Biff! Baff! Pow! Lumb and Kieswetter are England's Batman and Robin

There are many reasons why England have done so well at this World T20. But surely one of the biggest has to be the performance of its fledgling opening partnership of Michael Lumb and Craig Kieswetter.

Prior to this tournament probably only Marcus Trescothick, of those that have opened the batting for England in T20, compares favourably with the best exponents around the world of this crucial art in 20 over cricket. It is absolutely critical to get the innings off to a fast start and take advantage of the initial six over powerplay. The likes of Ian Bell, Alastair Cook, Jonathan Trott and even Andrew Strauss were unlikely ever to be able to do that and so it proved.

Previous Englandopening partnerships would probably have scratched around when chasing 129 for victory, and scoreboard pressure and squeaky bum time would have been the likely result. But Lumb and Kieswetter have a different approach that has really come off. By the time they both departed having scored a combined 72 runs between them off 55 balls with nine fours and three sixes, England were on easy street. So hats off to the selectors for a brave and inspired choice here especially as they knew they would cop some flak for picking two South African born batsmen.

 

Neither Lumb or Kieswetter has made a fifty yet in this tournament but that fact should not hide the important role they have played. Kieswetter has hit 159 runs at a strike rate of 113 and Lumb 133 at 145. As such, in most cases one or both has helped give England a fast start, which has crucially meant that Kevin Pietersen has not arrived at the wicket under immediate pressure to hit boundaries.

Let's hope that they can keep it up when if as expected they face the pace of Dirk Nannes and Shaun Tait on a bouncy Bridgetown wicket. A nation holds its breath in anticipation. 

Comments

[greyblazer]

In T/20 cricket strike rates are more important. I would rather see a team scoring 60 for 2 than 30 for 1 in the first six overs. The inability of South Africa's top order to score quickly was one of the main reasons behind them getting knocked out in the super eights as it was putting too much pressure on the middle order.

Colly's form is a bit of worry and under pressure Bresnan's bowling can be suspect.

[crownish]

aye, didn't think Lumb was good enough for T20 Internationals but the way the two played yesterday was beautiful to watch, treated a small total on it's face value and attacked in the semi final.

i'm rooting for England in this final

[The Reverse Sweep]

South Africa were extremely poor. De Villiers should have batted in the top three. You are right on how teams should approach the powerplay - there are only 14 overs left afterwards so as you say better to be 60/2 than 35/0 after six overs. I reckon Colly will come good if needed in the final; he is much better when England have their backs to the wall. Bresnan's done ok, but Warner and Watson will be more of a challenge if it is the Aussies in the final.

[The Reverse Sweep]

Yeah, I don't think Lumb is ever going to do a Gayle or Jayawardene and score big in T20, but a 30 off 18 balls is always going to be useful.

[MeikoElektra (The MG)]

The last time they had an aggressive opener in limited overs cricket was with Mal Loye in Australia in the CB series 06/07, which they won 2-0. He never got big scores either, but he got them off to a bit of a flier and took the scoring pressure off the middle order.

And agreed, having de Villiers at 4 was madness from South Africa. Three is his natural home in this form of the game, as he's by far the most adaptable of their batsmen (can knock it around for singles when early wickets fall, and can hit it out of the ground if necessary).

[The Reverse Sweep]

Ah yes, Mal Loye, I remember him well. Getting down on one knee to hit Brett Lee was worth a bravery award alone.