Not many people would know who John Davison is unless you’re a cricket nut. He is the 40-plus Canadian batsman who had the fastest century in a World Cup tournament.
It’s not Shahid Afridi, Adam Gilchrist or even Sanath Jayasuriya. It’s ‘Jim,’ from a country that plays ice-hockey and exports bad music. He held for a while, the coveted batting feat, until the marauding Mathew Hayden of the last tournament.
That is the power of the underdog. The lesser known whipping–boys of international cricket. Ignore them at your peril.
Sri Lanka consequently acquired the tag of Big Fish. And they wore it with the same unease as their predecessors did and continue to do. An unexpected bashing at the hands of Kenya in the 2003 World Cup was a massive reversal from 1996 where Aravinda De Silva decimated the same opposition at Asgiriya. Take nothing for granted, was the cricketing message that Kenya embodied that day. They went on to beat the West Indies in the same tournament.
As recent as the 2007 World Cup, probably the most exciting match in the Caribbean was between two relative minnows. Ireland v Zimbabwe had all the drama of the Allan Donald run-out but none of the hype. Ireland recovered from 95 for 5 to post 221 and Zimbabwean last man Rainsford was run out going for the winning run.
In the same tournament Bangladesh sent India packing with a group stage victory. Media hype ensures that regardless of the quality of their cricket team, India are always favourites for any tournament they maybe a part of. Bangladesh dispensed with them thanks largely to Mashrafe Mortaza’s 4 for 38. Tamim Iqbal and Shakib Al Hasan scored half centuries and can only have improved as cricketers. They are likely to claim a large scalp in their group during their advancement to the quarter finals.
The year 2007 also saw the Irish beating Pakistan. Whatever people may say – unfairly – about fixing, this game seemed the genuine upset. A pacy Sabina Park pitch provided the stage for the drama to unfold, showing that conditions play a huge part in balancing the scales of quality, talent and reputation. Untested Sri Lankan venues – particularly Hambantota and RPS – are likely to have this effect.
Similarly, with Kenya, Canada and Zimbabwe in Sri Lanka’s group anything can, and generally does, happen. With the heavy rains in Hambantota and volatile weather in Kandy bordering on cool and overcast, a snaking spell of bowling or a Charles Coventry blitz may just have Sri Lanka needing to look sharp. Kenya will not need to be reminded that they already have a win against the hosts and with the pitches at all three venues unwittingly seeking to equate the minnows and the sharks, Sri Lanka are going to have to play ‘good cricket’ in all of their games.
Kumar Sangakkara has repeatedly talked about ‘consistency’ in the build up to this World Cup. While many are focussing their attention purely on Australia and Pakistan, it would be foolhardy to ignore the threats posed by Kenya, Zimbabwe and Canada. Not to mention New Zealand – who have been relegated to the ‘almost minnows’ category.
What is evident from the evolution of the World Cup, as evidenced by the 2007 editions profusion of ‘upsets’ is that the cricketing world order is changing. Access to facilities, training methods and coaches has made it possible for lesser known teams to catch up. TV rights money and IPL splurges have also meant that there is a lot more to play for now. A cricketer like Ed Joyce, Charles Coventry have much more to play for in an individual capacity now, making the World Cup an ideal showcase for the next IPL auction, especially with teams on the lookout for a bargain. Dirk Nannes is a case in point. Afghanistan’s Asian Games silver medal in 2010 and Nepal’s near beating of Sri Lanka in that same competition are cases in point.
Sri Lanka has often been the plankton that ate the whale. The year 2011 will need a concerted effort not to be on the wrong end of that equation.
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