One winner and one loser theory

Well in any game and more so in cricket, one team has to win while the other has to lose. I specially cite cricket as an example in this regard for, chances of a tie are as rare compared to games like hockey and soccer. In cricket there is no or hardly any room for time out which is quite evident from the fact that till date no batsman has been out after taking to the crease after 1.5 minute as the rule goes. That aside, yesterday there was a game between Canada and Kenya which though was of little or no importance but there was a 50 over game.

There was 95% of the game that went by with one team taking home the honors and the other team a "best of luck in the next game". But, one thing that is to be seen and appreciated is the fact that the stadium was full despite the teams being just for the sake of it. One advantage of such a game would be that spectators do not come in support of any team unlike when it is the case when the teams playing are India and Pakistan. Cheers are heard all over irrespective of any tongue twister from Kenya scores a boundary or and Indian born Canadian takes a wicket.

Even whether gods seem to favor such games when a match between Sri Lanka and Australia gets washed out due to rain. People who come to stadium to watch such games should either be jobless or have to an avid cricket enthusiast. I totally forgot to mention that it is only for such games that tickets are available with minimum effort and may be at a lesser price compared to tough competitions. If the players battle it out on the field, spectators battle it out outside the stadium. But, this match seems to lack both onfield as well as off the field competition.

Speaking cricket, there was a 4 wicket haul taken by a Canadian bowler when Henry Osinde had figures of 4/26 from his allotted 10 overs. This saw Kenya losing all ten wickets but played their full quota of 50 overs allotted to them. If history is to be considered, then Kenya should have been found playing much more better cricket which two cups back saw them make it to the semis of the world cup after a lot of support from Sri Lanka and New Zealand. Likewise, even Canada have been involved in upsets when they beat Bangladesh in 2003 world cup and with a batsman in John Davidson who scored the fastest 100 of a world cup at that time.

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.