Prepare for Twenty20 vision
The ICC World Twenty20 2009 has the potential to be one of the most exciting events in ICC history.
Twelve men's teams and eight women's team will come together in England in June for the biggest international Twenty20 tournament ever seen.
As a flagship event of the ICC centenary year, some of the world's most historic grounds, including Lord's, Trent Bridge and The Oval, as well as Taunton for the women's matches, will host a festival of cricket that will showcase everything that is good about the modern game.
A look at the groups in the opening stages of the men's and women's reveals a series of exciting battles between some of the game's top stars.
From the clash between New Zealand and South Africa, which will see a battle between some of the game's biggest hitters like Brendon McCullum and Herschelle Gibbs, to the mouth-watering prospect of Ireland trying to repeat its giant-killing exploits of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2007 when it takes on India, to the fascinating battle between old rivals Australia and New Zealand in the women's group stages and their young stars Ellyse Perry and Suzie Bates, there is much to look forward.
Among the players who are excited about the challenge of playing in the event is England fast bowler Stuart Broad.
"I think hosting the event is a massive plus for us. Twenty20 is really big in England on the domestic side so to be having the World Twenty20 is going to make the crowds even more excitable," said Broad.
"The crowds in England love it when players hit fours and sixes and I imagine with a tournament like this they're going to love it even more, I think it's going to be a really exciting event."
One of the major innovations for the event is that the women's event will take place alongside the men's tournament for the first time, with the semi-finals and final being played as double header matches, allowing fans to see the game's top men and women stars on a single match ticket.
Sri Lankan captain Kumar Sangakkara believes that this exposure will have a positive influence on the growth of the game.
"I think it?s very timely that it has happened. Women's cricket has come a long way in the last few years in terms of recognition and status and I think everyone has got to recognise the fact it is a game that must run parallel with the men's game," said Sangakkara.
"If you can have concurrent tournaments like this it will give a lot of exposure and a lot of experience to women's cricket and especially to a side like the Sri Lankan side who come into tournaments like this where they get the chance to experience not just playing against their opponents but also learning from the men's game."
And the top women's players are excited about the opportunity of playing alongside the men in the televised double headers.
"I think it's very exciting for all of the top women cricketers to play in the ICC World Twenty20," said Jhulan Goswami, the world's leading fast bowler in international cricket and captain of India's women team.
"Two years ago we saw how men's cricket came out with the World Twenty20 and after that so many good things happened with men's cricket, like the IPL.
"I also think it's a big thing that the women's semi-finals and final are being played ahead of the men's games.
"Being able to play in the same grounds, be in the dressing rooms that the men will be in too - hopefully people will recognise us globally because people will notice that women's cricket is taking place at the same time as the men."
One of the brightest talents to emerge at the ICC Women's World Cup was Stafanie Taylor from the West Indies, a hard-hitting opening batter, and an excellent spin bowler, and she is keen to build on her excellent tournament in Australia in March.
"It was amazing for me to play in the World Cup and it was great to keep our spot as the fifth team in the world," said Taylor.
"I am good Twenty20 player and I love the game - I am really looking forward to it. We have a good chance of doing well as we all love the format and we show our talent in Twenty20.?"