The Oman is not exactly regarded as a major cricketing nation, and the recent victory by the Omani team over the respected associate nation team of Ireland in this years ICC world T20 group stage, proved that T20 is an unpredictable form of cricket where an over can win or lose a match.
The Oman is not exactly regarded as a major cricketing nation, and the recent victory by the Omani team over the respected associate nation team of Ireland in this years ICC world T20 group stage, proved that T20 is an unpredictable form of cricket where an over can win or lose a match.
The 2016 ICC T20 is difficult to call. There are those who regard India as favorites, as they have done extensive preparation, playing only T20 cricket since January.
This led them whitewashing Australia 3-0 down under, as well as winning the recent Asia cup T20 tournament in Bangladesh without losing a game. However their 2-0 T20 series defeat to South Africa in November proves that they can be beaten in home conditions. South Africa beat them again in a warm-up match this past Saturday – also proving that, despite being very talented, the Indian team is not invincible.
Since the inception of T20 international cricket in 2005, South Africa has been one of the most consistent performers – winning 52 of their 87 official matches – pretty much 60%. Only India can boast a higher win rate (nearly 62%). While they have had little success in major international cricket tournaments (only winning once since post-isolation – the ICC Champions trophy in 1998), no team dare take South Africa lightly.
South African fielding is world class with players such as AB De Villiers and, red hot new star bowler, Kagisho Rabada – both of whom, when on song, can take the game away from any team.
In addition, we have the experience and dynamism of Hashim Amla and Faf Du Plesis, the class of David Miller and Quinton De Kock and the bowling experience of veterans Dale Steyn and Imran Tahir. Many of the players from the squad have experience playing in the subcontinent through the IPL and this will almost certainly boost their confidence confidence and benefit them in the tournament.
The team is also in decent T20 form – which should also add confidence. They may be coming off a 2-1 series defeat to Australlia but, with different luck, they could have won the series, as the last game went down to the final over. Before that, they'd defeated England 2-0 and before that was the India victory – which proves they can perform in the sub-continent.
Although South Africa will, for a change, not be going into this tournament as favorites, if they execute their skills well, they will have a good chance of reaching the knockout stages.
From there, as we know, anything can happen. Just remember the Omanis.
Players to watch: AB De Villiers, Kagisho Rabada, Chris Morris.
