World T20 champs, first round, March 8-13

[Arthur Crabtree]

I know they are in the wrong group, but the negativity is irresistible.

[dan08]

Bangladesh on fire! Ireland are pretty average.

[dan08]

Ireland have been unbelievably bad. Very overrated in this format.

[Alviro Patterson]

Very harsh on Netherlands to be knocked out by virtue of abandonment, surely the match should get rearranged for another day.

[Durhamfootman]

this nearly happened to England in 2010. If the rain hadn't relented long enough for England to get ahead of DL against Ireland they'd have gone home early instead of winning the whole thing. The rain and DL had shafted them in the first match against WIndies too.

This is why winning the first match is so important. Teams who don't, are always just a rain shower away from ignominious exit.

lets see if England take any notice of this when their first match comes around. I'll bet they don't, though. If they perform woefully in the first match, they'll probably settle for playing the 'we woz unlucky' card, than accept that they are perennial under-achievers in global tournaments

[dan08]

Match abandoned. So we've got 2 deciders - Bangladesh v Oman, Afghanistan v Zimbabwe.

[Durhamfootman]

Bangladesh and Zimbabwe would be fitting given that they've been relegated to non-entity status, even though one of them made it to an Asia cup final recently ahead of 'proper' teams like SL and Pak.

[Alviro Patterson]

Given how much the standard of Associate Nations cricket has vastly improved this decade (along with Bangladesh), there isn't really much need to have a "Group Stage" format come 2020 and the tournament proper can easily cater 16 teams (4 groups of 4) without diluting the quality.

[Durhamfootman]

but would the top teams (and, remarkably, England are arrogant enough to consider themselves a top team despite being mostly sh1te) allow it? I'm sure they would much prefer to tell the non-entities to ssip off, rather than risk losing to them (and England have lost to the *modded* lot)

[Dr Cricket]

TBH can't see a 4 group of 4 teams ever happening again after 2007 world cup.

it will either be 2 groups of 7 or 3 groups of 6 if they ever allow the associates to be in the same groups as the main nations.

[ianp1970]

3 groups of 5 is the ideal format.

[dan08]

3 groups of 5 is the ideal format.

Not really as you don't get an even number of teams from each group. Not ideal to go for two best 3rd placed teams.

[Alviro Patterson]

but would the top teams (and, remarkably, England are arrogant enough to consider themselves a top team despite being mostly sh1te) allow it? I'm sure they would much prefer to tell the non-entities to ssip off, rather than risk losing to them (and England have lost to the *modded* lot)

Only 4 teams in the Super 10s can qualify for the semi-finals. 4 groups of 4 with a knockout round from Quarter-Final onwards increases the number of teams advancing to the next stage. The test nations are more likely to be in favour.

TBH can't see a 4 group of 4 teams ever happening again after 2007 world cup.

it will either be 2 groups of 7 or 3 groups of 6 if they ever allow the associates to be in the same groups as the main nations.

2007 World Cup had a Super 8s tournament after the Group Stage, which made it a flop.

2 groups of 7 (similar to CWC15) is okay for associates exposure and a good revenue earner, but World T20 loses it's intensity due to the prolonged round robin format and would take roughly 5 weeks to complete. 4 groups of 4 with a QF knockout allows for expansion, whilst retaining the traditional intensity of a World T20 and takes half the time to finish.

[Alviro Patterson]

3 groups of 5 is the ideal format.

Not really as you don't get an even number of teams from each group. Not ideal to go for two best 3rd placed teams.

3 groups of 5 still amounts to the same total of tournament matches played (31) but takes longer to complete due to the extra group stage match and a team sitting in a round of matches.

[Alviro Patterson]

Bangladesh and Zimbabwe would be fitting given that they've been relegated to non-entity status, even though one of them made it to an Asia cup final recently ahead of 'proper' teams like SL and Pak.

Would like to see Afghanistan qualify instead of Zimbabwe and for them to make a really good account of themselves in the Super 10s, so the chances of expanding the tournament are increased.