Well the seventh under 19 world cup is on its way with as many as four matches namely-West Indies vs Pakistan, India vs Afghanistan, Ireland vs South Africa and last but not the least Canada vs Zimbabwe about to make a start on the first day itself. One has to really wonder as to why does the ICC want to finish off the mega event in a span of just 15 days, with four matches scheduled everyday and obviously at four different venues. The final of the tournament is scheduled on the 30th of this month, with as many as 40+ matches to be held inbetween.
It is really fascinating to see some new teams like Papua New Guinea, Hong Kong, Afghanistan and United States of America (USA)who are yet to make it to the senior world cup that is held once in four years making a mark in the U-19 world cup. United States and Hong Kong have made it to the international arena previously as well, the former in the ICC Champions Trophy 2004 and the latter in the two editions of the Asia Cup in 2004 and 2008. Though there are hardly any takers for the matches involving the aforementioned teams, one fine day, they can be considered to take the game of cricket forward.
Is it because there are no takers for these matches that the ICC is scheduling these games in such a tight schedule or is it because that the ICC wants the U-19 players concentrate on some other issues may be outside the cricket world. The major world cup the is held once in four years spans over two months, with the players from all the major cricketing nations having a year round schedule excluding their domestic tournaments and the IPLs. Even the lesser events like the ICC Champions trophy and ICC world T20 that are held once in every 2 years spans slightly more than 15 days.
Whatever be the case, there is no cricket tournament that hosts four matches daily. The maximum that has been hosted in a single day is three, with one game involving only minnows. It is just not understandable as to why 4 matches are held simultaneously. Is it the lack of viewers who watch these games? T20 world cup hosts 2 matches daily unlike 4 in U-19 WC. I wonder as to how come the TV channels who have bagged the telecast rights of these matches can show the viewers the match of their interest. Can anyone of you readers of this blog give me an answer for "What other commitments do these U-19 players have other than this U-19 WC?".
With so much loop holes that the ICC is not bothered about despite things being clear, it looks that the ICC just wants to finish off the U-19 world cup as a formality than ancourage the yourgsters take to the game of cricket.
Showing posts with label Ireland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ireland. Show all posts
Thursday, January 14, 2010
Sunday, July 19, 2009
ICC's Great Concern For Minnows As Well
Whether there are any takers for the match between Ireland and Kenya or not, the ICC looks to be keen in taking both the aforementioned teams for a ride. There have hardly been any sponsors for the above stated match but, some serious issues have popped over regarding the caliber of the game whatsoever. Don't you guys ever ask as to who would benefit from the match that involves solely minnows but just think that the ICC does things just for the cause of the game no matter who would take home what from be it the match or the series at the end.
Anyway, coming to the third and the final one day international between Kenya and Ireland, Ireland were seen whitewashing the Kenyans 3-0 in the recently concluded three match one day series. However, not a news was made in any format be it by the ICC or the news channels. Neither could one see the scorecard of the match that is ought to be a stepping stone for both the teams. Forget about the cricket fans who would have otherwise rushed to the stadiums to cheer for either of the teams or atleast come to see some cricketing action on the field.
It would not be a surprise even if the concerned persons didn't show any sort of interest in marketing the tickets for the match, for the result is well anticipated. I just recall the ICC Champions trophy 2000 that was held in Nairobi (Kenya) where people rushed to the stadiums to watch their favourite team battle it out there. Anyway, some things can never be expected. Still, the third ODI was worth the time spent in watching the same, for there was indeed some blistering stroke play from the blades of the Irish batsmen Paul Stirling who scored a decent 84 runs from 92 balls.
And on the other hand, though not a professional one, the 61 runs scored by Kenya's opening batsmen Maurice Ouma could keep the scorecard ticking each and every moment. Finally, as the rules of the game goes, there could be only one winner and that came out to be Ireland yet again. So, it would not be wrong to say that the Irish have grown harsh enough not only to punch the opposition but also whitewash the same. Else, the third one day international was thought to be Kenya's piece of cake which was finally stole by Ireland. Ireland never went in to give the opposition a consolation win like it happens most of the time when a team takes an unbeatable lead.
Anyway, coming to the third and the final one day international between Kenya and Ireland, Ireland were seen whitewashing the Kenyans 3-0 in the recently concluded three match one day series. However, not a news was made in any format be it by the ICC or the news channels. Neither could one see the scorecard of the match that is ought to be a stepping stone for both the teams. Forget about the cricket fans who would have otherwise rushed to the stadiums to cheer for either of the teams or atleast come to see some cricketing action on the field.
