Focused Warner prepares for action

David Warner says Australia are fully focused on ending their poor record in Twenty20 cricket, and believes they have the strength in depth to cope with all conditions they will face in the coming fortnight in the Caribbean.

Despite ruling the roost in 50-over cricket for the past decade, with three consecutive World Cup victories - including the last tournament in the West Indies in 2007 - Australia's fortunes have not been so great in the shortest format. They were knocked out in the group stages in England last summer, and although they reached the semi-finals in the inaugural tournament in South Africa, they suffered an embarrassment along the way when they were defeated by minnows Zimbabwe.

That result was revisited earlier this week, when Zimbabwe inched to a thrilling one-run victory in the teams' opening warm-up match in St Lucia, but Warner demonstrated the extent of his own form with a rollicking 72 from 49 balls, including five sixes. He followed that up with 51 from 41 balls in a 101-run win against the Windward Islands on Thursday, and is ready to carry that momentum into their first fixture of the tournament, against Pakistan on Sunday.

"It's been a good lead-up for myself with a couple of half-centuries in the games just gone," Warner told Cricinfo. "I don't want to waste my runs in the warm-ups, but it's always good to get them under the belt, and I hope to put in a good performance on Sunday. As a team, we are aware of our shortcomings in Twenty20 cricket, but we've played a lot in Australian cricket in the last couple of years, and we know we've got the resources to take it on this year and win."

An opportunity in upheaval

Love it or hate it you can't get away from it. No sooner has a six-week IPL concluded in Mumbai - amid huge controversy - that another Twenty20 tournament begins on the other side of world in the Caribbean. The events of the last few weeks in India have swept cricket to the sidelines. The game needs a sparkling tournament in West Indies and, most importantly, a clean and controversy-free event.

Although the two tournaments are very different, it is hardly ideal to have so much cricket of one format in the same period, let alone another World Twenty20 less than a year after the last one in England which Pakistan memorably won at Lord's. However, ICC are trying to get their events schedule back on track, so the trophy is up for grabs again less than a year after it was collected by the now-retired (and suspended) Younis Khan. A lot has happened in nine months.

One advantage of Twenty20 rolling into Twenty20 is that many of the players will be attuned to the format. The preparation factor, though, needs to be balanced against the fatigue factor and possible injuries. Already the tournament is missing Virender Sehwag, Wayne Parnell and Brett Lee through injury. The latter's withdrawal is not a huge surprise, but the absence of Sehwag and Parnell robs the event of two matchwinners. They could have been injured without the IPL, but the timing doesn't help.

And not all the players at the IPL who are now here in the West Indies have been active over the last two months. Eoin Morgan and AB de Villiers were two of the notable stars to be benched by their franchises which just goes to show how pre-tournament status can quickly count for nothing. Morgan's situation in particular shows the problems that can occur: he went to the IPL in the form of his life, but hasn't picked up a bat since March 25. Then there are the likes of Yuvraj Singh and Dwayne Bravo; players who had a forgettable IPL but will be crucial to their team's chances in this tournament

All-round Sammy steers West Indies home

West Indies 138 for 9 (Sammy 30, Dockrell 3-16) beat Ireland 68 (Sammy 3-8, Rampaul 3-17) by 70 runs

Indies overcame the absence of Chris Gayle and a stuttering batting display as they overpowered Ireland. Sammy collected 30 runs, three breakthroughs and a record 4th catch the 70-run success. Ravi Rampuls three-wicket opening burst was also crucial in Ireland being knocked over for 68, the second lowerest total in Twenty20s.

The captain Gayle didn't play due to a problem with his glutes, leaving Dwayne Bravo in charge, and there were thoughts of an upset when West Indies scrapped to 138 for 9 on a sluggish surface. There was a party atmosphere in the stands of the Providence stadium, but life was much more serious on the ground for the home batsmen, particularly when the 17-year-old George Dockrell was operating.

