Twenty20 World Cup / Alan Dudman / 07 June 2009 / 2

England's T20 World Cup campaign got off to a disastrous start as Holland beat them off the final ball and a win is needed against Pakistan just to keep them in the competition. Younus Khan's mercurial side made the final last time out so won't be easy pickings, says Alan Dudman.

Following their woeful effort against Holland on Friday night, the hosts head across the capital and face Pakistan, in a game they simply have to win to stay in the competition.

Team News:

Despite a brilliant opening partnership against the Dutch, England still cannot get it right at Twenty20 level. Take out Wright and Bopara and it was a useless effort. The fuzzy thinking in selection showed with the inclusion of Rob Key - surely a big hitter like Graham Napier was needed? The bowlers were amazingly averse to using any kind of yorker, whilst Paul Collingwood's captaincy came under scrutiny again. His lack of thought, ideas and know-how were all too apparent sadly, and it's the same old inconsistent side.

Kevin Pietersen missed the Lord's game but he should be manage to shake off his ever-increasing Achilles problem to be fit in time for Sunday. Rob Key and Owais Shah could be vulnerable to batting changes with Napier lurking in the background. Whilst Ryan Sidebottom (who is too slow in the field), failed to impress with the ball, Dimi Mascarenhas could be an option.

England's preparation may not have been great, but then neither has their opponents'. Pakistan's two warm-up games ended with defeats against India and South Africa. It was no surprise considering their lack of recent international cricket.

Sadly there is no Shoaib Akhtar this year (genital infection)- but Pakistan have a raw and exciting team. Experience blended with a couple of exciting teenagers, they played reasonably well against Australia in the one-day series last month out in the Middle East - losing that rubber 3-2 (but winning the Twenty20).

Conditions:

The Brit Oval has only ever staged two Twenty20 internationals, and both England and West Indies managed to post big scores in those games - with the highest being 208. The pitch is one of the truer, bouncier tracks in England.

The forecast for rain could be a slight problem for those looking at run markets, but reading into Surrey's record in the shortest form last season, a par score should be in the region of 150.

Sides batting second seem to have a better record in Twenty20s. Out of six Surrey matches last season, the team chasing won four.

Match Odds:

England's price would have been nearer the [1.70] mark if they had won at Lord's. However, as hosts, they are always going to be shorter than they should be....even now! The current outright match odds have been changing violenty following England's shock defeat.

England have touched [2.00], and need to win just to stay in the tournament, whilst Pakistan have been matched well over their current price of around [1.90].

Pakistan can be explosive but are inconsistent. Although their win record in Twenty20 is the best of any nation - played 17 won 13. So perhaps not so inconsistent. And of course they were runners-up in 2007.

Top Batsman:

Kevin Pietersen will be all the rage if fit again, whilst Ravi Bopara will be trading pretty near the shortest odds available - as he is the most in-form England batter.

Pakistan however, will give us more room for manouvere. As much as I love Shahid Afridi, he hardly ever gets any big scores and I would lay him at the right price, specially given that he seems to be a lower middle-order batsman coming in for a late blast these days rather than the aggressive opener he was in the past. His price is always
on reputation. Misbal Ul-Haq is the most interesting for the visitors. He got runs in the warm-up game at the Brit Oval, and was so nearly the hero in 2007, hitting four sixes in the final. He is not that familiar a name and it may be worth asking around about [10.00] for top Pakistan bat.

Featured market:

With rain forecast I will probably leave alone the over 300 runs market, but one of interest is the over 1.5 run-outs.

England were chaotic in the field at Lord's whilst Pakistan can be anything. Add to that Shah and the risky running of Pietersen - we could be in business.
Just a shame Inzamam isn't still playing!

Recommendations:

Back Misbal Ul-Haq as top Pakistan bat @ [6.00] or better
Back over 1.5 run-outs at evens or better

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1. varun cm | 08 June 2009

   west indies win the T20 world cup

   
   

2. sahil jpr | 09 June 2009

   i think sri lanka win this world cup

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