Saturday, February 26, 2011

Beware the well-drilled minnows

As the debate rages on about the place of minnows in future World Cups, Ireland yesterday, and Netherlands a few days earlier, proved the value of the participation of the so-called lesser teams in the World Cup.

Yesterday's match started in the manner many would have expected with Tamim Iqbal blazing away at the start to make batting seem easy. 41 runs came off the first four overs, with each boundary greeted raucously by a rabid home crowd, and Ireland seemed to be in for some leather-chasing that would see them chasing a steep total against the more-fancied Bangladesh. A little under three hours later, Bangladesh were made to look like minnows, floundering at 173 for 8, and finally folding for 205.

Ireland bore the brunt of the initial onslaught, and then displayed a priceless attribute. It wasn't oodles of talent, but an ability to absorb pressure and come out fighting that gave them the advantage over their Test-playing opponents.

After the wickets of Tamim and Imrul Kayes, who was brilliantly stumped down the leg side, the Irish reacted well and took control of the game by taking pace off the ball. They saw how Boyd Rankin, their fastest bowler, was taken apart in his first two overs, and knew that the best way forward was to make the batsmen go hard at the ball on a slow pitch. Trent Johnston started bowling slower, so did Andre Botha, and it paid dividends with Shakib Al Hasan being caught and bowled after he played early at a Botha delivery.

The two runouts in Bangladesh's innings may have been instances of bad calling, but equally they were brought about by brilliance on the field from the Irish. Junaed Siddiqui and Rokibul Hasan were both sent packing courtesy of direct hits, highlighting how important it is to do the little things well.

It is here that the Associate nations bring value to tournaments like the World Cup. They do not have the reservoirs of skill and flair that the bigger nations do, and they will start most matches as underdogs. There was not a single bowler who flummoxed the Bangladeshis, but the whole Irish team. Their fielding was that of a well-oiled unit, with all stoppable boundary-bound hits chased and saved at the boundary and the relay throwing working like clockwork.

In a sport that all too often focuses on the strength of individuals, minnows like Ireland and Netherlands remindits exponents that it is indeed a team game, and the crucial role pride in performance and robust work ethic plays in deciding its outcome. Such teams hold more celebrated sides to a high level of performance, letting them know that if they slip but a little, the minnows will be there to take possession of the game. If the World Cup isn't their stage, then one is left to wonder what is.