Quest of the Poms

Pre-Tournament predictions have become a necessary point of discussion before the start of any major tournament of any sport, be it by the fans or the experts. If a random follower of Cricket were asked to predict the semi-final line-up before any World Cup, the three names he or she would be sure to take are those of India, Australia and South Africa with the final spot being left for Sri Lanka or Pakistan. In most of the World Cups, it has been likewise.

England and New Zealand, though, are not given priority during predictions even having impressed in World Cups, for the simple reason that they have not been able to establish themselves as dominant forces in either forms of the game. It is ironical that England, who have made it to more finals than any of the sub-continent teams are often sidelined when it comes to such predictions.

However, recent shows put up by the Poms have forced the change of thoughts. It would be sheer foolishness on the part of the other ‘Big’ Nations to take them lightly. As the defending champions of the T20 Championship and with a recent thumping of old enemies Australia in the Ashes, they might well be the surprise package of this edition.

The ODIs Down Under may have been a forgettable expedition for the Englishmen, but the 6-1 score line did more to boost the hopes of the Baggy Greens rather than hamper that of the English themselves. The orthodox fan may have eliminated England before the start of the Cup, but the fiasco in Pakistan, the jittery form of the Aussies and the demolition of New Zealand in back-to-back series might give England a psychological edge with a potential quarter final clash against any of the three teams.

The fact that the tournament is being hosted by the sub-continent adds to India’s chances of reaching the final when most of the fans have already placed them there following their recent exploits. Australia and South Africa may be backed by most to make it to the final with India, but it shall not be surprising to see the Poms taking to the field in Mumbai on the day of the Final. At least this time round, the fans CAN expect an open World Cup. 

The Death of ODIs

A game that took birth as a tedious five-day business in white, and of two innings, earning itself the title ‘Game of the Gentlemen’ has now evolved to a single day blockbuster for the action-seeking crowd, shedding its ‘first-class’ tag. And when the biggest stage of the game – The World Cup is round the corner, we can understand the frenzy of the crowd who are set for over forty days of extravaganza.

The revolution in cricket that saw the emergence of One Dayers in coloured kits and floodlights and the game being trimmed to fifty overs a side gave birth to the new style of Cricket. However, with the passage of time even seven hours and a hundred overs seemed like an eternity, leading to a juggernaut called the T-20.

Since the T-20 format was Internationalised, there has been an increasing demand for it and a decreasing demand for fifty over cricket. Hence, the ICC describes the upcoming World Cup as the ‘Cup that counts’. Between the last World Championship and the current one, there have been three T-20 Championships already. The step to put a cap on the number of T-20 Internationals played in a year has not stopped the popularity of the shortest version from soaring, in spite of Test Cricket still being the ‘Main Course’ for most of the veteran players.

Now in a bid to save the fifty over format from becoming history, the game’s regulators now count on the tournament being hosted by that part of the planet that worships the game the most. But the ICC seems to forget that the game’s survival can’t be ensured by banking at a single territory and fan base.

For reasons best known to it, the ICC now feels it is high time the minnows be bid farewell from the most prestigious Tournament of the game from the next edition. The mistake made by the ICC in this regard is the lack of involvement of the ‘minnows’ in the development of the game. Countries like Holland, Ireland, Scotland, Kenya, USA and Canada are forgotten from the scene until they show up once in four years for the event.

Rather than isolating them from the map and having critics suggest they be kept away from big tournaments is no right way to ensure the game’s survival. The fact that every World Cup has produced bug shocks only proves the fact that these minnows too, have a potential to challenge the Superpowers. Consequently, the opening match of India against Bangladesh which should not be anything more than a warm up game will actually be an attempt at vengeance for the humiliation suffered four years ago.

Keeping minnows away does not serve the purpose. What the ICC should do instead is have the weaker teams play the big ones regularly in bilateral and Three-Nation tournaments. The exposure and challenge will be a new experience for the rising players and that will automatically yield results leading to the emergence of a fan following in those nations.

To promote the game it is important to have a huge fan following. In African and European nations where other sports are more popular taking cricket and encouraging participation with big teams is the only strategy that can help save the fifty over format. Else a day shall come when Cricket will be known as a three-hour sport. As avid cricket followers, no one would want to see the sport die off. Success for India in the Cup over the next one and a half months in the subcontinent will be a new lease of life for the format which could soon be making its way into the history books.