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  • "I was not fast enough. But I was good at running. Some of my friends used to make fun that my run-up to the crease was faster than my deliveries."
    The world's fastest man, Usain Bolt, wanted to be a cricketer before he took up sprinting

    Sep 5, 2008

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    World Twenty20 semi-finals

    By Will last year, at the end of September Leave a comment on this post

    So, the semis are upon us. I’m hoping to at least catch some of today’s games, either on radio or a pub TV, and I’m gunning for the Pakistanis. As my colleague Osman says, this game really is suited to them. Why? Well, partly due to their experience in the format: tape-ball cricket.

    The number of overs isn’t important; matches last from five to 25 overs. There are few rules but the basic ethos of these games, the hustle and the bustle of it, the short, sharp intensity of putting one over the boys from the next lane or mohalla because, well, that’s just what men do, is something Twenty20 comes close to capturing.

    Runs are not scored but nicked. A little tap, run; fielder about to throw, steal the second; often the only boundaries are straight because of the narrowness of the field, so running becomes an art in itself. Pakistan’s batting successes against Sri Lanka and Australia were built on cheeky running first and boundary-hitting second.

    They face New Zealand in the first match (scorecard), followed by Australia and India (scorecard) later in the day. So keep an eye on the scorecards and offer your thoughts as the matches unfold.

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    13 Responses to “World Twenty20 semi-finals”

  • Uncle j rod wrote:
    September 22nd, 2007 at 4.35 am

    I think Pakistan are suited to all forms of cricket. Doesnt mean they play good cricket alot of the time though does it.

  • Fiona wrote:
    September 22nd, 2007 at 5.55 am

    “cheeky - impudent or irreverent, typically in an endearing or amusing way” - is not how I would normally describe Pakistan cricket, nor their win against Australia. Sri Lanka or Bangladesh, cheeky, maybe, but Pakistan?

    I hope New Zealand win.

  • Rusty wrote:
    September 22nd, 2007 at 8.22 am

    Osman also seemed to suggest that the Pakistan team would excel at Twenty20 because they suffer from ADHD.

    Kiwis to win!

    And what’s the bet Australia don’t use Brad Hogg tonight?

  • Uncle j rod wrote:
    September 22nd, 2007 at 11.26 am

    For Australias sake i hope they never use Brad hogg again.

  • Rusty wrote:
    September 22nd, 2007 at 2.00 pm

    ….don’t know why they didn’t bowl first. I thought Kiwis like to follow. But 148 runs - could have been worse. Hopefully Vettori can now produce a stranglehold.

  • Marcus wrote:
    September 22nd, 2007 at 3.40 pm

    What has Brad Hogg done wrong? They’re not even giving him a chance to fail- which is pretty unlikely, considering that he’s been one of the best ODI bowlers in the last five years.

  • Uncle j rod wrote:
    September 22nd, 2007 at 4.52 pm

    He is probably the 7th best spinner in Australia.

    8th if you count the fact Tim May would still be handy.

    Hogg is lucky to even be in Australias squad, he’s a nice guy, and there is no doubt that in Aussie sides that counts for alot. See Bichel’s career compared to Matthew Elliot’s career.

  • Rusty wrote:
    September 22nd, 2007 at 4.54 pm

    and not even Hilfenhaus, either! Why do we need another batsman? I give up…

  • Scott wrote:
    September 22nd, 2007 at 7.29 pm

    Hmm, India really giving Australia a hard time here. Well, good luck to them. But Symonds and Hayden might still get us out of this.

  • Scott wrote:
    September 22nd, 2007 at 8.08 pm

    No, losing too many wickets here. Basically Yuvraj just was unstoppable and set too many runs for us to chase. Well done to India.

  • Will wrote:
    September 22nd, 2007 at 8.48 pm

    Here’s a video of Yuvraj going bonkers

  • Marcus wrote:
    September 23rd, 2007 at 4.59 am

    Uncle J Rod

    Look at Hogg’s stats compared to several other leading spinners in ODIs

    Hogg-133 w from 106 m @ 27
    Vettori-203 w from 201 m @ 32
    Harbhajan-174 w from 151 m @ 32
    Kumble-337 w from 271 m @ 30

    There’s no doubt that Hogg has been the second most effective ODI spinner in recent times, behind only Murali. The stats prove it. Nevertheless, If you can name six Australian spinners who are better than him, I’m willing to listen.

  • Chris wrote:
    September 24th, 2007 at 2.23 am

    I’m at a loss as to why no Hogg. I think you need at least one spinner in a T20 lineup. Look at South Africa, no spin option, knocked out in super eights. Australia, didn’t pick our spin option, knocked out. And although Symonds and Clarke bowl sort of spin, they lack the variation and guile that Hogg has.

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