The Roar
The Roar

Advertisement

2015 Cricket World Cup: Improving minnows attain big fish status

Mohammad Nabi. (AP Photo/A.M. Ahad, File)
Roar Pro
16th March, 2015
20

The World Cup has now finished the group stages and we can look forward to the knockout stage. In the knockouts, every game becomes bigger for the combatants until the final on March 28.

But, we have to talk about the group stage. It has always been difficult for the ICC to get it right, and I am not here to criticise them, but it is worth looking at how the teams performed.

Given that the affiliate teams are affectionately known as ‘The Minnows’ I think it is well in order to rate the teams on a fishy scale.

The scale is very technical. Starting from the bottom, we have:
1. Minnows
2. Salmon
3. Tuna
4. Sharks

Before the world cup started the teams would rate as follows:

Sharks
Australia
South Africa
New Zealand
India

Tuna
Sri Lanka
Pakistan
England
West Indies

Salmon
Bangladesh
Zimbabwe
Ireland

Advertisement

Minnows
U.A.E
Afghanistan
Scotland

So how do the teams rate now? Let’s look at the ones that have missed out.

United Arab Emirates
These guys did as well as could be expected. They are basically expatriates from the sub-continent. Most of them are professionals who have taken time off to play cricket.

While they didn’t win a game, they competed every time. Shaiman Anwar led with the bat, and scored his team’s only century. Manjula Guruge was willing with the ball, and bowled with good economy.

Mohammed Naveed took wickets steadily, but not penetrating. Anwar and Guruge were bestowed the honour of making The Lazy Phoenix team of the week.

Scotland
Went okay, but probably disappointed not to have a win. They would be kicking themselves for not defending 318 against Bangladesh. They can take heart from Josh Davey’s bowling.

It has been hardly menacing but he still picked up 14 wickets and was always up among the leaders. Majid Haq bowled his ultra slowies with good economy. Kyle Coertzer scored a brilliant 156 against Bangladesh. Matthew Cross also picked up nine wickets behind the stumps. These three also made The Lazy Phoenix team of the week.

Advertisement

Afghanistan
The feel-good story of the tournament, and a testimony as to why minnows should be part of the World Cup. These guys can develop and become a serious part of World Cricket.

They are a relatively young squad and all reports are that Andy Moles has coached them perfectly, aiding their natural skills with advice and encouragement.

Hamid Hassan has been close to my favourite player with his war paint, headband and raw bowling ability. The Zadran brothers have worked willingly and in fact all of the main bowlers kept their strike rate below six per over, which is a huge wrap.

Samiulah Shemwari was the standout batsman, whose 96 steered them to their famous victory against Scotland. I was also impressed by their willingness to learn, even when they were getting savaged by the sharks. Three players of the week here, Hassan Shapoor and Samiulah.

The I.C.C. must help this side grow.

England
I’ll try to be serious here. No, bugger it, what a joke they are. The definition of insanity is to try the same thing again and again, hoping for a different result.

England were insipid, their body language was down and there was not one character that could drag them out of the mire. That’s their problem, all the strong characters were left out.

Advertisement

I guess it was easy to herd this lot onto the bus, but even easier to send them back to the dressing room when batting, and to the boundary when bowling. No batsman scored more than one decent innings each, the bowlers barely took a wicket and the one that did, Finn went for nearly eight runs an over.

Hint for you England, Yorkers were invented in Yorkshire. The rest of the world have picked up on that delivery. Only Joe Root made the team of the week, although captain Eoin Morgan made it for his second duck.

Zimbabwe
The Zimmers probably did what everyone expected from them. They competed hard, they batted well but they could not beat any of the big fish. Unfortunately, I can’t see them ever getting out of their pond.

They had two outstanding batsmen, Keeper Brendan Taylor who scored two dashing hundreds, and Sean Williams who managed to get past fifty four times, plus nab a couple of handy wickets. Young Tendai Chatara grabbed ten wickets, but most of the bowlers were going at over six an over which means the team is always chasing 300.

They would ultimately be disappointed that they finished well behind Ireland. Brendan Taylor made the team of the week once.

Ireland
The best minnows by far. These guys have a great attitude to the game. They bat long and smart, although their bowling lets them down a little. Porterfield and Joyce led the way, but most of the batting side scored runs at some stage.

They are another team that needs to score 300 plus to win as the bowlers just lacked the venom needed to put a team away. Andy Cusack was the best of the bowlers, with a good economy, but they really fall into the medium pace style, and need some actual quicks.

Advertisement

I heard somebody comment that with Ireland’s batting and Afghanistan’s bowling, this would be a super competitive side.Their victory against the Windies was their big moment. Unfortunately, in their last match against Pakistan, good bowling brought them undone, and their own bowling could not compete.

Ed Joyce was the only Irishman to receive team of the week honours, mainly because the team has been so consistent.

This has changed by exclusive ratings somewhat.

Minnows
U.A.E.
Scotland

Salmon
Ireland
England
Afghanistan
Zimbabwe

I think that says everything, particularly about England who have gone from Shark to Tuna and now to Salmon in less than two years. Afghanistan deservedly earn their Salmon rating, and Ireland are a dorsal fin away from becoming Tuna.

The I.C.C. must help these lesser nations develop. Ireland, for example are an ageing squad and need competitive cricket to grow.

Advertisement

To be honest the Shark nations need to stand up for their little mates. Australia should invite Ireland to tour next year. All Aussie fans love an underdog, and would support the Irish. If not, the team’s players should be encouraged into the T20 franchises much more than they are.

Let’s hope somebody with influence in World Cricket understands this. Maybe a bucket of burley needs to be thrown in the I.C.C. boardroom.

close