior ICC event •Won the World Twenty20 qualifier 2010 in United Arab Emirates, beating Ireland in the final •Played in a quadrangular Twenty20 tournament in Sri Lanka with Canada, Ireland and Sri Lanka and in February this year •Holders of the ACC Twenty20 Cup which they won in November 2009 •Successively won the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Divisions 5, 4 and 3 to qualify for the ICC Word Cup qualifier in 2009 •Became the 22nd nation to play ODIs in April 2009 •In addition to beating Scotland in their first ODI, they have also registered ODI wins against Netherlands and Canada •Made one of the highest winning fourth innings totals in first-class cricket when they reached 494-4 to beat Canada in an ICC Intercontinental Cup match in February this year

14. May 5 – 9, 2010.

Teams in profile WEST INDIES 2007 performance: Eliminated after Group Stage 2009 performance: Losing semifinalists Twenty20 record: Matches-21. Wins-8. Losses-11. Ties-2.

SQUAD: Chris Gayle (captain), Sulieman Benn, Dwayne Bravo, Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Narsingh Deonarine, Andre Fletcher, Wavell Hinds, Nikita Miller, Kieron Pollard, Denesh Ramdin, Ravi Rampaul, Kemar Roach, Darren Sammy, Ramnaresh Sarwan, Jerome Taylor.

•Lost to Sri Lanka by 57 runs in the 2009 World Twenty20 semifinal •Played their first Twenty20 International against New Zealand at Auckland in February 2006. The match was tied and New Zealand won a bowl-out •Failed to reach the second round of 2007 World Twenty20 after losing to Bangladesh •Chris Gayle was the first batsman to score a century in a Twenty20 International when he made 117 against South Africa at Johannesburg during the 2007 World Twenty20 •Their highest Twenty20 International total is 208-8 against England at The Oval in 2007 •Won the 1975 and 1979 World Cup and lost in the final in 1983 •Won the Champions Trophy in 2004, beating England by two wickets in the final at The Oval •The first domestic Twenty20 event held in the West Indies was the Stanford Twenty20 in August 2006. Trinidad and Tobago won the 2008 event, beating Jamaica by nine wickets in the final ENGLAND 2007 performance: Qualified for Super Eights 2009 performance: Qualified for Super Eights Twenty20 record: Matches-25. Wins-10. Losses: 14. No-results: 1.

SQUAD: Paul Collingwood (captain), James Anderson, Ravi Bopara, Tim Bresnan, Stuart Broad, Craig Kieswetter, Michael Lumb, Eoin Morgan, Kevin Pietersen, Ajmal Shahzad, Ryan Sidebottom, Graeme Swann, James Tredwell, Luke Wright, Michael Yardy.

•Finished third in their group in the second round of 2009 World Twenty20 •Since losing in the 1992 World Cup fiinal, England have only appeared in two semi-finals of ICC events, at the Champions Trophy in 2004 and 2009 •Finished fifth in the Super Eight table at 2007 World Cup •Lost to Australia in the semi-final of the 2009 Champions Trophy •Finished fourth in their group in the second round of the 2007 World Twenty20 •Was the first country to stage a domestic Twenty20 competition, in 2003. Sussex won the Twenty20 Cup in England in 2009

IRELAND 2007 performance: Did not compete 2009 performance: Eliminated after Group Stage Twenty20 record: Matches-15. Wins-7. Losses-7. No-results: 1 SQUAD: William Porterfield (captain), Peter Connell, Alex Cusack, George Dockrell, Trent Johnston, Nigel Jones, Gary Kidd, John Mooney, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, Boyd Rankin, Paul Stirling, Andrew White, Gary Wilson.

•Lost to Afghanistan in the final of the 2010 World Twenty20 qualifier in United Arab Emirates •Shared the trophy with Netherlands at the 2008 World Twenty20 qualifier in Ireland •Progressed to the Super Eight stages of the 2009 World Twenty20, defeating Bangladesh in the Group Stage •Won World Cup qualifier 2009 in South Africa, qualifying for 2011 World Cup •Beat Pakistan and Bangladesh and tied with Zimbabwe during their successful run at 2007 World Cup •Gained ICC associate membership in 1993 •Won the past three ICC Intercontinental Cup competitions

May 5 – 9, 2010.

TWENTY20 cricket cannot take credit for the invention of the latest stroke-making crazes – of which the scoop and the switch hit are most prominent.

