April 13th
Ireland go down to rampant Aussies but win many friends again...
The mighty Australians did not disgrace Ireland in their nine wickets defeat and the stage is now set for Bangladesh on Sunday.
Realistically Ireland had to play out of their skins but the tournament favorites had to have an off day to narrow the huge gap in status of the teams, and when Ricky Pointing won the toss and inserted the ‘underdogs’ the margin was the only issue in question and Ireland was playing for credibility. Twenty minutes later it was survival rather than credibility as the fierce pace of Tait and McGrath tore the Irish higher order to shreds. In the end we reached 91 through guts and determination, but it was a dogged struggle, much appreciated by the large crowd, hundreds of whom had traveled from Ireland, and thousands from India, Pakistan and Barbados, ironically, all supporting Ireland.
Pointing is a strong voice against the ‘minnows’ in World Cup cricket and he wasted no opportunity in ramming home his case with a magnificent attack on the fast bouncy Kensington Oval track, almost tailor-made for his fast bowlers. Ireland had no answer to the pace, and indeed neither would have any other test nation, a point accepted by all and sundry on a beautiful day in the Caribbean, when once again, Barbados did itself proud with superb facilities, friendly volunteers and excellent administration. Yes, it was worthy of a longer game as the lunchtime finish ended festivities much too early, but such are the vagaries of competitive sport.
Pointing was ruthless in the execution of cricket supremacy and it’s one of the hallmarks that has made Australian cricket do dominant for so long, but international sports tournaments thrive on much more than very forgettable results, and for personality, sportsmanship and enterprise, Ireland would leave the abrasive Aussies a long way behind. It’s a point that Pointing and the ‘anti-minnows brigade’ have failed to appreciate, and one reason why top class sportsmen are rarely top-class businessmen, as they can’t see any further than their own egos and narrow opinions. On current form Australia will probably win 2007 Cricket World Cup, but the competition will be remembered more for the fighting Ireland and the Bangladesh teams, their supporters, and their shock victories, all combining to prove the point that it’s not all about winning.
All this adds up to an intriguing Sunday showdown between two teams that have captured the imagination of this competition much more than the mighty Aussies and who will have their own cup final irrespective of what a few mighty mouths have been saying in the past few weeks.
May the best team win and the spirit of cricket thrive!
