ICC World T20 2016: 4 talking points from the Super 10 matches so far
With the start of Super 10s, we are well and truly into the meat of the tournament, and while only four matches of the Super 10 stage have been played, there have been plenty of talking points already.The biggest tournament of the year on the cricketing calendar has already seen its fair share of highs and some controversies already. The results in the first few matches have been quite notable.Be it Gayle's 100, or the poor quality of the Nagpur pitches, here are the main talking points from the first four games of the Super 10s:
#1 Results so far
While Indian fans were not pleased with India's poor performance against New Zealand, but from a neutral point of view, the tournament could not have had a better start. Everyone's pre-tournament favorites and hosts, India, losing the opening game, was just the perfect high note on which to start the tournament.
An Indian win would have been par for the course, and perhaps even mundane. A matter of fact win for the favorites would hardly have been a headline, but a huge upset in the very first game definitely catches the eye, and has already set the cat among the pigeons.
Pakistan beating Bangladesh was significant too, as Bangladesh had beaten Pakistan in the Asia Cup, so it was sweet revenge for Pakistan. Pakistan cricket has been mired in controversy and disappointment in the past month or so, and this no doubt will help bring some positivity to their camp.
England would have been firm favorites going into the game against WI, but Chris Gayle turned on the show and England were blown away. England have radically improved in limited overs cricket since the World Cup in Australia and have competed well against the likes of New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa in T20I series in the past year.
WI on the other hand, seemed to have been a side struggling with off-field issues, such has Narine's bowling action and yet another pay dispute with the WICB. While no one ever doubted the cricketing talent, but there were doubts as to whether they were really focused on cricket enough.
All doubts were spectacularly put to rest by Chris Gayle's brilliant century. WI must not go overboard with celebrations, though. WI bowling was not great and the score of 182 that England got will more often than not be enough. Even with the bat it was just Gayle's heroics that took them over the line, can he do it every game?
However for now, what matters is that WI have definitely managed to put all the negativity behind them.
Afghanistan vs Sri Lanka was one game that went as most had predicted. Afghanistan competed brilliantly as everyone expected them to, but Sri Lanka had a little extra on the day and won on the back of Dilshan's fantastic effort with the bat. It was a very important confidence booster for the defending champions who had lacked any kind of form coming into the tournament.
As for Afghanistan, while no one will say they are too far behind the test teams with the bat and the ball, but fitness and fielding are two areas where the Afghanistan side needs a lot of work. Their players are too unfit, and there are just too many bulged bellies out there when fielding. This affects their overall fielding and there are really no fielders in the Afghanistan side who are truly up to modern day standards.
Once Afghanistan improve their fitness and fielding, they will give any side a run for their money. While a lot has been written about their Maverick keeper Mohammad Shahzad and talismanic skipper Asghar Stanikzai, the biggest positive was to watch their 17-year leg-spinner Rashid Khan.
Leg spin is a difficult art to master, as evidenced by the dearth of quality leg spinners today. The control and guile that Rashid showed at such a young age was a delight to watch.
It’s really great to see that Afghanistan are producing the next generation of players who are even more talented than the earlier generation and it is hard to put into words, just how positive a sign that is for Afghanistan.