No, neither I, nor many others will stop talking about them for some time now.

The British media is not even out with their takes on the defeat to the Dutch, so who are we to stop.

The blogs have been buzzing with their 2-bits on last night's awesome Netherlands win over England.

Here are my 2-bit take aways from the game:

1. The boundaries seemed bigger in England's innings.
   
   
2. Why doesn't Dirk Nannes take wickets?
   
   
3. Luke Wright is just a slogger. Bopara is the real deal.
   
   
4. Why didn't Peter Borren make it to the New Zealand team?
   
   
5. Tom De Grooth and Darron Reekers will have their agents on the phone with the IPL mob soon.
   
   
6. Speaking of Reekers, he can give the ball some pounding!
   
   
7. Bas Zuiderent looks like Dirk Nannes' long lost mountain brother.
   
   
8. Stuart Broad needs target practice - maybe darts with his own face on the dartboard will help!
   
   
9. The Dutch have made a statement and the other minnows are now sounding warnings - beware New Zealand, India, and Pakistan.
   
   
10. If South Africa were batting, instead of the Dutch, there would have been 4 run outs in the last over.

I can't wait for today's matches - I don't see Scotland upsetting the Kiwis, but I do see the West Indies and Bangladesh doing a Dutch today.

Now that would be something!

The day is here when the Twenty20 World Cup kicks off.

Those of you who have been following Well Pitched over the last week must have seen my previews of each of the 12 teams taking part in the competition.

Those who missed it, here's a recap. With a couple of more thoughts.

Why Pakistan are the Favorites

I'm still sticking to that. Its quite an easy route to the semi finals for them, and they played against the best in the warm-ups whom they won't meet again till the final four stage. Plus, they are known to be slow starters.

Why Australia Will Not Win

With Roy gone, they definitely won't.

Why India May Win

I say "may" because it is still a probability. What are the odds that they will repeat 2007? Law of averages anyone? They sure look strong though. Very strong!

Why South Africa Can't Win

Thats exactly what it is. They just can't do it. They have the ability to, the manpower to, the skill to, the everything-you-need-in-a-cricket-team to, but they just can't.

Why New Zealand Have a Chance and England Don't

The Kiwis always have a chance. England, however, despite that this is the first time they have the same captain for two consecutive world cup tournaments, have it very tough. India, South Africa, Australia in the Super 8s - the English will be having nightmares.

Why West Indies and Sri Lanka are the Dark Horses

Cos they are. I sense surprises for the Aussies.

Why the Minnows May Surprise a Few

They have it in them to do so. Bangladesh particularly. Beware India. Plus, with Nannes around, Pakistan need to worry.

So this is it people.

In just under half a day, the first delivery of the ICC World Twenty20 will be bowled.

And maybe by Dirk Nannes - now that would be something, wouldn't it Jrod?

After that, all the above will count for not much, unless ofcourse the teams prove me right and make me look like some cricket messiah!

I doubt it; its just mere speculation. Isn't that what we all do?

Speaking of speculating, its easy to figure out who I'm backing for the semis:

India
South Africa
Pakistan
New Zealand

After that, its really anybody's game.

All of them have Super 8 aspirations.

In a way it makes sense that they are not thinking big, and just looking to make it to the next round; but in all seriousness only 1 of them have the chance to get there - either Bangladesh or Ireland.

But they may give you more surprises than you think; I have the reasons why.

1. Its twenty20, its anybody's game!
   
   
2. Bangladesh upset a few in the 2007 20-20 world cup; no reason why they can't do the same here.
   
   
3. Ireland have a 100% record in T20 internationals.
   
   
4. Netherlands have Dirk Nannes! You never know what he can do, especially when the men facing are English and Pakistani.
   
   
5. Scotland have Gavin Hamilton. I'm not sure if that counts for anything, but can't leave the out when I'm talking up the rest.
   
   
6. The Deshis have shown some damn good fight in the warm ups. Watch out India, watch out Ireland!
   
   
7. Any team with a Shakib in them cannot be taken lightly!
   
   
8. Nor can any with an Ashraful, a Tamim Iqbal, and a Mushfiq Ur Rahim.

There will be some major upsets witnessed if any of them besides Bangladesh make it to the Super 8s; and even moreso if any of them get past the Super 8s.

But its 20-20, and one never knows what comes your way - beware of the minnows!

I have heard a lot about Dirk Nannes.

Mostly from Jrod over at Cricket with Balls.

Nannes is a Victorian after all.

Jrod has also talked about how he doesn't understand why Nannes hasn't played for Australia yet.

He wasn't even announced in Australia's 30 probables for the World 20-20 despite being considered the best 20-20 bowler in the country!

Hearing about him wasn't enough though.

I had to see him to decide for myself if Nannes was that good.

Thanks to the IPL, I've been following Nannes closely.

The fact that he was in the side ahead of Glen McGrath surprised me initially, but I figured that the Delhi Daredevils were also thinking on the same lines as Jrod.

In the first few matches Nannes failed to pick up a wicket, but he bowled quite well. He was hard to get away and he was fast. He troubled batsmen.

Though I wondered why the wickets weren't coming his way.

Then he finally struck.

That too with the first ball of the match clean bowling Jacques Kallis who had no idea what hit him as he was trying to shoulder arms to a brute of a delivery.

First ball of the match!

Nannes celebrated and it started dawning on me what all that talk was about.

But today, I was completely convinced.

2-16 in 4 overs against a team that boasts of Adam Gilchrist, Herschelle Gibbs, Rohit Sharma, and Dwayne Smith.

Now that is some bowling.

Getting rid of the best opening pair in the IPL in a matter of 2 overs and getting the better of the best team in the IPL this year and here I am now also wondering what the hell are the Aussies thinking keeping him out of the team?