Cool Hand Luke

With the World Twenty20 literally hours round the corner, much of the professional analysis and punditry is focusing on predicting the winner of the tournament. The familiar names have been thrown into the hat; India, South Africa and Australia - the three best teams in the world (think the Premier League's top four but with more actual competition).

T20 is a format of the game where genuinely any team can win - so even underdog nations like New Zealand, West Indies and Sri Lanka are also being tipped to have a dart for the final. Hell, even Pakistan aren't being totally written off, despite two big defeats in warm up games. So we're left with one question: what chance does England have?

T20, much like all limited overs cricket, is hardly England's forté. In fact, one could go so far as to say that England have a miserable record in this, the shortest format of the game. However, as with all German national football teams and Take That comeback albums, write them off completely at you peril. England are the hosts and will benefit greatly from the home soil advantage. And, for once, the selectors seem to have picked the best players, going with a mix of England's established test stars and promising, young, county players with good T20 credentials.*

A player of such example is Sussex's Luke Wright. Wright made his England debut in 2007 at the Oval against India, scoring a blistering, counter-attacking fifty. He has since struggled to make any kind of meaningful impact (one innings last summer against New Zealand, aside) being shuffled around England's order to as low as eight and as high as being asked to open last summer. Unfortunately, his lack of technique was exposed by some canny new ball bowling and many were left believing his abilities were more suited as a lower order hitter.

Wright has, once again, been promoted to open the batting alongside Ravi Bopara for this years tournament and in the first warm-up game with Scotland, one feared that the same mistake had been made. Wright scratched around uncertainly, slogged at a few balls and was caught out trying to impose himself. Wright's head dropped, his critics' knives sharpened.

How it all changed in England's next practice. Set just under 150 to win by a poor West Indies effort, Wright went ballistic, mixing controlled aggression with sensible shot selection. He whacked an unbeaten 75 off just 48 balls, slamming five incredible sixes and eight fours.

If ever an innings defined a cricketer, then here was a prime example. Wright is known for his attacking nature - if batting purist Geoffrey Boycott ever tried to coach him, he's pull what's left of his hair out in frustration at the Sussex man's incessant desire to hit out. This may have led to his nagging inconsistency in 50 over cricket but, in this shortened version of the game, it could work wonders for him and his team.

With his partner Bopara very much a more classical, shot playing opener, England need a cold-blooded aggressor at the other end, someone willing to take risks. It works for Sri Lanka with Sanath Jayasuriya. It works for India with Virender Sehwag. Even the Aussies are trying it, with big hitting David Warner at the top of their innings.

Slogging out may not work for the all-rounder all the time but if Wednesday's innings was any evidence, when Wright gets it right (cliché-tastic), the results are explosive and highly profitable for England.

The hosts start this tournament as anything but favourites. But if Wright is able to fire on all cylinders like we know and hope he can, they could surprise a team or two and writing them off is a mistake. That being said, though, my money (if I had any) is on South Africa.

* - Many apologies. Rob Key is anything but young.