INDIA 5/4
AUSTRALIA 5/1
SOUTH AFRICA 5/1
NEW ZEALAND 8/1
PAKISTAN 12/1
view odds
There have been so many column inches written in the build up to this tournament around the inclusion of more Associate Nations (Tier 2 cricketing countries) in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, and how that increased the duration of the competition and the threat of one-sided games.
It’s similar to the narrative around this summer’s FIFA Men’s World Cup. But if this summer is anything like what we’ve seen so far in India & Sri Lanka, then we’re in for a great spectacle!
Whether it’s down to the rise of competitive cricket played amongst the Associate Nations, or some of their players earning contracts in franchise cricket, it has had a hugely positive effect on the standards and with that, the spectacle it can bring in major tournaments.
England’s opener against Nepal shows how the gap is narrowing now.
One of the earliest examples of a player coming through the Associate Nation pathway, all the way to the world’s best T20 bowler, was Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan. He’s helped them win some titanic tussles in his career and also given the confidence to those playing around him.
England’s opener against Nepal shows how the gap is narrowing now.
Going down to the final ball, Sam Curran had to use all his skills to get England over the line. The Nepalese batsmen took on Adil Rashid, one of the game’s most consistent performers in recent years. On your day, that attacking strategy can pay off, and it so nearly did for them. If it wasn’t for the wonderful striking of captain Surya Kumar Yadav, India may have had a real fight on their hands against the USA too.
I’m all for the developing of the Associate Nations and am genuinely excited to see which team emerges next like Bangladesh & Afghanistan have done historically, to establish themselves in the leading group of cricketing nations.
I’ve referenced England’s first game above. It’s been a long winter for them, with only a week back home after The Ashes for some of them before heading out for the two series against Sri Lanka. But they built some momentum in those games and some players found some form.
Couple that with a few of the guys, including Sam Curran, playing well in franchise cricket this winter, means they’ll go in with some confidence.
The conditions don’t suit us as much as many of the sub-continent teams, but in T20 cricket, anything can happen. England made the final ten years ago playing excellent cricket, before Carlos Brathwaite turned the game on its head in just four deliveries.
I think England will be there or thereabouts, but it will take huge performances from a couple of players for them to be successful.
We’ve seen a lot of Australian and South African players be successful in recent editions of the IPL. More regularly exposure to these conditions will certainly help players, and I feel both will be a part of the business end of the tournament. At the time of writing this, Pakistan have said they will play India despite talks of a boycott. That will be a huge occasion and it’s good for the tournament.
I’ve mentioned it above already, but momentum is going to be a huge part of the next few weeks. The matches are so short and there is relatively little time between games. So the team that can get some early dominant results are the ones to look out for.
It’s tough to reverse your fortunes in a T20 World Cup. If you lose the first couple, it can take a huge effort to try get a campaign back on track. I’ve been part of teams who have experienced both.
We won in the Caribbean in 2010, and that involved coming back from a few defeats, before the likes of Craig Kieswetter and Kevin Pietersen’s form saw us go on an incredible run to the Final.
I think England will be there or thereabouts, but it will take huge performances from a couple of players for them to be successful.
It won’t be a huge surprise that I’m going to pick India to win, but keep an eye out for Sri Lanka & South Africa too! I’m not allowed to bet on cricket, but I’d love to see Fitzdares’ odds on an Associate Nation making the semi finals! Enjoy the cricket!
The guys at Fitzdares have given me a £500 free bet pot to use on a selection of the major sporting events of my choice.
Here’s what I am backing in February as the Six Nations heats up…
£100 Wales @ SP
Wales vs Scotland, 21st Feb
£100 Draw @ 3/1
Tottenham vs Arsenal, 22nd Feb
£100 Nottingham Forest @ 3/1
Nottingham Forest vs Liverpool, 22nd Feb
£100 Chris Gotterup @ 33/1
The Players’ Championship, 12th – 15th March
£100 England @ SP
France vs England Six Nations, 14th March
Stuart Broad is Fitzdares’ Ambassador.
