T20 World Cup 2026 .

[spirali]

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

I agree with that and it means the saturation over-analysis is hard to take seriously. Nevertheless one thing that HAS been consistent in this tournament so far is England's top order underperforming, and that's happening again as we speak.

I watched the SL v Aus game the other day and was struck that the SL batsmen, playing in familiar home conditions, were hitting in the air a lot less than I've seen from other teams. Must be a lesson in that.

[spirali]

the SL batsmen, playing in familiar home conditions, were hitting in the air a lot less than I've seen from other teams

LOL. As noted, analysis doesn't age well in this format.

[dazedpenguin]

the SL batsmen, playing in familiar home conditions, were hitting in the air a lot less than I've seen from other teams

LOL. As noted, analysis doesn't age well in this format.

At 21/3 it certainly doesn't! Sri Lanka can't blow this surely? The much maligned Will Jacks was on a hat trick.

[spirali]

Must admit I gave a disbelieving groan when they handed Jacks the new ball, and yet...

And he's taken another one as I type! SL 34-5. Well I never.

[dazedpenguin]

What an astonishing win. I didn't give England a chance after their innings. Cricket never loses its ability to surprise.

[Andy]

Fix?

[bwildered]

 Seemed like a village green game, more of the standard I am use to.
 England not going to get away with a performance like that and come away with a win again. Remarkable with a fifty run win .

[bwildered]

 WIndies starting to look the team to avoid.  Totally blew Zimbabwe away, who dropped early catches which also led to their own demise.
 England now need to put it all together.

[bwildered]

 Captains knock by Brook, Jacks and Overton making an impact, just needs the openers to contribute.
Ground fielding was a tad sloppy, but catches and running between wickets, very good .
Already in the semis with a game to spare .

The PA announcer must have gone AWOL, which was a blessing from the continuing shouting.

[dazedpenguin]

Magnificent innings from Brook. He's terrific to watch when in this form. It almost makes it possible to forget earlier aberrations.

So England are through to the semi finals and Baz is probably safe now. India or South Africa would be very tough in the semi finals, as would the West Indies. But that's the kind of game in which Jos Buttler could finally find some form. He will need to.

[Andy]

WIndies starting to look the team to avoid.  Totally blew Zimbabwe away, who dropped early catches which also led to their own demise.
 England now need to put it all together.

Now they have been blown away.

[dazedpenguin]

It's looking like an India vs England semi final, with South Africa vs New Zealand in the other semi.

I don't see England getting past India, but then the semi final is further than I thought they get.

[JasonP]

It's looking like an India vs England semi final, with South Africa vs New Zealand in the other semi.

I don't see England getting past India, but then the semi final is further than I thought they get.

I'd say England v New Zealand is a pretty hard match to call so who we'd play out of probably, South Africa and India is very much up in the air.  We'd be second favourites against either.

[bwildered]

 Sri Lanka wickets much more to our liking, moving to India games will be flat track power hitting showdowns.

[dazedpenguin]

I'd say England v New Zealand is a pretty hard match to call so who we'd play out of probably, South Africa and India is very much up in the air.  We'd be second favourites against either.

Absolutely. For England to beat either SA or India they'd need everything to go right- and pretty much everything to go wrong for the opposition. But then it's T20, so it could happen.