But the format has allowed such innovative batsmanship to blossom and become as much a part of cricket strokeplay as those in 1952’s MCC Coaching Manual.

The commentators will soon need to abandon the adjective “unorthodox” to describe these novel types of run-scoring methods as they become ingrained into the mainstream of the age-old game.

Zimbabwean Douglas Marillier was the first to bring the scoop to international prominence (the ramp, the Dilscoop, the paddle scoop are among its many derivatives).

In a 2001 one-dayer, with 15 needed off the final over from Australian pace legend Glenn McGrath, the brash allrounder twice moved to the off-side and literally “scooped” the ball over his left shoulder and very fine to long leg for boundaries and although his team fell short, a legend was born.

The shot made cameo appearances in subsequent one-dayers before it saw a dramatic rise in popularity with the advent of the Twenty20 revolution.

Two years ago, during the second edition of the Indian Premier League, Sri Lankan dynamo Tillekeratne Dilshan advertised how he had

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Showcase for the unorthodox created and perfected his own version, tagged the Dilscoop by the media.

Dilshan is even more dramatic that Marillier, sinking onto one knee to deflect the ball from the face of the bat directly over his bowed head and

MY WAY: Tillakaratne Dilshan playing his innovative stroke during the 2009 World Twenty20. over the wicket-keeper.

Another to watch for is the switch hit – a morphed adaptation of the reverse sweep, a stroke which one-dayers helped popularise way back in the 1980s.

Its greatest exponent is the effervescent, South Africa-born Englishman, Kevin Pietersen.

Where the reverse sweep is pretty much a twohanded backhand shot (like in tennis), the switch hit involves changing stance and grip a fraction before the bowler delivers thus, in essence, a righthander receives the ball in a left-hander’s stance.

The purists may scoff but, like the format itself, these strokes are here to stay.

– CRAIG COZIER

16. May 5 - 9, 2010.

Four play Rising stars bring the heat to matches A SLICK left-hander as adept at gloriously orthodox strokes and working the ball around as he is at playing the long ball, Raina was tipped as a future Indian batting star by former Australian captain Greg Chappell during his tenure as India coach five years ago.

Now 23, Raina faces the difficult task of emulating the feats of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, Sourav Ganguly and V.V.S. Laxman, all icons of the past two decades.

Raina is yet to play a Test match and only recently has his international career started to flourish.

He has been a standout for the Chennai • Continued on next page.

KIERON POLLARD

MICHAEL CLARKE

May 5 – 9, 2010.

17

SURESH RAINA

LASITH MALINGA

• From Page 16.

Super Kings in all three editions of the Indian Premier League Twenty20 and his 520 runs, including an unbeaten 57 off 35 balls in the final, were a big part of Chennai Super Kings surge to the 2010 title.

His technique was tested at the 2009 ICC World Twenty20 when opponents peppered him with the short stuff and he failed to cope.

Since then, he has worked at this weakness and a one-day century off Sri Lanka in January and a brilliant 101 off 60 balls against South Africa jump-started India’s 2010 ICC World Twenty20 has given him a timely confidence boost.

Raina is also an electric fielder and a useful off-spinning option.

18. May 5 – 9, 2010.

GETTING READY: Afghanistan players stretching during a practice session at the Beausejour Stadium on the eve of their debut in the World Twenty20.

AFGHANISTAN’S rapid rise to achieve a place in the ICC World Twenty20 is one of the most remarkable tales in the history of the game.

When they stepped onto Beausejour Stadium to face India on May 1, it marked the end of one of the most astonishing journeys in cricket history.

The Caribbean trip provides the final chapter for a fairytale – which Afghan fast bowler Hamid Hassan has compared to that of his favourite movie Rocky – that would be worthy of a film script.

Few could have envisaged that when Afghan refugees were first introduced to the sport in the liberation camps in Pakistan 30 years ago that one day their countrymen would be playing some of the most famous cricketers on the planet at an ICC event.

As Afghanistan’s national anthem blared around the ground for the first time in a major ICC tournament, captain Nowroz Mangal and his men were beaming with pride.

“When we heard it the first time we were practising, we were really happy. When we heard it against this morning, it was unbelievable. It is a huge honour for us to be here in this tournament,” Nowroz said.

“India is one of the best teams in the world and we were happy to play our first match against them. It was our good experience for them.”

Afghanistan lost that opening match by seven wickets, but the result was secondary.