It would not be a surprise even if the concerned persons didn't show any sort of interest in marketing the tickets for the match, for the result is well anticipated. I just recall the ICC Champions trophy 2000 that was held in Nairobi (Kenya) where people rushed to the stadiums to watch their favourite team battle it out there. Anyway, some things can never be expected. Still, the third ODI was worth the time spent in watching the same, for there was indeed some blistering stroke play from the blades of the Irish batsmen Paul Stirling who scored a decent 84 runs from 92 balls.
And on the other hand, though not a professional one, the 61 runs scored by Kenya's opening batsmen Maurice Ouma could keep the scorecard ticking each and every moment. Finally, as the rules of the game goes, there could be only one winner and that came out to be Ireland yet again. So, it would not be wrong to say that the Irish have grown harsh enough not only to punch the opposition but also whitewash the same. Else, the third one day international was thought to be Kenya's piece of cake which was finally stole by Ireland. Ireland never went in to give the opposition a consolation win like it happens most of the time when a team takes an unbeatable lead.
Something Ireland Would Be Proud Of
There can be at the most one and only one winner in a cricket match and at times, there could be no winner at all. Such is the case when it comes to the game called cricket. Anyway, coming to the second one day match between Ireland and Kenya held at Dublin, the Kenyan team that are contained with tongue twisting names could hardly prove their myth in international cricket. If at all a team like Kenya can boast of a victory, it should and can be only against teams like Ireland. Well no doubt that they have had wins against India and West Indies, in which case it was India's loss rather than Kenya's win. So is the case for the other team Ireland as well.
In case Ireland can boast of a decent and deserving victory, it has to be a team of the same caliber. And Kenya is one among them. When the match between the aforementioned teams as is is hardly watched by anyone in the world and is on the other side hardly telecast by any channel that boasts of a decent viewership, one can imagine the fate of such matches when the same is hit by bad weather. As usual, the Duckworth Lewis was bought into play that declared the team Ireland who were batting second as winners by 54 runs. Needless to be said, Kenya lost all their wickets for a paltry score of just 175 and should have Ireland chased the total of 175, it would have been a satisfactory victory for Ireland.
However, the match was no less when it came to some cricket action on the field, when the Irish captain William Poterfield got his team off to a flier when he struck three boundaries off one over bowled by Kenya's Thomas Odaya. The same batsman took four boundaries from another over bowled by Kenya's Odhiambo which is a rare feat given the caliber of both the teams battling it out there. There was also a bowler who ended up with figures of 3/40 from 9 overs. In addition, there was a Kenyan batsman who had the Irish bowlers well under his control that saw Kenya raise from 66/4 at one stage to 175 at the end of the innings.
Alex Obanda fought with a 78 ball 59 in the above mentioned situation. Whatever, the only disappointment of the match was that it was reduced owing to the introduction of Duckworth Lewis which at most of the times takes away the thrill of the game. The reason for the ICC to conduct such tournaments was to help the minnows get up and dance to the tunes of stronger teams so that the game of cricket gets globalised with more nations battling it out on the field. But, with the current speed at which Ireland are going, the target is not bound to be achieved in the near future whatsoever.
In case Ireland can boast of a decent and deserving victory, it has to be a team of the same caliber. And Kenya is one among them. When the match between the aforementioned teams as is is hardly watched by anyone in the world and is on the other side hardly telecast by any channel that boasts of a decent viewership, one can imagine the fate of such matches when the same is hit by bad weather. As usual, the Duckworth Lewis was bought into play that declared the team Ireland who were batting second as winners by 54 runs. Needless to be said, Kenya lost all their wickets for a paltry score of just 175 and should have Ireland chased the total of 175, it would have been a satisfactory victory for Ireland.
However, the match was no less when it came to some cricket action on the field, when the Irish captain William Poterfield got his team off to a flier when he struck three boundaries off one over bowled by Kenya's Thomas Odaya. The same batsman took four boundaries from another over bowled by Kenya's Odhiambo which is a rare feat given the caliber of both the teams battling it out there. There was also a bowler who ended up with figures of 3/40 from 9 overs. In addition, there was a Kenyan batsman who had the Irish bowlers well under his control that saw Kenya raise from 66/4 at one stage to 175 at the end of the innings.
