Buzzin Cricket

T20 World Cup 2010

The much anticipated T20 World Cup starts today in Guyana with Sri Lanka opening the tournament with their game against New Zealand. Ireland will face the West Indies in the second match of the opening day.

The ICC President David Morgan has promised a festival atmosphere in the Caribbean, expecting a celebration of all that is good about West indies cricket.

Morgan has urged the people of the Caribbean to bring their enthusiasm and passion for cricket to the matches and make it a memorable event for everyone involved.

“Bring your musical instruments, your songs and cheers, your flags, banners and colourful costumes. And, above all, bring that party spirit for which cricket matches in the West Indies are famous.”

Australia start as narrow favourites to win the tournament, but England’s T20 underachievers are getting former captain Michael Vaughan excited.

Having secured warm up wins against Bangladesh and South Africa, confidence in the England camp is bound to be high. Despite the top order pairing of Michael Lumb and Craig Kieswetter yet to prove themselves, Vaughan is hopeful for Paul Collingwood’s team and says;

“This is the first time I have got excited about the England squad coming into the T20 World Cup. For the first time we have guys in the batting with power from one to seven. Maybe we’re a little bit inexperienced in the bowling department, but I think it’s the batting which has let us down in the past. We have had guys who have played in the Indian Premier League – which is a big plus to a team going into a tournament like this. I would be disappointed if we don’t put up some kind of fight.”

Meanwhile Ireland will be action on day one of the tournament having lost their warm ups against New Zealand and Afghanistan. They face the West Indies today in their opening game and coach Phil Simmons is confident that Ireland will come good, suggesting that his team still have the desire to perform in the competition.

The tournament is split into four groups of three with the top two teams in each group qualifying for the Super Eights.

The semi-finals take place in St Lucia on 13 and 14 May and the final in Barbados on 16 May.