World Twenty20 Six to Watch

Who will sparkle amid the fireworks and razzmattaz of the inaugural World Twenty20 in South Africa?

BBC Sport assesses some familiar names, and those not quite so well-known, who may have a say in the outcome of the trophy when the final takes place on 24 September.

BRETT LEE

Australia have been slow to embrace Twenty20 but, despite a lack of experience in the shortest form of the game, they will be favourites.

Lee will be keen to make up for lost time, having missed the World Cup because of injury, but the 30-year has played only three Twenty20 internationals, taking just the one wicket with an economy rate of 7.2.

But his useful batting was used to good effect in his most recent match against South Africa when he fired an unbeaten 43 from 21 balls with four fours and two sixes.

And with his ability to mix rapid yorkers with slower deliveries, Lee could prove lethal in the next couple of weeks.

LUKE WRIGHT

Unlike their old adversaries, who have basically selected their one-day squad, England have gone for Twenty20 specialists in domestic cricket.

One of the most exciting talents to emerge is Sussex all-rounder Wright, who has been in exceptional form, in the shortest form of the game.

Promoted to number three, he played some pulsating innings, especially his 103 from 45 balls against Kent, and hit more sixes than any other player in domestic cricket during July.

Called into the England squad for the one-day international at The Oval he showed he is not flustered by the big occasion by smashing a superb fifty.

ROBIN UTHAPPA

Mahendra Dhoni has played the role of crowd-pleaser for India fans in recent years.

But he was not at his best this summer against England and if the Twenty20 skipper does not fire the Indians need another player to join the big guns.

Uthappa could well be that man.

He has a classical set-up but strikes the ball fiercely and has a liking for the big occasion, firing 86 on his debut against England.

The youngster also showed tremendous coolness before a full house at The Oval earlier this week to hit two boundaries in the final over to seal victory.

SHAHID AFRIDI

An enigma or thrilling genius – even Pakistan fans have been divided at times about the explosive talent that is Shahid Afridi.

The 27-year-old has only played two Twenty20 internationals to date, making his debut against England at Bristol in August 2006 when he briefly thrilled the crowd in his typical fashion with a stunning 10-ball innings, all but two of his 28 coming via five fours and a six.

But he went 24 matches without a fifty, suffering 13 single figure scores in that period, before six sixes in an unbeaten 77 from 35 balls against South Africa in February.

Though there may be occasional doubts about his place in the team, many a bowler will be hoping not to catch his captain’s eye when it is time to bowl at Afridi.

HERSCHELLE GIBBS

Gibbs is likely to play a key role if the partisan South African fans are to be kept interested in the tournament.

He may be short of hair – but not strokes, as Dutch spinner Daan van Bunge will attest.

Gibbs became the first batsman to hit six sixes in an over in a one-day international when he pulverised the hapless van Bunge in the World Cup.

The 33-year-old has had his fair share of problems on and off the field but he is capable of breathtaking displays, as anyone who saw his epic 175 in 2006’s world-record win over Australia will testify.

DARREN SAMMY

The impressively built 23-year-old St Lucian came to prominence on the tour to England this summer when he took seven wickets on his Test debut and unveiled a host of unusual celebratory routines.

He can also wield the willow and hit five fours in his 25 in that Test at Old Trafford.

While he is not in the same league as Joel Garner, and is probably never likely to be, there is a slight similarity.

And although he may not be as tall, quick or as accurate, Sammy could have the same sort of knack of wrapping up innings or making key breakthroughs that the deadly “Big Bird” developed.

Indian Cricket League’s Motives Are Clean And Clear, Feels Former West Indies Skipper Brian Lara

Former West Indies captain Brian Lara, who has joined the Indian Cricket League believes that the parallel league has set its motive right, which is to improve Indian cricket.

“I think the most important thing is that their (ICL’s) motives are very clean and clear – they want to improve cricket and the standards of professional cricket in India, and that’s good enough for me,” Lara was quoted as saying to PTI in Johannesburg on the eve of ICC World 20-20.

“I think there’s room for a lot of players in the market and I’ll be there to support them,” Lara said at the ICC Awards function in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

Davenport back with baby on board

With three Grand Slam singles titles and more than US$21 million in career earnings, Lindsay Davenport has sealed her place in tennis history.

So the 31-year-old American could have settled for a comfortable retirement after giving birth to son Jagger in June. Instead, she is back on court and returning to singles play at the Commonwealth Bank Tennis Classic this week.

It’s not that she has something to prove, or to lose, from coming back; it’s about the love of competing.

“Empowered is a good word,” the former world number one said Monday of having a child. “You go through a lot to have a baby. Obviously I’m still a bit from being in the same shape as before, but I also don’t have the injuries I had because I didn’t play tennis for a year.

“It’s different, but my body feels fresh in a way.”

She said she first discussed returning to the tour with her husband Jonathan Leach in April.

Although she underwent a C-section, Davenport is used to the hard slog of regaining fitness from various injuries during her 15-year career (in 2006, she dealt with back, ankle and shoulder problems).

