World T20 Champs group stages, Feb 7-20

[Durhamfootman]

I still think it'll be Scotland who send England home, even if that's by a rain NR in the head to head and then a win over Nepal next week and going through on a better RR

Knowing England they'll get 2 NR's, crash out and blame the weather so that everyone associated with the team survives.... just a bit unlucky, is all

[andy]

Wow having just woke up after a night shift wasn't expecting to see Nepal get absolutely battered by Italy!! How on earth has that happened?!

[Arthur Crabtree]

Italy (and Scotland) above England on NRR.

[andy]

India 109-2 after 9 Kishan smashed a quick fire 50, Namibia pulling things back though

[Arthur Crabtree]

Scholtz and Erasmus doing astonishingly well.

[andy]

Runs flowing but still chipping away...140-4 with 6 overs to go.....already have plenty I think to be honest especially with India's bowling attack

[andy]

Namibia chasing 209

[andy]

India win by 93 runs

[Durhamfootman]

From the cricketer

Erasmus was at the centre of what was the major flashpoint of this high-scoring game in Delhi.

The fifth delivery of the eighth over saw umpire Rob Tucker call the ball dead after Erasmus, bowling with a round arm, let go of it from well behind the crease. It caused a brief exchange between Tucker and the Namibia skipper before play resumed. Bowling as India were going along at 14-an-over, it was a clear, legitimate attempt to disrupt their rhythm and upset Tilka Varma.

Tucker's intervention was peculiar, and it wasn't particularly clear which breach of the laws he was responding to. In the end, it emerged he was acting on Law 20.4.2.5, which states:
"Either umpire shall call and signal Dead ball when the striker is not ready for the delivery of the ball and, if the ball is delivered, makes no attempt to play it. Provided the umpire is satisfied that the striker had adequate reason for not being ready, the ball shall not count as one of the over."

This explanation is problematic because Varma, whose head was up, looking at the bowler, attempted to play at the ball, got something on it (it is unclear what, exactly) and thus ensured it wasn't given as a leg-side wide. And it is further complicated by Erasmus later attempting the ploy on multiple occasions during his allocation, and even took the wicket with one when Hardik Pandya was caught by Dylan Leicher via a brilliant relay catch.

This tactic caused a similar stir on a couple of occasions in 2024 when Mark Watt was denied wickets against Oman, in the T20 World Cup no less, and against Australia. Like Erasmus, the Scotland left-armer has often deployed this strategy - indeed, the ICC made a point of celebrating one attempt on social media during the last T20 World Cup - and yet his perfectly reasonable attempt to inject some variety into his spell was undone by pedantic umpiring. Because while the dead-ball ruling is clear, it is ultimately at the discretion of the umpire when a batter is indeed ready. And it is reasonable to conclude here that Tucker made a misstep.

Anyone with a passing interest in cricket knows this has become normalised, and to great success in the WPL by Tanuja Kanwar and Sneh Rana. Kieron Pollard was known to get creative, too. Sure, rule in favour of the batter when they are truly not ready, but clearly they are being given the benefit of the doubt. The cards are stacked enough in their favour as it is.

Fortunately, the incident had no bearing on the final outcome, and it hasn't yet appeared to have cost a team a victory. Maybe it is a non-issue while the game continues to fragment off the field. But it just feels like another way of clipping the wings of the Associates, who, despite being very competitive during these opening rounds, will understandably try things to further reduce the gap between them and the full members.

[andy]

Must admit I was puzzled at the time as to why it was called a dead ball it's well within the laws of the game and in a time where batsman get everything in their favour it's a clever tactic by the bowlers...real shame to be honest

[andy]

Strange innings from Zimbabwe only lost 2 wickets however only posted 169.....so 170 to win for Australia...stoniis went off injured as well to add to Australia long list of injury woes

[alfie]

No real shocks yet in these group games . (I wasn't at all surprised West Indies beat England , though the margin was a little excessive). But some of the "minnows" have come close so one wonders if there might yet be an upset or two in store ?

NZ maybe has started the soundest of the major contenders - along with West Indies. India and Sri Lanka untroubled beating their easiest opponents , Australia just started ; Pakistan , SA and England all showing weaknesses and will be hoping to improve. Guess Afghanistan the most disappointed side so far - they really should have taken the win that was practically delivered to them the other day. But it is still early days...

As for England I am a little concerned that they are short of alternatives for some under firing players. Really need the experienced members of the side to stand up with some serious performances : more than brisk 20s from Buttler ; some consistent control from Archer- who has been pretty loose so far ; and something big from Brook to offset his dubious on field leadership (why on earth did Dawson not bowl his full 4 overs against West Indies ?) would be nice. At least Rashid showed that first game was an aberration. Would like to see Tongue play the next one , maybe Rehan also . Don't want Duckett replacing Banton , at least yet , as I really think he is more in need of a total rest rather than more cricket at present. Scotland won't be any pushover !

[andy]

25-3 Australia!

[alfie]

Wow ! Zimbabwe threatening to produce one of those shocks reducing Australia to 24/3 ! Still plenty of batting for Australia but they'll want something from this pair of Head and Maxwell ...

[alfie]

29/4 !!!! Now Headless ....