Cricket on Sky in 2016: Predictions and New Year resolutions
Sunday 3 January 2016 15:14, UK
It's going to be tough to top 2015 - but we've another cracking year of cricket heading your way on Sky Sports in 2016!
To kick-start proceedings we asked pundits Bob Willis, David 'Bumble' Lloyd, Ian Botham, Nasser Hussain and Nick Knight for their New Year predictions and resolutions - with some surprising results!
My must-watch player in the 2016 World Twenty20 is… because…
Bob: AB de Villiers - we are all guilty of believing the era in which we played had the best players. AB has proved us wrong.
Bumble: Sam Billings - he's a box-office player who will relish this stage.
Beefy: Eoin Morgan - his power-hitting and range of shots in white-ball cricket is immense. His hands are incredibly fast through the ball.
Nick: Jos Buttler - this guy has got all the shots, skills and audacity to entertain us all and make it a memorable tournament.
Nas: AB de Villiers - this guy is a freak in T20 - the best player there's ever been in the format.
Who do you think will win the World T20 and why?
Bob: England - they have a really good chance with 11 recognised batsmen and bowlers who aren't up to Test cricket but shine in this format.
Bumble: Home advantage is king, so India.
Beefy: England are a young, emerging side in all formats of the game. There are plenty of talented lads in the squad who have a point to prove - and the ability to do just that.
Nas: With all the IPL and T20 games they've played on the grounds, it has to be India. It could be a fond farewell for MS Dhoni; he might see it as his 'Tendulkar moment', just as Sachin did at Mumbai.
Nick: I can't look past India on their home patch; by winning the World Cup at home they've shown they can handle huge expectation.
If I could change or improve one thing about Test cricket in 2016, it would be…
Bumble: There is far too much time wasting and so far too many interruptions. I'd like zero tolerance on over-rates; if a side doesn't attain 15 overs-per-hour, their captain misses the next Test.
Bob: The third umpire to rule immediately on no-balls to eliminate that farcical delay at the fall of almost every wicket.
Beefy: If we're going to have DRS, every team must have the whole package - even if that means the ICC putting their hands in their pockets! I'm with Bumble on over-rates too.
Nick: The pitches - there needs to be a much better balance between bat and ball around the world.
Nas: I'd get rid of this nonsense of turning on the floodlights only for the players to walk off 10 minutes later for light; once the lights are on, the players should stay on until it starts raining.
My up-and-coming county player to watch out for in 2016 is…
Bob: Mason Crane from Hampshire. Watching him spin his web of intrigue will really enhance Division 1 of the County Championship next season.
Bumble: Jack Leaning, of Yorkshire.
Beefy: I like the look of England's U19 squad for the World Cup but if I had to pick out a couple I'd go for Durham's Jack Burnham and the Curran brothers down at Surrey
Nick: Alex Lees, of Yorkshire. He's a player I believe has got immense potential and promise.
Nas: Essex's Nick Browne won't get near an England spot but can build on last year's breakthrough season, while Tom Abell down at Somerset looks a good player too.
The biggest surprise of 2016 will be…
Bob: England winning the Test series in South Africa.
Bumble: Mohammed Amir will play for Pakistan.
Nick: England getting to the final of the World T20.
Nas: Given their tournament record in white-ball cricket since that T20 win in 2010, England going well at the World T20 would be a turn-up. I expect them to go from strength to strength in 2016.
Beefy: Nas buying a drink full stop.
My New Year's resolution is…
Nas: To make more coffees in the comms box - not necessarily for anyone else and certainly not many, but more. That could mean just one more.
Bob: To be nice to everybody on The Verdict. Ha, ha, ha….
Bumble: Get into 34-inch waist trousers
Beefy: To improve my golf handicap, be in with a shot of winning the Team Championship at the Alfred Dunhill Links and see Scunthorpe promoted.
Nick: To try and keep the mullet under control!
Join us for live coverage of the second Test between South Africa and England live on Sky Sports 2 from 8am on Saturday.