“It feels weird, because I don’t really feel it’s surgery even though it is abdominal surgery,” she said, adding she enjoyed her pregnancy and doing the best for her own and her baby’s health.

She is not alone as a WTA Tour working mom; she can turn to advice from world number 20 Sybille Bammer of Austria and Paraguay’s Rossana De Los Rios, who each have daughters.

There also are historical precedents, including Evonne Goolagong-Cawley, who returned to the tour after having a child in 1977, and won Wimbledon three years later, and Indonesia’s former world top 20 player Yayuk Basuki.

“I felt hungry to compete again, I missed tennis so much,” said Yayuk, who returned to the tour after having a son in 1999 and competed for two more years.

“I felt stronger but of course my agility and reactions were slower.”

Davenport glows when she talks about Jagger, who is with her at the tournament. She loves that she has to put his needs first, with early morning wakeup calls and a separate travel bag for his toys and diapers.

Davenport was the 2005 champion in Bali, and said then that it was her best ever tournament experience. But even in such a comfortable setting she is realistic that coming back to top form will take time.

“It’s really truly about getting out there and seeing what I can do, there’s no goal of winning a Grand Slam. It’s about the way I can still play tennis … and what level I can get to.”

All in all she is in a good place right now.

“I don’t feel that I have anything to lose. It’s been a lot of fun to try and come back. I have this lazy baby that I get to see every day. My life is so great there is nothing bad that could come of this.”

Gilchrist ducks, dives on Rebel League plans

Australia’s Adam Gilchrist never likes to take himself too seriously, but when confronted with the serious question of whether he would sign with India’s Rebel Cricket League, the wicketkeeper/batsman gave an appropriately serious answer.

“It’s quite a good thing for guys like me who are at the back end of their careers,” he said.”I’m 10 years older than guys like Graeme (Smith), and about eight years older than Daniel (Vettori), so it’s a great opportunity.”

Speaking at the Captain’s Breakfast at the Sandton Sun in Johannesburg ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup which starts on Tuesday, Gilchrist wouldn’t say whether he would sign up with the League.

“I think the International Cricket Council does have a monopoly on the game, and it’s nice for the players to have more opportunities and to have more control of their futures,” Gilchrist said. Gilchrist was standing in for Australia captain Ricky Ponting, who arrived on Monday.

In response to the Rebel League, a new Champions League-style event has been proposed by four International Cricket Council (ICC) full member countries – Australia, India, England and South Africa – and will be ICC sanctioned.

The top two teams from each country’s competitions will qualify for an international tournament, which is planned for late next year.Games will be played in time zones convenient to the massive Indian market. Matches take only three hours, so scheduling can be flexible.

The international competition will have a salary cap, with limits yet to be decided, and exemptions for marquee signings. Players will be able to be traded between teams, opening up a transfer market.

Team owners may explore on and off-field marketing opportunities, meaning that Sachin Tendulkar could represent NSW, or Gilchrist could play for Mumbai. They could make hundreds of thousands of dollars for a few weeks’ work. The tournament would allow the most sought-after players to significantly raise their incomes without jeopardising their place in official Test and one-day teams.

Council wants Federal funds for new Launceston tennis centre

The Commonwealth is being urged to match the State Government’s funding commitment for a Regional Tennis Centre in Launceston.

The Launceston City Council has voted to take ownership of a new one-and-a-half-million-dollar outdoor centre on the condition it doesn’t have to contribute to operational costs.

The move means the project is now eligible for Federal funds.

The State Government has already committed $500,000 to the project, as well as the land.

The president of the Legislative Council, Don Wing, is urging the Federal Government to quickly process an application to match the funds.

“Commendably the Launceston City Council made the decision yesterday to take ownership of the site, which gives the all clear now for an application to be made for Federal funding,” Mr Wing said.

“We’re hoping that will be processed very quickly and the Federal Government will readily match the State Government’s contribution.”

The Federal Government says it will welcomes the application for funding.

ICL can end ICC’s monopoly, says Gilchrist

Johannesburg, Sept. 11 (PTI): Australian wicketkeeper-batsman Adam Gilchrist has supported the Indian Cricket League, saying it could help end the International Cricket Council’s monopoly over the game by bringing in more opportunities for players.

“I think the International Cricket Council does have a monopoly on the game, and it’s nice for the players to have more opportunities and to have more control of their futures,” Gilchrist was quoted as saying in the South African media.

“It’s quite a good thing for guys like me who are at the back end of their careers. I’m 10 years older than guys like Graeme (Smith), and about eight years older than Daniel (Vettori), so it’s a great opportunity,” he said at the Captain’s Breakfast at the Sandton Sun on the eve of the Twenty20 World Cup.

The wicketkeeper-batsman, who substituted captain Ricky Ponting at the function, however, did not say whether he would sign up with the League.

West Indies cricket legend Brian Lara, who has already signed for the League, said the ICL had clean and clear motives about improving the game of cricket.

“I think the most important thing is that their motives are very clean and clear – they want to improve cricket and the standards of professional cricket in India, and that’s good enough for me,” Lara said.

“I think there’s room for a lot of players in the market and I’ll be there to support them,” he said at the ICC Awards function here yesterday.