Alex Obanda fought with a 78 ball 59 in the above mentioned situation. Whatever, the only disappointment of the match was that it was reduced owing to the introduction of Duckworth Lewis which at most of the times takes away the thrill of the game. The reason for the ICC to conduct such tournaments was to help the minnows get up and dance to the tunes of stronger teams so that the game of cricket gets globalised with more nations battling it out on the field. But, with the current speed at which Ireland are going, the target is not bound to be achieved in the near future whatsoever.
Ireland On Fire
Well the first one day international match between Ireland and Kenya reminded me the way Ireland way back in 2007 beat Pakistan to move further to the super eights of the same. Well, that can be said a Pakistan loss rather than an Ireland win for, underestimation at times could prove too costly like we have seen in most of the major cricketing tournaments. However, some reason for teams like Ireland and Kenya to feel proud and relaxed is a win against another minnow like be it against Bermuda or Holland. Recently, there was a two match tournament involving Scotland and Canada in which both the teams took home a victory each.
Now, after a very short duration, a bilateral series involving Kenya and Ireland is being held. This time, the ICC being more cautioned when they decided to hold a three match one day series involving the teams mentioned above. So, in addition to encouraging lesser known teams like Canada and Scotland, it looks like even the ICC is scrutinizing itself as to how to conduct tournaments and series'. Recently and very often, series' involving even number of games are held like, recently there was India's tour to the West Indies featuring four games. In case both the teams win two out of four with the other team winning the remaining two, there can be no question of disappointment for both the teams.
May be that in addition to conducting cricket matches as a competition, the ICC also wants to avoid the respective cricket boards from slamming their players over poor shows. Anyway, coming to the first one dayer between Kenya and Ireland, of course, hardly any Kenyan citizen would have shed tears over their nation's cricket loss. For, not all cricket fans resemble their counterparts in India. If the past of both the teams under consideration is taken, Kenya should have held a comparatively upper hand for, they have been playing cricket since 1996 seriously unlike Ireland who made it some 4 years back to the international arena.
Of course, even Ireland is no way less when it comes to playing decent cricket for, they made it to the super eights of a world cup on two occassions. The first instance being in 2007 after their win against Pakistan and then in the T20 world cup 2009 this time beating a much lesser opponent in Bangladesh. But, tongue twisting names like Kennedy Otieno, Obanda, Steve Tikolo and Collins Obuya are being heard since the maiden world cup 1996 which featured Kenya. But, despite their experience, they ended up on the losing side. On the other hand, Ireland's William Poterfield with just 34 matches old set up a win against Kenya for their team. With two more matches to go, deciding a winner would be nothing but stupidity.
Now, after a very short duration, a bilateral series involving Kenya and Ireland is being held. This time, the ICC being more cautioned when they decided to hold a three match one day series involving the teams mentioned above. So, in addition to encouraging lesser known teams like Canada and Scotland, it looks like even the ICC is scrutinizing itself as to how to conduct tournaments and series'. Recently and very often, series' involving even number of games are held like, recently there was India's tour to the West Indies featuring four games. In case both the teams win two out of four with the other team winning the remaining two, there can be no question of disappointment for both the teams.
May be that in addition to conducting cricket matches as a competition, the ICC also wants to avoid the respective cricket boards from slamming their players over poor shows. Anyway, coming to the first one dayer between Kenya and Ireland, of course, hardly any Kenyan citizen would have shed tears over their nation's cricket loss. For, not all cricket fans resemble their counterparts in India. If the past of both the teams under consideration is taken, Kenya should have held a comparatively upper hand for, they have been playing cricket since 1996 seriously unlike Ireland who made it some 4 years back to the international arena.
Of course, even Ireland is no way less when it comes to playing decent cricket for, they made it to the super eights of a world cup on two occassions. The first instance being in 2007 after their win against Pakistan and then in the T20 world cup 2009 this time beating a much lesser opponent in Bangladesh. But, tongue twisting names like Kennedy Otieno, Obanda, Steve Tikolo and Collins Obuya are being heard since the maiden world cup 1996 which featured Kenya. But, despite their experience, they ended up on the losing side. On the other hand, Ireland's William Poterfield with just 34 matches old set up a win against Kenya for their team. With two more matches to go, deciding a winner would be nothing but stupidity.
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