They weren’t disgraced by any means, having

Afghanistan – stuff of legend made 115 for eight after they were sent in.

For some of their players, it was even sweeter that their first match was against India.

“Some of the Indians are the favourites with our boys,” said coach Kabir Khan.

“Our wicket-keeper is Mohammad Shahzad.

He calls himself MS. He is a great fan of Mahenda Singh Dhoni and I think it was the best day of his life because he got the chance to play against Dhoni. He would have loved to impress him.”

While the challenges of delivering a cricket development programme in a war-torn country are obvious, the funding from the ICC and the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) has given a chance for Afghanistan’s cricketers and administrators to develop their standard of play and build a long-term future for the game in the country.

Between 2003 and 2009, Afghanistan received US$1.6 million in funding, including US$826 000 during 2009, following their success in becoming a High Performance Programme country and gaining ODI status.

In 2010, subject to meeting certain funding policy requirements, Afghanistan could potentially receive over US$1 million from the ICC and ACC. This includes a US$250 000 participation fee for playing in the ICC World Twenty20 2010.

The fact they have even been given the opportunity to play at this level, in such a short space of time, is testament not only to this investment, but the remarkable achievements of Afghanistan’s team and coaching staff and to the new structures in place in the Pepsi ICC Development Programme.

Previously, it would have been almost impossible for teams to progress from joint 29th in the world rankings, which is where Afghanistan were ranked in May 2008, but the advent of the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League has provided a clear pathway to major ICC global events for all associate and affiliate members.

Although Afghanistan’s journey from Division 5 of that competition, where they competed alongside the likes of Germany and Vanuatu, to the World Cup Qualifier was to ultimately end in failure in their efforts to qualify for the 2011 event, a top six finish at that tournament was to bring plenty of rewards.

After finishing in fifth place in the qualifier, they achieved ODI status, gained qualification to the ICC Intercontinental Cup, the first-class competition for leading associate and affiliate sides, and also a place in the ICC World Twenty20 2010 Qualifier.

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May 5 – 9, 2010.

Off the field of play, steps are being taken to improve the governance By having the opportunity to play structures of Afghanistan cricket and regular four-day cricket, Afghanistan’s there are also positive signs that efforts standard of play has undoubtedly to improve facilities are being made. improved all formats of the game, under Afghanistan Cricket Board chairman the watchful eye of former Pakistan Test and Finance Minister, Dr Omar Zakhilwal, cricketer Kabir Khan, and already it has laid the foundation stone of the first ever achieved some extraordinary results. cricket stadium in Afghanistan in March.

A dramatic one-wicket win over the The stadium will be built in the Ghazi Netherlands last year, followed by Amanullah Khan Township which is inflicting Ireland’s first ICC located 15 kilometres east of Jalalabad Intercontinental Cup defeat since 2004, city on the Jalalabad – Torkham Highway was surpassed by one of the most in the eastern Afghan province of extraordinary run chases of all time Nangarhar, while the United States in February.

Embassy in Kabul is also reportedly set At Sharjah Cricket Stadium, just days to donate funds towards the construction after securing qualification for the ICC of new grounds.

World Twenty20 2010, they made 494 for At a grass-roots level, middle order four against Canada in the fourth innings batsman Raaes Ahmadzai, who grew up to record a remarkable six-wicket win. in the camps of Peshawar, is one of those In the shorter forms of the game, leading the drive to provide more results have also been impressive, opportunities for young people to play the winning the ACC Twenty20 Cup in game, delivering cricket camps in November 2009, which they followed up partnership with UNICEF, while the MCC by capturing the World Twenty20 Qualifier and the charity Afghan Connection has title in front of thousands of their adoring been donating cricket equipment to rural supporters in Dubai Sports City with a locations, building schools and cricket defeat of Ireland. pitches in Afghanistan.

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• From Page 18.

JUMPING FOR JOY: Afghanistan fast bowler Dawlat Ahmadzai (right) celebrating his dismissal of Indian opener Gautam Gambhir with Samiullah Shinwari.

May 5 – 9, 2010.

21

CLAIRE TAYLOR: was instrumental in helping England women win the World Twenty20 last year and also captured the ICC Women’s Player of the Year award in 2009.

Twenty20 working for women THE CASUAL OBSERVER might regard a women’s match on a World Twenty20 programme as a side attraction to the main event.

