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Will Bangladesh cricket end up performing better than Italian rugby?

Afghanistan is heading Down Under. (AFP PHOTO / WAKIL KOHSAR)
Expert
19th March, 2015
18

Bangladesh was invited to join the elite ODI cricket nations in 1986, while Italy joined the Six Nations in 2000. But both are still minnows, still feeling their way despite the sands of time.

Bangladesh’s record in the World Cup proves the point.

They were ineligible in the inaugural year 1975. From 1979 to 1996 they failed to qualify, in 1999 they made their first appearance but failed to make the final series, and again in 2003.

Bangladesh created their own history by qualifying for the Super Eight in 2007, beating South Africa by 67 runs, but lost to Australia, New Zealand, England, Ireland, West Indies and Sri Lanka.

In 2011 they again didn’t qualify for the finals, but in this tournament they banished England into fifth place in Pool A to qualify for the quarters on Thursday night at the MCG, for their tilt with Pool B winners India.

Bangladesh had the defending champions in trouble from the eighth over to the 26th, allowing only 57 runs in 136 deliveries.

But India wasn’t to be denied, and on the back of man of the match Rohit Sharma’s 137 off 126 with 14 fours and three sixes, Suresh Raina’s 65 off 57 with seven fours and a six, and Ravi Jadeja’s unbeaten 23 off 14 with four boundaries, India posted 6-302.

No team has ever chased down 300 at the MCG, and nor could Bangladesh. India claimed their 100th ODI victory when they dismissed Bangladesh for 193 to win by 103.

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It’s the seventh time from seven games in this tournament that India has captured all 10 opposition wickets. Outstanding.

So Bangladesh’s record in ODI needs improving if they are to lose their minnow status.

They have won one ODI against Pakistan in 32 internationals, one against Australia in 19, one against South Africa in 14, three against England in 16, three against India in 29, four against Sri Lanka in 38, seven against West Indies in 28, and eight against New Zealand in 25.

That’s just 28 victories out of 201 internationals.

However, Italian rugby is no better. With one weekend to go to decide the current Six Nations tournament, these are the stats since 2000. including the first four rounds this year.

All six teams have played 79 games.

England’s won 54, lost 24, and drawn one, scoring 2163 points to 1222 with a points differential of plus 941. France has won 52, lost 25, drawn two, scoring 1967 points to 1370 with a points differential of plus 597.

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Ireland’s won 52, lost 25, drawn two, scoring 1912 points to 1439 with a points differential of plus 473. Wales has won 43, lost 34, drawn two, scoring 1779 points to 1703 with a points differential of plus 76.

Scotland’s won 19, lost 58, drawn two, scoring 1246 points to 1960 with a points differential of minus 714. Italy’s won 12, lost 66, drawn one, scoring 1140 points to 2507 with a points differential of minus 1367.

Having beaten Scotland 22-19 this year, Italy may well have avoided the Six Nations wooden spoon. But the Azzurri have won 10 of the 16 spoons, Scotland’s won four if they take out this year’s, Wales has won one, and France one.

Italy’s never qualified for the finals series in any one of the seven World Cups, scoring 455 points to 811, while their Test record against the elite underlines their minnow rugby status.

Italy has never beaten England in 21 Tests, never beaten the Wallabies in 16, never beaten the All Blacks in 12, and never beaten the Boks in 12 Tests,

Their rare successes have been eight wins in 23 over Scotland, five wins in 20 over the Pumas, four wins in 24 over Ireland, three wins in 36 over France, and two wins from 12 over Wales.

That’s 22 wins in 176 Tests.

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On those overall stats it’s reasonable to expect Bangladesh to be more competitive among the elite cricket nations than Italy will ever be among the rugby elite.

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