The Success of Twenty-20 World Cup 2010

Twenty -20 world cup 2010 in West Indies is over.The growing popularity of Twenty20 cricket has been further cemented by the successful conduct of the just concluded ICC World Twenty20 in the Caribbean. From what one saw in the fortnight long competition it is no more just slam bang cricket. There is a lot of strategy and tactics involved and all countries have taken to the game's newest and shortest format very seriously. The very nature of the format - short and sweet - led one to initially think that is just hit and giggle. Nothing could be farther from the truth. Just for starters, it can be stated that the tactical errors of MS Dhoni were possibly the main reasons that led to India's exit at the Super Stage of the tournament. Persisting with Ravindra Jadeja, fielding just two quick bowlers on the fast and bouncy track at Bridgetown, not playing leg spinner Piyush Chawla and not using Yusuf Pathan as a floater in the batting order were some of the moves found wanting as far as strategic matters were concerned. It is important in Twenty20 to be more flexible rather than to follow a rigid policy and that is one of the truths driven home by events in the World Cup.

The tournament also underlined the fact that the format provides for an even contest between bat and ball. Initially, it was taken for granted that Twenty20 was a format by, for and of the batsmen. Of late thanks to the evolution of the format into a thinking man's game the gap between bat and ball has narrowed. In 27 matches, 200 was not notched up even once with the highest being 197 for seven by Australia in their successful run chase against Pakistan in the semifinal. Modest totals of 133, 139, 141 and 148 were defended successfully while totals of 168 and 169 were enough to win by convincing margins in contests between Test playing nations. An encouraging feature of the matches was that spin bowlers enjoyed almost as much success as the pacemen with Saeed Ajmal, Graeme Swann and Steve Smith being as much in the forefront as Dirk Nannes and Mitchell Johnson. The men were separated from the boys as the Super Eight stage began and it was proper that the eight leading teams battled it out for top honours. The result was cricket of a superbly high standard. Mercifully the weather did not play major havoc with the matches and in fact not even one game after the preliminary stage was decided on Duckworth/Lewis.

England's triumph - their first in any ICC Trophy tournament in 35 years - provided the icing on the cake. Few gave Paul Collingwood's men any chance of winning the competition given their past record where the best has been finalists in the 1979, 1987 and 1992 Fifty50 Cricket World Cup and runners-up again in the 2004 ICC Champions Trophy. Indeed, there were the only one of eight leading teams not to have won an ICC Trophy and they were up against formidable competition. But defying the odds, England shrugged off defeat under controversial circumstances in the rain ruined opener against the West Indies to win six matches in a row including one that mattered most - the title clash against favourites Australia. To their credit it must be said that Australia produced some wonderful cricket over the fortnight including a memorable victory over Pakistan in the semifinal in one of the finest Twenty20 matches ever played.

The participation of Afghanistan provided the fairytale story . There were innumerable stories about how the team members from that war ravaged country had overcome hurdles after hurdles to make it to the Caribbean. It really did not matter that they lost both their matches to Test opponents India and South Africa. Afghanistan were defeated but certainly not disgraced and it is hoped that they receive all help from the authorities as they take a firm path towards making a greater impact in international cricket.

Memories will linger and the most vivid will have to be Australia's victory over Pakistan from a seemingly hopeless situation and Mike Hussey's blinder of an innings that saw him hit 60 not out off just 24 balls. He cemented his position as Mr Cricket. Other memories must include Kevin Pietersen's swashbuckling batting, Mahela Jayawardene's silken touch that underlined that big hits alone need not be required to maintain a quick run rate, Cameron White on the other hand sending the ball into the stands and out of the ground over and over again, the bowling of the Australian and England pacemen and the many exciting finishes. But, perhaps, the single most outstanding feat was the five wicket maiden sent down by Pakistan's Mohammed Aamer against Australia - something that may never be performed again in Twenty20 internationals.

It was really two weeks to remember!