All the worries over the size of the total evaporated as soon as Kemar Roach struck with his second ball and Ireland, an Associate country, could not recover after losing their top three for 11 in 11 balls. William Porterfield (4) edged Roach to Sammy, who dived to his right at second slip for a sharp take, and his team-mates also struggled with the extra pace.

Sammy got his second catch in the next over when Paul Stirling skewed to midwicket and Rampaul (3 for 17) struck again almost immediately to remove Niall O'Brien caught behind. Ireland were 13 for 3 when some relief arrived in the form of rain, but there was no reprieve after the half-hour delay.

Alex Cusack (2) went shortly after the resumption when taken at second slip by Sammy, who seemed to be everywhere, and Rampaul had his third. Sammy then chipped in with the ball, taking care of Kevin O'Brien, as the visitors crawled to 39 for 5. While standing at cover Sammy collected his fourth catch when leaping high to collect the push of Gary Wilson, who top scored with 17. Sammy picked up Boyd Rankin and finished the match to gain 3 for 8 and start the local celebrations.

Ireland aiming to upset the West Indies

Ireland bowler Trent Johnston believes the Irish can upset the odds and beat the West Indies in their opening Twenty20 World Cup Group D game at Providence Stadium in Guyana.

The West Indies come into the game after an agenising 7 run defeat against New Zealand on Wednesday night. Johnston believes the manner of that defeat has given fresh belief to the Irish to create another World Cup upset.

With victory in sight the West Indies suffered a batting collapse with Scott Styris with four wickets as the Kiwis ran out winners after Chris Gayle and Shivnarine Chanderpaul had built a solid opening partnership of 68.

"Chris Gayle and Chanderpaul will be coming at us hard on Friday night and so if we can contain those guys, get a couple of early wickets - as we saw against New Zealand - then we can put the West Indies under a bit of pressure," said Johnston .

"If Scott Styris can get wickets against them then we've got three or four Scott Styrises in our team, bowling at the sort of pace he bowls. So it's a good sign for us. We've got the likes of myself, Andre (Botha), Alex Cusack and Kevin O'Brien."

"We're not guys who are going to scare anyone with our pace but with our variation and if we execute our skills, they're going to be under a bit of pressure now after that result, being the home side, playing the opening date at a packed house."

ICC World Twenty20

The 2010 ICC World Twenty20 cricket tournament takes place in the Caribbean in May 2010. Twelve of the leading nations will compete to win the third World Twenty20 and join India and Pakistan on the roll of honour.

The tournament was first introduced in 2007 as the new format of the game gained increasing popularity. South Africa staged the inaugural ICC World Twenty20 in 2007 and it was India, the nation who had taken most to the 20-over game, who were crowned champions following a five-run success over Pakistan in the final at the Wanderers in Johannesburg.

In 2009 when the second ICC World Twenty20 was staged in England, Pakistan gained revenge when they went one better by beating Sri Lanka, who will stage the next edition in 2010, by eight wickets in the final at Lordss.

The 12 nations competing in the Caribbean are the hosts West Indies, Australia, Bangladesh, Pakistan, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, India, South Africa, Afghanistan, England and Ireland. Afghanistan will be making their debut in the tournament, while Zimbabwe and Ireland are playing for a second time. The other nine countries have played in all previous editions of the ICC World Twenty20.

NZ face S.Lanka in World T20 cricket opener

Brendon McCullum's prowess as a Twenty20 batsman is well known but older brother Nathan could also have an important role to play in the upcoming World Twenty20.

The Black Caps open the competition against Sri Lanka here on Friday and, with warm-up matches suggesting pitches will take spin, off-break bowler Nathan is set for some key overs in an attack where New Zealand captain and left-arm spinner Daniel Vettori has been the mainstay for several years now.

McCullum was given the new ball in New Zealand's 40-run warm-up win over Ireland here on Tuesday, reviving memories of Martin Crowe's ploy of using off-spinner Dipak Patel at the start of the innings at the 1992 World Cup - a tactic that helped the Black Caps get to the last four of that event.