We may be cynical and world-weary, but we’ve always rather enjoyed the World Twenty20. By and large we’re a fan of grey, but in some contexts you can’t beat a bit of black and white brutality and the tournament provides just a little of that. We’re not talking about rogue gangs of penguins on a violent crime spree. We’re talking about losing a cricket match and getting KNOCKED OUT.
Perhaps more than any other sport, cricket eschews finality. A crushing defeat is generally just a cue for someone to say: “Obviously, we’re very disappointed, but there’s a lot of talent in this squad and we’re confident that we’ll bounce back.”
There will be a lot less of that in the World Twenty20. Instead, there will be more: “Well, that’s that – we’re out.”
The format isn’t exactly streamlined, but by cricket’s standards, it’s positively ruthless.
Three teams per group. Two matches per team. Shit team is KNOCKED OUT.
Four teams per group. Three matches per team. Teams finishing in the bottom half of the group are KNOCKED OUT.
Losers are KNOCKED OUT.
One final. Not best-of-three, best-of-seven or any of that crap. One match. Lose it and you are KNOCKED OUT.
England are reigning champions, of course – which still seems a bit weird. Here’s our preview of England’s chances from before the last tournament and here’s how we reacted when they won.
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