2022 T20 World Cup
T20 World Cup 2022: Five potential candidates for most sixes
Players that can strike the ball hard have no competition for a spot on the team. A host of renowned power hitters in world cricket will take part in the T20 World Cup 2022. Let’s take a look at five potential candidates who can hit the highest number of sixes in the competition.
Who are the front-runners to hit most sixes in the 2022 Twenty20 World Cup?
Big hitters take most of the limelight in T20 format cricket, and the upcoming T20 World Cup will be no different. The main responsibility of the big hitters is to take on the opposition bowlers to increase the run rate. Here are five in-form big hitters who can finish the tournament with the most sixes.
Read: T20 World Cup 2022: Six captains to keep an eye on
Suryakumar Yadav (India)
T20I Stats in 2022 (as on October 11): Inn: 23 | Runs: 801 | HS: 117 | SR: 184.56 | 6s: 51
Suryakumar Yadav has become a real revolution for India this year in the T20 format. He is now a vital member of the Indian T20 set up. The right-hand middle order batter is the only player to have smacked more than 50 T20I sixes in 2022 and is one of the front runners in the quest for most sixes in the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup.
Rovman Powell (West Indies)
T20I Stats in 2022 (as on October 11): Inn: 18 | Runs: 474 | HS: 107 | SR: 153.39 | 6s: 37
The West Indian vice-captain, Rovman Powell, knows what it takes to hit big sixes coming down the batting order. He is a clean hitter of the cricket ball and can hit long sixes. Powell will be one of the front runners to hit the highest number of sixes in the competition.
Rohit Sharma (India)
T20I Stats in 2022 (as on October 11): Inn: 23 | Runs: 540 | HS: 72 | SR: 142.48 | 6s: 28
Rohit Sharma has the most sixes in the T20I with 178. Rohit loves to hit the ball in the air and is one of the best power hitters in the world. Playing as the opener, Rohit will get plenty of chances to hit big shots in his innings and is one of the early favourites to hit the highest number of sixes.
Read: Women's Asia Cup: Bangladesh eliminated after rain washes out UAE match
David Miller (South Africa)
T20I Stats in 2022 (as on October 11): Inn: 10 | Runs: 283 | HS: 106* | SR: 186.18 | 6s: 21
David Miller is famous for his big hitting ability all around the ground. He is known as "Killer Miller" for his destructive nature with the bat. Miller has 21 sixes in 10 innings in 2022 so far, which shows his aggressive nature as a batter. The South African side will rely on his services to lower down the batting order during the 2022 Twenty20 World Cup.
Jos Buttler (England)
T20I Stats in 2022 (as on October 11): Inn: 7 | Runs: 155 | HS: 68 | SR: 198.71 | 6s: 10
The newly appointed T20I captain of the English side, Jos Buttler, is one of the most destructive batters in the world. He has the ability to take the game away from the opposition. Buttler is a clean hitter of the cricket ball and will be one of the valuable players in the Twenty20 World Cup 2022. Buttler can also finish the tournament with the most sixes to his name.
Bottom Line
Power hitters are the most sought-after players for the T20 format. The T20 World Cup 2022 will feature a battle between well-known cricketers to determine who can whack the most sixes. However, most cricket fans just expect to see some spectacular knocks.
Read: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022: Meet the 16 Captains
2 years ago
Twenty20 World Cup 2022: 5 issues Bangladesh team should address
Australia will host the eighth edition of the T20 format world cup in the October-November window. Like the previous edition, the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup 2022 will also feature 16 teams to compete for the trophy. Bangladesh will directly play in the Super 12 round as they don’t have to take part in the qualifier this time. They will face heavyweights India, Pakistan, and South Africa in the Super 12 phase in their quest for a semi-final berth. Considering the Australian conditions, the tournament will be a major challenge for the current Bangladesh T20 side. They need to fix some issues before heading to Australia to take part in the mega event.
Things Bangladesh T20 team needs to improve prior to the 2022 T20 World Cup
The Bangladesh team will take part in the Twenty20 World Cup 2022 under the leadership of Mahmudullah Riyad. With a little over three months left before the main event eventually kicks off, the Tigers T20 side needs to develop some areas in order to perform better against the strong opposition in the Super 12 round. The areas where the Bangladesh T20 team needs to improve are discussed in this article.
Finding an ideal opening pair
One of Bangladesh's main problems across all formats is finding a suitable opening pair. In the ODI format, Tamim Iqbal and Litton Das have given Bangladesh a solid opening slot. Together they have scored 1,254 runs in 32 innings with an average of 41.80. In contrast, Bangladesh’s opening pair scenario in the Twenty20 format has been substandard in recent times.
Read BAN vs WI 2022: Bangladesh aim for strong comeback in T20I series
By looking at Bangladesh’s opening pair history in the T20 format, it is very much apparent that the team has never found a stable pair in the opening slot. Bangladesh have so far played 125 T20I matches. Litton Das-Mohammad Naim and Tamim Iqbal-Soumya Sarkar have opened the most innings (17) for the Tigers.
