Better tracks give us hope for success in next stage, says Topley

WHEN naming a squad for this T20 World Cup in the spring, England made no secret of how heavily their thinking had been influenced by their high-scoring tour to the Caribbean before Christmas.

- Malik Ouzia

"It was a slugfest, really," said Rob Key, the ECB's managing director of men's cricket. "Six after six, both teams trading blows. It became apparent how much value you have to put on the power game." Record-shattering run-making in the IPL only added to the expectation of a batters' World Cup, and yet, so far, such predictions have landed wide of the tramlines.

Weather has played its part, so, too, some bowling brilliance, several challenging wickets and an outright stinker in New York. In the entire group stage, only three totals exceeded 200.