The real show begins

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At the half way stage of the World T20, we have finally reached the point where it all should have started.

Hopefully by now the fans back home will be gravitating towards their televisions to watch with conviction, anticipation and perhaps a little trepidation.

The next six days should be about some scintillating T20 cricket. Surely the ICC is keeping an eye on the TV ratings in all the countries at events like this to guide them in the future.

It’s around this time we start talking about a winner and for players even worse, start thinking about winning the Cup.

This is a mistake. If we are talking about climbing a mountain for the eight teams here, they have only reached base camp.

Their next challenge is to haul their way half way up the slope and reach the semis. That means starting looking at their next three matches in the Super Eights and, particularly, the first of those.

Winning a three-match series after going one down in the first is tough. Just look at the professional tennis results.

Sadly in this case the weather may also play its part. If it rains you may get away with winning only one but make sure you know the rules.

The forecast for both Pallekele and Colombo for the next five days tells my computer that there is a 40 to 60 percent chance of rain every single day.

Remembering Sri Lanka as I do, studying the draw and the start times, I’d much rather be playing the first game of the day kicking off at 3.30pm local time and not the second that begins at 7.30pm.

India commence their three Super Eight games at the later time. The draw which starts on Wednesday looks straightforward.

The New Zealand batting relies too heavily on their match winners, Brendon McCullum and Ross Taylor.

It would also help if they got their batting order right: bat Taylor no lower than 4 and if at this stage Guptil is not fit or firing, think of opening with McCullum.