Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Twenty20 World Cup 2010: 10 reasons for England's success

ICC Twenty20 World Cup: 10 reasons why England found Caribbean 
success
Unfazed: Tim Bresnan now thinks he could be England's Test all-rounder Photo: REUTERS
ICC Twenty20 World Cup: 10 reasons why England found Caribbean 
success
Hair we go: Ryan Sidebottom's slower bounce baffled opposition batsmen Photo: PA
ICC Twenty20 World Cup: 10 reasons why England found Caribbean 
success
All smiles: Andy Flower has reinvigorated England's fitness and fielding techniques Photo: AP
ICC Twenty20 World Cup: 10 reasons why England found Caribbean 
success
Reversing the trend: Eoin Morgan's middle-order runs were vital for England Photo: PA
ICC World Twenty20 2010: Kevin Pietersen inspires England victory 
against Pakistan
Man of the moment: Kevin Pietersen led England to a six-wicket win over Pakistan Photo: GETTY IMAGES
1. Who's the daddy?
A happy Kevin Pietersen is crucial to England's success and the traumas that plagued KP the last time he was in the Caribbean seem like a lifetime away. Fatherhood's working out pretty well so far.
2. Opening up
After 15 combinations in 25 Twenty20 internationals, England have finally cracked it. Michael Lumb and Craig Kieswetter were the best pair in the tournament. England's middle order had to maintain momentum, rather than create it.
3. Flower power
England's coach has to take most of the plaudits for this short-form transformation. The Zimbabwean has not only added a fitter XI, but he has transformed their mindset.
4. Ropes burns
All that 'range finding' paid off. Against South Africa in the group stages, Pietersen hit nine boundaries, as many as the entire Proteas line-up.
5. The Miracle of Morgan
How many times was Eoin Morgan compared to Michael Bevan in the Caribbean? Key for England in the run-chase, in rebuilding an innings and has extraordinarily innovative stroke play.
6. Reinventing the long hop
Opposition batsmen have been flummoxed by Ryan Sidebottom's slower bouncer, now seen as his stock delivery in Twenty20 cricket. His delivery to Chamara Kapugedara left the Sri Lankan completely mistiming a pull shot and his blade sailing to square leg.
7. Catches win matches
Have they dropped a thing? There was a skier that Broad failed to get under in the final, but England have never had a fielding side this sharp. Pietersen's run and jump to dismiss Umar Akmal was perhaps the best, but Collingwood and Kieswetter both took crackers in the final.
8. Punchline no more
Where does Tim Bresnan go from here? Abused on Twitter last summer, but now an absolutely central part of this England team. Could he balance the Test XI in Australia?
9. Fired-up England
The slightest mistake in the field and the England players were at each other's throats. It certainly upped their game but vilification is unlikely to be applied to the Test arena, you'd hope.
10. IPL experience
Pietersen, Lumb, Morgan, Paul Collingwood and Ravi Bopara's sojourn to India prior to the Twenty20 World Cup gave England the 'no-fear' factor against the world's top bowlers. What price that England's XI will all play in next year's IPL?

No comments:

Post a Comment

free counters

Live Cricket