Credit where it's due for the T20

Ok, England still sometimes look like they’re playing a slightly different game to everybody else, and yes, our specialist six hitting all-rounder is scratching around making 25 from 27 balls, but I’m loving the Twenty20 World Cup.

After the diabolical fifty over World Cup held in England in 2007 I’ve got to be honest, I was half expecting a bit of a damp squib from the T20 version, but I’ll happily hold my hands up as being wrong. The only time I can remember cricket capturing the public imagination in the same way was during the once in a lifetime 2005 Ashes series, but travelling around, whiling away hours in the pub, and actually going to the games, I don’t remember hearing so many people excited about the game.

Previous World Cups have seemed to last a couple of lifetimes, but the format of this tournament feels just about right. Only using three grounds has given the tournament a hub - although the large ethnic communities in Leeds, Manchester and Birmingham for example suggests that having two of the homes in London is misguided.

Scheduling two games a day at the same venue has also helped build the momentum – encouraging larger, more diverse crowds and ensuring excitement is held even when one of the games doesn’t quite match the billing. The short three-week format also works beautifully with games every day, the vast majority of which have a real purpose to them. While whether by design or serendipity the timing of the competition between the end of the football season and the start of Wimbledon has helped keep cricket at the centre of the sports media – only interrupted by the latest vulgar goings on with the Portuguese clown and the British and Irish egg chasers competing for attention.

On top of all that the cricket has been terrific, with a sprinkling of upsets, some exceptional individual performances (Umer Gul and Dwayne Bravo spring to mind) and of course Australia being unceremoniously dumped early out of the competition is a Delia Smith-esque recipe for success.

It’s pretty rare they get things right, but credit where it’s due and hats off to the ECB, and the ICC for the competition. I hope it holds up right through to the final.