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.
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.
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.
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.
Richard
Guest
And for his next article, David will compare apples to oranges.
Targa
Guest
Bangladesh have definitely improved, but Italy have hope. I reckon they could take the Wallabies in a couple of years - have dropped to 6th in the world!
Jarrod
Guest
What a stupid article. Bangladesh has 130 million people and cricket is the national game. As their economy grows then the performances of the cricket team will grow likewise. Italian rugby has been benefited hugely by admittance into the Six Nations but they actually have to compete with football in their country. The problems facing Italy and Bangladesh are completely different. Just because a country isn't amongst the elite doesn't mean that their contribution to that sport cannot be valuable.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Er, what? Prude?
Jack
Guest
Italian rugby is not a aste of space, if there is a country with 60 million people with rugby potential, i dont think it is a waste of space, just give it time. Besides, they are a better rugby team then scotland
josh
Roar Rookie
Are Bangladesh minnows? I thought the "minnows" tag was reserved for non Test match playing countries.
Johnno
Guest
Put a sock in it Christo the daddyo you prude.
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Maybe, but perhaps stick to the topic Johnno? It's difficult enough to follow your train of thought without you throwing completely random statements into the mix!
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
Hang on, you list a bunch of stats (which simple proves you can look up records - congratulations on that by the way) and then make the leap from those stats to "Italian rugby is a waste of space"?!?!? Seriously? That's got to be the most simplistic 'argument' I've ever read on this site. How about looking at the administration of the game? How about looking at what funding is available? Infrastructure? Competitive sporting environment? etc But of course that would require you to do some actual research, as opposed to simply looking up results from Wikipedia.
Johnno
Guest
The point is aussie Bokkie , the Proteas and the Boks are gonna choke at both world cups and won't win take that. The kiwis will smoke the Proteas next week at Eden Park like they smoke the Boks.
Aussie Bokkie
Guest
To echo Chris Daddyo's words, what on earth is the point of this article David?? -- Comment from The Roar's iPhone app.
Johnno
Guest
Italy have a big rugby future. And far richer country than Bangladesh, and with out all the flood problems, and political problems. Italy should get better as time moves on, they have grown a lot, there just having a bad season in 6 nations this year, but they are making progress all the time. Can only see Italian rugby growing. Bangs will be good at T20 and ODI's but no future in Tests.
The Bush
Roar Guru
I don't think Italian rugby is a "waste of space". How else do you grow the game? France entered the then Four Nations in the 1910s from memory and weren't competative for well over twenty (20) years and didn't arrive as a true force until the '60s. What do you suggest, that rugby simply give up on expansion? On the Bangladesh front and the thing I do agree with about this Article David, is that Bangladesh will come good long before Italy. The major difference between the two (2) is that Italy is already a major power in football, strong at the Olympics and has decent Basketball and Volleyball leagues, whilst also having some decent basketballers too. What does all this mean? It means that rugby is waaaaaay down the pecking order of sports in Italy and unlikely to become major any time soon. In contrast Cricket has overtaken football to become the dominant sport in Bangladesh - they're crazy about it and with 165m citizens, it's simply a matter of time before they start to develop consistently strong sides.
David Lord
Expert
Sorry the point escapes you Daddyo, it must have been a long read when you didn't know what the hell was going on? It poses the question how long will it take Bangladesh cricket and Italian rugby to lose their minnow tag when both were forced to compete against the elite n a regular basis before they were ready. Answer? Bangladesh may in time make it, Italy never will, which begs the question why were they elevated to elite status in the first place? Italian rugby is a waste of space.
Council
Guest
The condescension is strong in this article...
Christo the Daddyo
Guest
What on earth is the point of this article?
Michael
Roar Rookie
Who has beaten the All Blacks though? IRELAND still haven't.
JJ
Guest
In a word ... yes. They remind me of a Sri Lanka in the late 80s and are making decent progress. Of all the minnows this is the only nation which proper capacity to challenge the big boys within the next 6-8 years.