Spitfires stars prepare for Men’s T20 World Cup
Monday 11th October 2021
The 2021 Men’s T20 World Cup begins on Sunday 17 October in the UAE and Oman, with a number of Kent Spitfires past and present involved in the seventh edition of the biggest T20 international prize.
Round 1 of the tournament will include twelve matches between eight teams (Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Ireland, Netherlands, Scotland, Namibia, Oman and Papua New Guinea), from which four teams will progress to the ‘Super 12s’ stage.
The Super 12s will consist of 30 matches between the four teams from Round 1 and the top eight ranked T20I teams, including England. Those teams will be split into two groups of six each.
Kent Captain Sam Billings is included in England’s 15-strong squad for the tournament, who begin their campaign against their opponents in the 2016 Final, West Indies, on Saturday 23 October in the Super 12s stage.
England go into the competition as the top ranked IT20 side in the world, and won the T20 World Cup back in 2010, with Kent batting coach Mike Yardy in the side, and Kent spinner James Tredwell a part of the squad.
On the opening day of this year’s tournament, Kent’s ‘McSpitfires’ are in action against Bangladesh in Round 1. George Munsey, Calum MacLeod and Safyaan Sharif are all included in Scotland’s squad, who reached the finals via the 2019 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier in fifth position.
Scotland are at their fourth T20 World Cup, with their best finish of 11th coming back in the inaugural competition in 2007.
The team that finished top of the Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifier, Netherlands, begin their campaign on Monday 18 October against Ireland in Round 1. Vitality Blast champion and Spitfires left-arm seamer Fred Klaassen is one of six county cricketers involved with the Oranje in this tournament.
Klaassen is the Netherlands’ eighth-highest wicket taker in the history of Dutch International T20 cricket.
Of the 16 nations that have made it to the World Cup finals, there are also a number of former Kent stars on show for their respective nations:
- Mohammad Nabi has been named as Afghanistan’s captain for the tournament
- Marcus Stoinis is a part of Australia’s squad in what is the all-rounder’s first T20 World Cup
- Jimmy Neesham will be at the World Cup with New Zealand, with Adam Milne with the squad as a travelling reserve
- Wiaan Mulder, who has five IT20 appearances for South Africa after making his debut in April 2021, is in his country’s squad
- T20 cricketing legend Dwayne Bravo is in line to play in his seventh T20 World Cup – West Indies’ two tournament wins is the most of any nation to date
Selected 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup fixtures:
- Sunday 17 October (15:00 BST) – Bangladesh vs. Scotland (George Munsey, Calum MacLeod, Safyaan Sharif)
- Monday 18 October (11:00 BST) – Ireland vs. Netherlands (Fred Klaassen)
- Tuesday 19 October (11:00 BST) – Scotland (George Munsey, Calum MacLeod, Safyaan Sharif) vs. Papua New Guinea
- Wednesday 20 October (11:00 BST) – Namibia vs. Netherlands (Fred Klaassen)
- Thursday 21 October (15:00 BST) – Oman vs. Scotland (George Munsey, Calum MacLeod, Safyaan Sharif)
- Friday 22 October (15:00 BST) – Sri Lanka vs. Netherlands (Fred Klaassen)
- Saturday 23 October (15:00 BST) – England (Sam Billings) vs. West Indies
- Wednesday 27 October (11:00 BST) – England (Sam Billings) vs. B2 Round 1 Qualifier
- Saturday 30 October (15:00 BST) – Australia vs. England (Sam Billings)
- Monday 1 November (14:00 GMT) – England (Sam Billings) vs. A1 Round 1 Qualifier
- Saturday 6 November (14:00 GMT) – England (Sam Billings) vs. South Africa
- Wednesday 10 November (14:00 GMT) – Semi Final 1
- Thursday 11 November (14:00 GMT) – Semi Final 2
- Sunday 14 November (14:00 GMT) – Final
Every match of the 2021 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup will be shown live on Sky Sports in the UK.
Kent Cricket’s Fireworks Evening returns for 2021 on Friday 5 November, in partnership with Cygnet Hospital Maidstone and Cygnet Hospital Godden Green
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