If we are to be guided by respected experts, however, the women’s contest has potential to be the highlight of the day.

Don’t for one minute get the impression that the women’s game lacks anything when it comes to skill, excitement and drama.

During the 2009 World Twenty20 in England, several journalists rated the women’s semifinal between the hosts and Australia as the match of the tournament – be it male or female.

England, chasing Australia’s 163, won by eight wickets with three balls to spare after scoring at nine an over for the latter half of the innings in a match that was televised globally on SkySports just ahead of the men’s semifinal between West Indies and Sri Lanka at the Oval.

Clare Connor, a former England women’s captain and the only female on the ICC’s cricket committee, spoke glowingly of the contest.

“It was compelling. It was brilliant.

There were powerful sixes and fours.

There were fantastic standards and

skill levels on show,” she said.

“People like Mike Atherton and other leading sports journalists in England said it was one of the best games of Twenty20 cricket they had ever seen.”

It is matches like these that will do a lot in raising the profile of the women’s game, which still isn’t acknowledged by many as something they would be lining up to see.

While the women’s game has been in existence for some time – the first Women’s World Cup was played in 1973 – it has only been in the last five years that it has come into the limelight.

Since women’s cricket was officially integrated with the men’s game under the umbrella of the ICC in 2005, there has been a significant increase in the amount of international women’s cricket being played. As a result, the ICC’s women’s committee is very active in charting strategies and discussing future tours.

The interest and numbers in the game these days have also jumped significantly.

“There are hundreds of countries

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22. May 5 – 9, 2010.

• From Page 21

Tournament format creates opportunities

across the world playing women’s cricket now.

You’ve always had England, Australia, New Zealand, India … the major players have played women’s cricket for years and years but now we are seeing the emergence of a vast number of associates and affiliate women’s teams across the world.

It is really exciting,” Connor said.

“The fact that there are global events and minimum requirements – international women’s teams have got to play a certain number of AIMEE WATKINS: matches every year – PRIYANKA ROY: everything has become the New Zealand the Indian player player was the more structured.” is the second leading England alone can woman in history be used as an example run-scorer at the to take five 2009 World to show how the Twenty20, scoring wickets in a T20 women’s game is International.

200 runs spreading.

Ten years ago, there in five innings. were 90 clubs in the “In terms of skill level and live. There are massive country that offered women’s opportunities,” Connor said. technical ability, it is right up cricket. The number has there with the men’s game,” “We shouldn’t forget that jumped to more than 500 said the 33-year-old Connor, when the ICC decided to do today. who played 16 Tests, 93 Onethis double header in the The World Twenty20 will 2009 World Twenty20, it Day Internationals and two provide another platform for Twenty20 Internationals was a ground breaking the women’s game to create initiative. No other sport had for England between 1995 more of a profile. done this at a global level in and 2005.

The eight teams will battle a global event – to have the “When it comes to power it out in St Kitts for four semi- men’s and women’s event on and speed, obviously the final places when they will men’s game will always the same day on the same get a chance to feature with ticket. dominate because there will the men on double-headers “I don’t think you can over always be a greater potential on the final three days of the emphasise how important it for men to hit the ball event. further, bowl the ball faster is to showcase the best “Those are really and throw the ball further. players in the world in important media That’s the main difference.” women’s cricket.” opportunities for us. It is an With the strides the While some of you will opportunity to show the women’s game has taken in probably have your doubts world the women’s game on about how attractive the recent years, some of us TV and an opportunity for the women’s game is, we are told might have the expectation fans to come in and watch it you won’t be disappointed. that they, like the men, will

STEFANIE TAYLOR: the West Indian is ranked among the top five all-rounders. have an official Test championship.

It, however, is not likely.

Not many women’s teams play Test cricket and the authorities are convinced that the shortest of the game’s three formats is the way to go.

“Twenty20 cricket is an important brand of cricket for the women’s game, especially with the double header idea where you can play a women’s game ahead of a men’s game or a men’s game ahead of a women’s game.

That’s a great vehicle for showing people the women’s game,” Connor said.

“The shortened format of the game is great for attracting new participants and showing people the skill level and where the women’s game has travelled over the last ten years.

“There is very little Test cricket played in the women’s game. That wouldn’t be an option. The format of the game that we are driving in our ICC meetings is the Twenty20 format. It’s an opportunity to get more exposure on TV. That’s the brand of cricket we are subscribing to.”

– by HAYDN GILL

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