T20 World Cup 2026 .

[bwildered]

 In a self preservation society, England won to qualify to the super eights. But  Mr Bridger was not too happy.

Much to do with the bat, and need to do what Benny Hill wanted from some innings !

[NotAMember]

Well played Italy. They ran England close. Sadly what would have been the funniest defeat in cricket history was not to be.

They didn't "run England close" - a 24 run defeat in T20 is a clear defeat, probably a bit like going down by 60 runs in a 50 over game.

Running a team close in T20 is taking it to the last few deliveries, not needing 25 off the last over with 9 and 10 batting.

They lost three wickets in the powerplay, which usually kills teams chasing 200+ and so it proved, with wickets falling regularly when they tried to chase it down. They were doomed from a long way out.

All that has happened with these minnow teams is that they have got physically strong players who have grown up on a diet almost exclusively of T10 and T20 cricket and they have learnt to open up their stance and hit 6s from ball 1 without fear of getting out.

[nat]

Well played Italy. They ran England close. Sadly what would have been the funniest defeat in cricket history was not to be.

...

All that has happened with these minnow teams is that they have got physically strong players who have grown up on a diet almost exclusively of T10 and T20 cricket and they have learnt to open up their stance and hit 6s from ball 1 without fear of getting out.

So it's not proper cricket then is it?

[NotAMember]

So it's not proper cricket then is it?

A question that really deserves to be addressed over a few hours in the pub, I think!

It's not first-class cricket.

But then looking at cricket's history, were the single-wicket type games than enjoyed huge popularity for a long time - probably around a century - from the mid-1700s to the mid-1800s, "proper cricket"?

These pre-dated the "modern" form of the codified 11-a-side game so I am sure in their time they were considered "proper" though I doubt such a question ever really arose.

As for the T20 debate, that's a whole big topic in itself.

[dazedpenguin]

They didn't "run England close" - a 24 run defeat in T20 is a clear defeat, probably a bit like going down by 60 runs in a 50 over game.

Running a team close in T20 is taking it to the last few deliveries, not needing 25 off the last over with 9 and 10 batting.

They lost three wickets in the powerplay, which usually kills teams chasing 200+ and so it proved, with wickets falling regularly when they tried to chase it down. They were doomed from a long way out.

All that has happened with these minnow teams is that they have got physically strong players who have grown up on a diet almost exclusively of T10 and T20 cricket and they have learnt to open up their stance and hit 6s from ball 1 without fear of getting out.

In the end it doesn't look close for a T20 game, but there were times during the chase that it definitely felt a lot closer.

Nepal on the other hand definitely did run England close.

[bwildered]

Agree, some results on paper do not reflect how tight some games are.  England were better in the last five overs in batting and bowling which was the difference.

Cricket is always evolving and will continue to from the times when it was played on village greens and stately home grounds many moons ago and what a standard game then is completely changed now.

[vim]

A single wicket competition amongst all-rounders, appears to have died out now. Even as part of a benefit or testimonial programme.

There was one in Hong Kong covered by ITV. Frances Edmonds, who was the presenter. Informed the viewers that Imran Khan, could not be asked to turn up. To defend the title he won the previous years. Therefore, her husband, who was accompanying her, had to play.

[NotAMember]

In the end it doesn't look close for a T20 game, but there were times during the chase that it definitely felt a lot closer.

One thing I have learnt from watching a lot of Blast cricket is that what as you rightly say "feels close" during a chase actually isn't.

Basically when trying to chase down 200+ once you start getting up to 10 an over plus with wickets down, it's very difficult to sustain the run rate over several overs. Risks have to be taken and almost invariably wickets fall, especially when you are already down to lower order players who have just come in.

It seems strange to say, because England were 105-5 off 12.4 overs and Italy were 114-4 off 12 overs, but for some reason there is something much more difficult about chasing with wickets down than setting a good target with wickets down.

[Andy]

A single wicket competition amongst all-rounders, appears to have died out now. Even as part of a benefit or testimonial programme.

There was one in Hong Kong covered by ITV. Frances Edmonds, who was the presenter. Informed the viewers that Imran Khan, could not be asked to turn up. To defend the title he won the previous years. Therefore, her husband, who was accompanying her, had to play.

To be fair Frances Edmond?s was a fearsome woman with an acid tongue. Her comments about Gooch were hilarious.

[vim]

With the competition in Hong Kong. The fielders were from club sides. Clive Rice, who also took part. Suggested that they needed some coaching, as the standard was not very high.

[JasonP]

In the end it doesn't look close for a T20 game, but there were times during the chase that it definitely felt a lot closer.

One thing I have learnt from watching a lot of Blast cricket is that what as you rightly say "feels close" during a chase actually isn't.

Basically when trying to chase down 200+ once you start getting up to 10 an over plus with wickets down, it's very difficult to sustain the run rate over several overs. Risks have to be taken and almost invariably wickets fall, especially when you are already down to lower order players who have just come in.

It seems strange to say, because England were 105-5 off 12.4 overs and Italy were 114-4 off 12 overs, but for some reason there is something much more difficult about chasing with wickets down than setting a good target with wickets down.

[/b]

After 18 overs England were 174-6 and Italy 173-7.  Italy needed 31 from the last 2 overs having just smacked the 2 previous overs for 34, including 5 sixes.  It was certainly on for them at that stage, although you 'd hope England should be able to close it out.  The last 2 overs only went for 5, which was the reason the match looked a lot more comfortable for England than it was in reality.

[bwildered]

 Interesting article regards the demise of the Aussie in T20 cricket, having now failed to reach the semi final stages three competitions in a row. Lack of preparation with the Big Bash having preferred treatment and concentration on red ball Ashes . So the T20 became somewhat an afterthought.
 The adjustment in the condition of wickets  in India and Sri Lanka also is taken into account, with power hitting better on Indian wickets with Sri Lanka requiring more supple requirements.

 

[Slogger]

I don't pretend to have much knowledge of T20 but I got the sense from what I saw on TV that the Big Bash wasn't a terrfically high standard. The South African tournament seemed a bit better, with more overseas stars. Presumably that's the impact of Indian owners? I wonder if England are going much further.

[NotAMember]

Interesting article regards the demise of the Aussie in T20 cricket, having now failed to reach the semi final stages three competitions in a row. Lack of preparation with the Big Bash having preferred treatment and concentration on red ball Ashes . So the T20 became somewhat an afterthought.
 The adjustment in the condition of wickets  in India and Sri Lanka also is taken into account, with power hitting better on Indian wickets with Sri Lanka requiring more supple requirements.

Or maybe things just didn't quite go their way on those occasions?

T20 is a very volatile format and I don't think too deep analysis tends to age well.

You only have to look at the T20 Blast and how sides' fortunes can fluctuate dramatically from one year to the next, compared with the relative stability of the County Championship.

Look at Hampshire, who won it in 2022 and got to the quarters in 2023 only to have an inexplicable horror show in 2024 but then got back to the final in 2025.

Or Gloucestershire who came from nowhere to win in 2024 but collapsed to being nobodies again in 2025.

So Australia could very well rock up and win the next one.

That's not saying skill doesn't win T20 games, it does, but there's a lot of luck, or shall we say how it goes on the day, masquerading as skill.

[vim]

The length of a T20 or T10 game. Always, with the right circumstances, gives the chance of an upset. Compare it with the number in 50 and 60 over Internationals.