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WORLD T20

The first thing I noticed about this competition was the format. Four groups, two games only before the Super 8, no points being carried through - this clearly seems like a format designed for the minnows to have a couple of matches and then slip quietly away leaving the big guns to battle it out.

This being the case, who on earth put Ireland and Bangladesh into one group with India, effectively meaning one team out of Australia, Sri Lanka and the West Indies can't progress? Whoever it was should be shot - and if anyone's defence would be to say it was drawn out of a hat, then that person should eat that hat.

The other noticeable thing is how ruthless the first round is. With T20 being like pool compared to snooker or billiards (and in reality anyone can win with an ounce of luck), the pressure is really on to hit your straps from ball one. Totally different to the IPL where you wondered really what was the importance of the first 20-30 games.

One thing that's interesting when a new format emerges is what levels of innovation this brings, and how far that will permeate into the more established formats. Given that most batting innovations have been seen (such as Kevin Pietersen's switch hit), and that this format is death for the bowlers, it's interesting to note 3 innovations which all might have a place in the longer formats.

The first two have some from wicketkeepers. In England's match against Pakistan, James Foster moved out of the normal keeping position when he saw the batsmen shaping for a reverse sweep, and went wider effectively becoming a close in fielder albeit with protective equipment. This was first seen in the India v NZ test match of last summer when Brendan McCullum pulled off a bonus catch from the bemused Dravid, by moving into a wide position to try and stop the cheeky runs.

The second innovation came from New Zealand in their match against Scotland. In the latter overs when the batsmen hit down the ground and were pushing two, we saw the keeper Peter McGlashan run to the non-strikers end to field the return. This gave the fielder full license to attack the ball and hurl it in, with a much better chance of the ball being caught and the stumps broken given the keeper has gloves. This also helps the bowlers knowing their precious hands aren't going to be in the firing line.

Now it might be hard to think about what new bowling innovations can come to light. Sure, the use of spin has been surprisingly successful in this form of the game, and may even work it's way more into the first six overs given the ferocious beatings some of the big name fast bowlers have taken, but how else can a bowler improvise? Well, bowling to Herschelle Gibbs, Scottish off-spinner Majid Haq actually stalled his delivery stride for a second somehow, and delayed his release in an attempt to make the batsmen play early, or at least get him thinking. His variations may have had some effect, given he took 4-25 from 4 overs while those around him were being flayed for 10+ an over.

I'm looking forward to a gruelling encounter this afternoon between Australia and Sri Lanka. Australia were simply blown away by Chris Gayle, and to a lessor but just as important extent Andre Fletcher, which left Brett Lee scarred (1-56 from 4) and Ricky Ponting looking a little hapless.