The first twenty20 world cup Cricket began in south Africa on Sept.11 2007 with a fabulous eight-wicket victory for the hosts over west Indies at johannesburg. The tournament promises a feast of noholds-barred cricket. Australia might be the favourites, which would like to win their second wold Cup title in a year. Though the wold Champions have lost their opening match to Zimbabwe by five wickets at cape town on Sept.12, yet there are few other teams which can give team a run far their money. India and Pakistan are determined to make amends for the caribbean debacle. If the mage event keeps on developing exitement as it did in its earlier matches, it might transform the face of cricket and give the game a new dimention of life.
Twenty20 resembles a natural progeny of the jaded and overexposed 50 overs game, which nonetheless is still aa valuable commodity for the International Cricket Council(ICC). For those who find even one day matches too long and monotonous tosit through now-a-days how times have changed-a 12 nation Twenty20 game promises an action packed three-hour event.Dull moments are rarity, with neither players nor spectators getting any time to relax.With27 matches packed in 14 days, the extravaganza would be over a month shorter than the long-drawn out World Cup.
The total prize money is $1.9 milion. The winner of the final wil get $490,000, while the runner up will get $465,000. The team which will win all the matches will get $955,000.
Countrary to popular perception, bowlers could play a major role, especially if they maintain a tidy line and length and fore batsmen to make mistakes. With cheap wickets up for grabs the simple “who bats better, wins” formula might not work evry time. Moreover, pure slogging could prove to be suicidal. It would be a challenge for several teams to cope with the absence of some key players.
The Rules
Each side bat for 20 overs.
Match last 3 hours, with 20-minutes break between innings.
Minimum of 5 overs a side needed to constitute a match.
The incoming batsman gets only 90 seconds to face the next bal. Team sit in dogouts near the boundary instead of the pavilion when the match is in progress.
In the first six overs, only two fielders can be placed outside the 30-yard circle. For the remaining 14 overs, not more than 5 fielders will be outside the circle.
Bowlers can send down a maximum of 4 overs each.
Both teams have to finish their innings within 75 minutes. If they fail, the batting team will be awarded 6 bonus runs for every over bowled.
A batsman has 90 seconds to get onto the field. If he does not, he will be timed out.
Innovations:
Free Hit:
After a no-ball, the next bal delivery will be a free hit for the facing batsman. He cannot be dismissed off the free hit, except being run out. No change in the field placement is allowed for tyhe free hit. The umpire wil signal a free hit by raising one armed moving it in a circular motion. A no ball will give the batting team two runs.
Bowl out:
Cricket’s version of the penalty shootout will be applied if the match is tied. Each team will nominate five bowlers who will take turns to hit the wickets at the other end. There will be no batsman facing. The team which achieves the maximum strikes win the match.
Side Attractions:
Cheerleaders, loud music, Jacuzzis, carousels, and beer vendors, and so on.
By
S.Jayaprakash
jai Hind
