ICC World Twenty20 Group 1: Nick Knight analyses the teams
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Wednesday 16 March 2016 08:22, UK
Afghanistan powered through Group B but now they've got to step up again as they bid to cause a major shock by qualifying for the semi-finals from Group 1.
Former England opener Nick Knight, part of our Sky Sports commentary team in India, has been analysing the teams they're up against…
England
Nick says: The squad is packed with fresh-faced, incredibly-talented individuals and there is flexibility in the batting order, with the option of promoting players like Jos Buttler up the order. Questions remain though, do they know what their best starting XI is and just how dependable is their fielding under pressure? England lost their last two T20 games against South Africa - their fifth defeat in a row in white-ball cricket - but before that they had won six T20 matches in a row, one of them after a Super Over. Keep your eye on Adil Rashid in what is an inexperienced bowling line-up. He has a crucial role to play, but you feel England will need six exceptionally good performances from him to lift the trophy.
Record: 2007 - Super Eights; 2009 - Super Eights; 2010 - Winners; 2012 - Super Eights; 2014 - Super 10s
Squad: Eoin Morgan (C), Moeen Ali, Sam Billings, Jos Buttler, Liam Dawson, Alex Hales, Chris Jordan, Liam Plunkett, Adil Rashid, Joe Root, Jason Roy, Ben Stokes, Reece Topley, James Vince, David Willey
Sky Bet tournament winner odds*: 6/1, enhanced to 8/1
South Africa
Nick says: Their potent batting line-up boasts arguably the best one-day batsman in the world, AB de Villiers. Imran Tahir goes into the tournament with some confidence after performing well against England but I wonder how effective the spin options offered by Aaron Phangiso and JP Duminy will be. Much will hinge on just how fit Dale Steyn is. South Africa remain an outstanding fielding side and possess a strong, powerful late middle-order with the likes of Chris Morris coming to the fore and showing a big-match temperament with bat and ball. Given the number of players they have with IPL experience, they should be good for a semi-final berth but do they have what it takes to win the tournament?
Record: 2007 - Super Eights; 2009 - Semi-Finals; 2010 - Super Eights; 2012 - Super Eights; 2014 - Semi-Finals
Squad: Faf du Plessis (C), Kyle Abbott, Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Chris Morris, Aaron Phangiso, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Dale Steyn, David Wiese
Sky Bet tournament winner odds*: 5/1
Sri Lanka
Nick says: This is a very different-looking squad from that which won the title in 2014 following the retirements of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene. Some experienced faces remain - Lasith Malinga, Tillakaratne Dilshan and Rangana Herath to name three but, there are a lot of new faces too. They have a great record in this tournament - and global tournaments in general - but this is something of a step into the unknown in some regards, although they've had a chance to acclimatise to conditions during the Asia Cup. Watch out for Thisara Perera - a player more than capable of thriving with bat and ball on India's slow pitches.
Record: 2007 - Super Eights; 2009 - Finalists; 2010 - Semi-Finals; 2012 - Finalists; 2014 - Winners
Squad: Angelo Mathews (C), Tillakaratne Dilshan, Dushmantha Chameera, Dinesh Chandimal, Rangana Herath, Shehan Jayasuriya, Chamara Kapugedera, Nuwan Kulasekara, Suranga Lakmal, Lasith Malinga, Thisara Perera, Sachithra Senanayake, Dasun Shanaka, Milinda Siriwardana, Lahiru Thirimanne
Sky Bet tournament winner odds*: 16/1
West Indies
Nick says: Will all the off-field distractions hurt their chances? Upheaval has been such a part of their recent history that their players tend to just get on with the job. When you look down the squad and look at the ability of some of their individuals, you have to say they've got a chance but admittedly the loss of Sunil Narine is a big blow. But even without him and the players like Kieron Pollard, they have game-changers. The batting can be dependent on Chris Gayle and Marlon Samuels, while the performances of captain Darren Sammy could be the key to their success. Their strength lies in their array of all-rounders with IPL experience, which means they bat deep.
Record: 2007 - Group Stage; 2009 - Semi-Finals; 2010 - Super Eights; 2012 - Winners; 2014 - Semi-Finals
Squad: Darren Sammy (C), Samuel Badree, Sulieman Benn, Carlos Brathwaite, Dwayne Bravo, Johnson Charles, Andre Fletcher, Chris Gayle, Jason Holder, Evin Lewis, Ashley Nurse, Denesh Ramdin, Andre Russell, Marlon Samuels, Jerome Taylor
Sky Bet tournament winner odds*: 12/1
Afghanistan
Nick says: This is definitely a team to look out for and one that could cause a few waves in the group. Afghanistan possess a dynamic and varied bowling attack led by Dawlat Zadran and Hamid Hassan, both of whom have the ability to bowl at 145kph. They are supported by two good leg-spinners and a very canny off-spin bowler in former captain Mohammad Nabi. The batting revolves around the powerful Mohammad Shahzad, who takes some good form into the Super 10s from the opening games. Coached by Inzamam-ul-Haq, they've proved they can play smart cricket under pressure - a quality they will need in the coming weeks.
Record: 2010 - Group Stage; 2012 - Group Stage; 2014 - Group Stage
Squad: Ashgar Stanikzai (C), Usman Ghani, Hamid Hassan, Rashid Khan, Mohammad Nabi, Gulbadin Naib, Hamza Hotak, Karim Khan, Shafiqullah Shafaq, Mohammad Shahzad, Samiullah Shenwari, Dawlat Zadran, Najibullah Zadran, Noor Ali, Shapoor Zadran
Sky Bet tournament winner odds*: 200/1
* Odds correct as of 14th March 2016.
