Is there a Phoenix within the minnows of cricket?
When C.K. Nayudu had led the Indian cricket team to play the first ever international cricket match in 1932, little did anybody know that 43 years later this same country would be the world Champions and continue to dominate the game. But can we equate such a similar situation for present day minnows like Bangladesh, Ireland and Zimbabwe?
Except for a few glares, we have never really seen these teams fire. The single biggest thing which is lacking with these teams is their consistency. A significant reason why teams like India and Pakistan did well and these teams did not was the exposure factor. Indian subcontinent players learned their basics from English county cricket and hence had a strong base. They faced the world’s finest bowlers. They played more number of tests and it was hardwired in their brains that Test cricket is the real face of cricket. But cricketers from Bangladesh, Ireland etc first play limited over cricket and then try their hand at Test cricket. Veterans have been lamenting about this for long but nobody seems to pay heed to their wise words
It was a dream come true for the Bangladesh team when they defeated Australia and for Ireland when they ousted Pakistan in the World cup. But inspite of these victories, their countries have not done anything significant for the development of their players except for some victory welcomes. Countries like Bangladesh and Afghanistan are going through a lot of political and economic turmoil and these has added to their woes. Afghanistan for example does not have even proper training grounds for its national team.A one-of victory is a big thing for these countries. So, they often lose the focus for big matches. Less expectation from the people of the country damages their chances further. One of the reasons why India was so successful in the international circuit was the competitiveness it showed, the passion and the team work. There are definitely cricketers who are individually brilliant in these teams but they can’t win you successive matches.
With the advent of T20 cricket, players of these countries are going through a mirage effect. They are getting paid a lot for doing something which only entertains the crowd and does not really add any feathers to their caps. The amount of money sometimes lures them away from Test cricket and few players end their careers with no Test caps at all. This is like a taboo in Old school cricket.
Even being an optimist from the core of my heart, I believe it is a little too much to expect from Bangladesh and Ireland to become a cricketing prowess in the near future. The potential is definitely there and we have seen glimpses of it but it needs to come out more consistently. The cricket boards in these countries need to revamp their processes. Talents have to be handpicked as is done in European Football and nurtured properly. Moreover, players need to be passionate when they are playing for the country.
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