Prior to their memorable triumph in May 2010, England had endured a difficult relationship with Twenty20 cricket. They were always바카라 웹사이트committed, but it had become바카라 웹사이트complicated. (More Cricket News)
The England and Wales Cricket Board led the way with the format바카라 웹사이트in the early 2000s, pioneering T20 as a vehicle to help counties attract crowds with바카라 웹사이트a바카라 웹사이트shorter, sharper product aimed at those less바카라 웹사이트inclined to stick around and watch for a whole day.
Yet the head start on other countries바카라 웹사이트failed to help at international level. At the inaugural ICC World T20 event in 2007, England plumped for domestic specialists and recorded just one win on South African soil in five outings.
It was still an바카라 웹사이트unforgettable trip바카라 웹사이트for Stuart Broad, though, as he went the journey during a Yuvraj Singh barrage that resulted in six successive sixes in one over from the seamer.
Two years later and England expected better on home soil. There was an바카라 웹사이트improvement in terms of바카라 웹사이트results, with the team recording two victories. However, one of those was not against the Netherlands, who shocked the hosts and the sporting world on opening night at Lord's.
So, when Paul Collingwood's바카라 웹사이트squad travelled to the 2010 edition in the West Indies, expectations were about as high as the limbo poles found on the decks of the바카라 웹사이트fabulous cruise liners floating around the Caribbean islands.
Still, timing is everything.
It was바카라 웹사이트a key factor for Craig Kieswetter, who less than three months before the tournament바카라 웹사이트made 81 in a hurry as the England Lions upset바카라 웹사이트their senior counterparts in Abu Dhabi.
Born in South Africa, the wicketkeeper-batsman had only just qualified for England, yet served notice of his talents in front of an intrigued head coach in Andy Flower. Michael Lumb, his opening partner that day, also impressed, making an unbeaten half-century.
They would make their international T20 debuts together when England opened their campaign against West Indies in Guyana on May 3, a lively game ruined by바카라 웹사이트rain바카라 웹사이트as바카라 웹사이트the hosts triumphed on바카라 웹사이트the Duckworth-Lewis method.
Bad weather 24 hours later also cut short England라이브 바카라 other outing in the initial group stage, though the timing of the downpours perhaps worked in their favour. In reply to a below-par 120-8, Ireland were 14-1 when the match was abandoned. A point apiece meant England moved on to the바카라 웹사이트Super Eights.
There, they quickly worked up a head of steam. Well, actually a lack of it. Rather than bowling faster, analysis had revealed바카라 웹사이트the benefits of easing up on pace while still banging it in short. With a method to the madness,바카라 웹사이트the slower-ball bouncer barrage came about.
Timing was suddenly made tough for batsmen, who swung around like a blindfolded child attempting to connect with바카라 웹사이트a pinata at a birthday party. What summed up바카라 웹사이트to no more than a long hop got surprisingly successful results; innocuous deliveries somehow picked up wickets, fielders often swallowing up poorly timed바카라 웹사이트shots in the deep.
Still, perhaps the most crucially timed occurrence did not happen anywhere near a cricket pitch in the Caribbean, but back in England instead.
Kevin Pietersen had just made a half-century – his second in as many matches – in the victory over South Africa when it was announced he would be flying back바카라 웹사이트to London for the birth of his first child. His departure left a sizeable void and바카라 웹사이트it was unclear if he would need to return바카라 웹사이트– England had to바카라 웹사이트beat New Zealand without him to바카라 웹사이트progress.
While KP focused on바카라 웹사이트family matters, his team-mates delivered against the Black Caps, allowing the in-form batsman to mark바카라 웹사이트the recent new addition바카라 웹사이트with바카라 웹사이트another pivotal바카라 웹사이트knock, this time in바카라 웹사이트a semi-final thrashing of바카라 웹사이트Sri Lanka.
Pietersen made runs in the final too, as did Kieswetter at the top of the order, though only after바카라 웹사이트England라이브 바카라 seamers had put the squeeze on바카라 웹사이트Australia in the first innings, aided바카라 웹사이트– of course – by a friendly bumper barrage. A target of 148 was straightforward.
England, led by captain Collingwood and with바카라 웹사이트a loyal crew바카라 웹사이트following orders, had sailed away with바카라 웹사이트first major trophy in limited-overs cricket, securing the spoils바카라 웹사이트with a glorious seven-wicket win over their old바카라 웹사이트rivals.
Those painful memories of what바카라 웹사이트happened in바카라 웹사이트2007 and 2009 were suddenly banished. In 2010, England timed it just right.
