The Twenty20 World Cup in Australia has produced a sequence of shocks and the so-called minnows warn there are going to be extra at future tournaments.
Netherlands’ gamers have fun their win as South Africa’s Kagiso Rabada (L) appears on throughout the ICC males’s Twenty20 World Cup 2022 cricket match between Netherlands and South Africa at Adelaide Oval on 6 November 2022 in Adelaide. Picture: Brenton EDWARDS/AFP
ADELAIDE – The Twenty20 World Cup in Australia has produced a sequence of shocks and the so-called minnows warn there are going to be extra at future tournaments.
The final in a string of gorgeous upsets got here on Sunday and was arguably the largest of all of them.
Scott Edwards’ Netherlands knocked South Africa out of the World Cup at the Adelaide Oval with a shock 13-run victory on the remaining day of the Super 12.
Coupled with wins for Pakistan and India over Bangladesh and Zimbabwe respectively, the Dutch will get direct entry into the expanded 2024 World Cup in the West Indies and United States.
Ireland, with wins over two-time champions the West Indies and England, had been additionally giant-killers. As had been Zimbabwe, who defeated Pakistan.
The first match of the match was a style of issues to come back when Namibia thrashed Asian champions Sri Lanka by 55 runs.
Speaking on the eve of their match in opposition to the Proteas, South African-born Dutch bowler Roelof van der Merwe stated these had been no flukes.
“You look at the different formats and then you look at T20 cricket, and the shorter the format is, the closer the teams are,” he stated.
“Ten years ago there would have been one (upset) a tournament.
“You’re seeing it increasingly more occur now. Teams are getting extra clued up in how they need to put together and what must be carried out in successful video games.
“That’s definitely something that’s evolved in the last 10 years or so. Teams are getting closer to the guys at the top.
“It’s good for cricket.”
Renowned commentator Harsha Bhogle said that the lesser lights of world cricket have shown they deserve more exposure.
“Irrespective of what occurs subsequent, the Netherlands, Zimbabwe, Ireland, even Namibia and Scotland have demanded extra alternatives in T20 cricket,” he wrote on Twitter.
“This World Cup ought to result in a better democratisation of our sport.”
‘RIGHT DIRECTION’
But will it?
The International Cricket Council, the sport’s ruling body, is keen to push the game’s growth beyond traditional cricketing countries.
But the leading nations are often so busy playing each other that they have no time for the supposed minnows.
Series against lower-ranked sides do not bring the money in like a blockbuster India versus England one would.
Lucrative T20 leagues also pack an already congested calendar.
The smaller nations often end up playing against each other, except when they get their chance at global tournaments such as a World Cup.
“The higher thought could be for the ‘A’ groups of India or Australia or England to go and play these nations,” senior Indian sports journalist R. Kaushik told AFP.
He agrees that the T20 format lends itself to shocks, but added: “Also these are indications that cricket in these nations is shifting in the proper route.”
Ireland skipper Andrew Balbirnie bristled at the notion that their wins over the West Indies and pre-tournament favourites England were upsets at all.
“We may not be recognised as a result of we do not play as usually as different groups on the massive stage or in entrance of the cameras as usually,” he said.
“But I believe these tournaments persistently present that groups outdoors the massive six or seven are superb cricket groups.”
CONFIDENCE BOOST
Van der Merwe and Balbirnie said that the proliferation of T20 leagues around the world gave their players the opportunity to play at a high level all year round.
“So numerous gamers are enjoying T20 cricket throughout the world and getting experiences and publicity and studying new issues,” said the Irishman.
Future World Cups are likely to see more upsets, experts and players say, which in turn could fuel the growth of the game in those countries.
After the United States and West Indies co-host the 2024 T20 World Cup, the 2027 50-over showpiece will be jointly staged by Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.
South African-born Dutch fast bowler Brandon Glover, who claimed three wickets in Sunday’s shock win, said automatic qualification for 2024 will do wonders for Netherlands cricket.
“I believe it is a good confidence-booster and superb for Dutch cricket, so hopefully we are able to reap the benefits of it,” Glover stated.