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Featured Sport News

Twenty20 back on the menu

Author: Sir David Smith
Date: 25/05/2009

Following swiftly on from the hullabaloo of the second season of the Indian Premier League, the seventh Twenty20 Cup gets underway in England.

There's little of the razzmatazz associated with the IPL, few of the world superstars on show and, in truth, not that much to get excited about.

Just imagine, the likes of Atomic Kitten and Liberty X have performed at finals day in years gone by, what a treat!

Anyway, back to the cricket, Middlesex Panthers are the defending champions, having beaten Kent Spitfires by three runs in last year's final at Hampshire's Rose Bowl.

The Panthers would be sportsbook favourites to retain their crown if Aussie Phillip Hughes was still around, but he, like many other big guns, will be preparing for the upcoming World Twenty20.

In the Southern Division, Kent look like the side to beat, having lost in the final last year and won the competition in 2007, with the opening partnership of Robert Key and Joe Denly the most potent in the country.

Hampshire Hawks' chances of glory are also hampered by the lack of England ace Kevin Pietersen, but watch out for promising all-rounder Liam Dawson, who has a bright future in all forms of the game.

Surrey Brown Caps were the side to beat when Twenty20 cricket took off, but their powers have waned in recent times and they are likely to struggle to reach the knockout stages according to the cricket betting odds.

The Mid/West/Wales Division has only ever provided one winner of the competition, with Somerset Sabres the 2005 champions.

They may challenge again, especially if former England opener Marcus Trescothick can provide some fireworks at the top of the order.

However, both the Gloucestershire Gladiators and the Warwickshire Bears have started well this summer and could mount major challenges.

The Bears will be hindered by the absence of the injured Darren Maddy, with the veteran the leading run-scorer in the history of the tournament.

The Northern Division looks the most likely on paper to provide a winner, with the Leicestershire Foxes the only two-time winners of the competition.

They will struggle to get anywhere near to completing a hat-trick, while the Derbyshire Phantoms and Yorkshire Carnegie are unlikely to reach finals day.

That leaves the Nottinghamshire Outlaws, Lancashire Lightning and Durham Dynamos.

Surprisingly, neither Notts nor Lancs have their names on the trophy, but both have lost in finals and will be desperate to go one better this time around.

That leaves Durham, who may well have the signing of the summer in Aussie youngster David Warner.

The 22-year-old left-hander holds the record for the highest score on debut in a Twenty20 international, having smashed 89 from 43 balls against South Africa earlier this year.

His addition and the arrival of England all-rounder Ian Blackwell gives the Dynamos the looks of potential champions.

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