The minnows strike back
Who has more egg on their face today: The critics, such as this site, who questioned the presence of cricket’s little battlers, or the Indian’s and Pakistani’s, who actually lost to them? There’s a hell of a lot of yoak to go around.
Authorities will hail St.Patricks Day afternoon as the justification for including such undermanned sides amongst the elite. Ireland’s victory over Pakistan should be particularly celebrated. The accents of those delighted Irish will tell you there’s a healthy peppering of ex-pat Aussies in the team. That minute detail aside, it’s an awfully big effort for players more at home in district cricket to beat an international outfit - even if it’s Pakistan. Ireland’s win will warm the heart, but its Bangladesh’s success that will mean so much more. One by one, the Tigers keep picking off scalps. Australia in 2005, victories also against Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Yesterday was their second success over India. The Tigers are getting better and can now be taken moderately seriously. A serious improvement. We must be a cynical society. TAB Sportsbet had Bangladesh at $8 and Ireland at the less than juicy odds of $11. Well, less than juicy unless you took them. No one seems to believe in Pakistan anymore, in the same way they don’t believe in Santa Claus.
These upsets are wonderfully romantic, but still remain the exception. Woefully so. The first fortnight is still a sea of one sided borefests that have not inspired crowds or players alike. Except for Herschelle Gibbs. Six sixes in an over is herculian, but here it is nothing more than a footnote.
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