Top four Bangladesh’s opening pairs in the T20 format
Opening Pair
Innings
Runs
High
Ave
Litton Das and Mohammad Naim
17
395
77
23.23
Soumya Sarkar and Tamim Iqbal
17
389
61
22.88
Litton Das and Tamim Iqbal
13
376
92
28.92
Anamul Haque and Tamim Iqbal
10
260
63
28.88
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Read Mehidy, Taskin added to Bangladesh T20I squad
None of the opening pairs have a better than a 30 average in batting (at least 10 innings). So, Bangladesh need a viable and aggressive-minded opening pair who can give a solid platform in the innings.
The Tigers team management may pick Munim Shahriar and Anamul Haque to open the innings for Bangladesh in the West Indies series. Both the batters have a reputation for being aggressive. The pair can open the innings for Bangladesh in the forthcoming World Cup if they perform well in the West Indies series as well as the remaining T20I fixtures before the main event. Otherwise, Mohammad Naim, Litton Das, and others can be considered to fill the opening slot.
Boosting the pacers' efficiency
405 out of 601 wickets have been taken by the fast bowlers in the T20Is in Australia so far. This stat suggests how dominating and effective fast bowlers are in this region. Therefore, Bangladesh’s pacers need to be well-equipped with the Australian conditions so that they can thrive during the world cup.
Read Head, Lyon give Australia 10-wicket win over Sri Lanka
Traditionally, the spinners have had the most success in bowling, but as per stats, the fast bowlers have performed equally well in the T20 format. The pacers have taken 343 T20I wickets, while the spinners have scalped 344. The recent performance has also indicated that the fast bowlers are equally good as the spinners of Bangladesh. Both pace department and spin department have picked up 86 wickets each since January 2021.
With Mustafizur Rahman, Taskin Ahmed, and Shoriful Islam in the squad, Bangladesh’s pace department is better than ever. They just need to be well versed in the conditions in Australia. Thankfully, the tri-nation series in New Zealand just before the 2022 T20 World Cup will help the quick bowlers to be more well-informed about the conditions.
Learning the batting technique on a fast, bouncy pitch
Bangladesh batters have a problem thriving on fast and bouncy tracks. In Australia, they will face some of the fastest bowlers in the world right now. Facing these fearsome quick bowlers will be a real challenge for the tigers. They have to overcome their inner fear and learn the technique of dealing with the fast bowlers on bouncy wickets.
Read ENG vs IND 2022: England, India gear up for fifth Test
In the Oceania region, Bangladesh have only played against New Zealand in the T20 format. In seven matches, only two batters have scored fifties. This stat indicates how difficult it will be for Bangladeshi batters to score runs in those conditions. The BCB needs to take the necessary actions to improve the efficiency of the batters for the Australian conditions.
Bangladesh's overall T20 batting figures in the Oceania region
Match
Innings
Runs
HS
Ave
SR
50s
7
70
839
52
14.22
115.24
2
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Generating some real power hitters
A team needs two or three proper hard-hitters in the middle-order in the T20 format so that they can accelerate the run rates in the death overs. Bangladesh, unfortunately, don’t have any proper power hitters in the middle-order.
Read Shakib uncertain for West Indies ODIs
Captain Mahmudullah Riyad is arguably the best hitter among the middle-order batters. Besides him, Nurul Hasan Sohan, Shamim Hossain, Afif Hossain, Mosaddek Hossain, Soumya Sarkar, Mahadi Hasan, and a host of other notable players have been tested, but none of them has shown consistency on the international stage.
Those who bat fifth through eighth are mostly expected to play power hitting roles for the team. Among the active Bangladeshi players, those who have batted in those positions, none of them has a batting strike rate of 120 or more (at least 5 innings). Therefore, Bangladesh need to develop at least two genuine power hitters prior to the world cup in Australia.
Top five strike rates of Bangladesh's middle order (at No. 5 to 8) in T20I since January 2021 (at least 5 innings)
Player
Innings
Runs
HS
SR
Afif Hossain
24
346
49*
118.49
Mahedi Hasan
15
142
30*
116.39
Shamim Hossain
8
102
31*
115.90
Mahmudullah
22
385
50
105.76
Nurul Hasan
17
143
28
102.14
Source: https://www.espncricinfo.com/
Overall improvement in fielding
Bangladesh have improved their ground fielding in recent times. But they still have issues with consistency and catching. Bangladesh's team has to be energetic and focused while fielding on the ground. Attention to details is one of the key areas the players have to improve prior to the ICC Twenty20 World Cup 2022. A good fielding side can inspire the bowlers to give their best in the contest. So, the improvement of the fielding of each player is a must in order to improve the overall team’s performance.
Read Nurul, Khaled make jump in ICC Ranking
Aftermath
Bangladesh do have some talented players in their T20 squad, but they need proper guidance and training to showcase their talents on the international stage. Playing against big opposition like India, Pakistan, and South Africa would be a real challenge for the Bangladesh team during the Twenty20 World Cup 2022. As per the current scenario of the team, Bangladesh don’t have any realistic chances against this opposition. But the Tigers have to win one or two matches against these teams if they do want to advance to the knockout round. Bangladesh will be able to put up a strong display against stronger opponents if they improve the aforementioned points prior to the mega ICC event.
2 years ago