ADELAIDE: The T20 World Cup in Australia has produced a series of shocks and the minnows warn there are going to be more at future tournaments.
The last in a string of stunning upsets came on Sunday and was arguably the
biggest of them all. Scott Edwards’ Netherlands knocked South Africa out of
the World Cup at the Adelaide Oval with a surprise 13-run victory on the
final 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 the United States.
Ireland, with wins over two-time champions the West Indies and England, were
also giant killers. As were Zimbabwe, who defeated Pakistan.
The first match of the tournament was a taste of things to come when Namibia
thrashed Asian champions, Sri Lanka, by 55 runs.
Speaking on the eve of their match against the Proteas, South African-born
Dutch bowler Roelof van der Merwe said these were 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 said. “Ten years ago
there would have been one (upset) tournament.
“You’re seeing it more and more happening now. Teams are getting more clued
up on how they want to prepare and what needs to be done in winning 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.
Renowned commentator Harsha Bhogle said that the lesser lights of world
cricket have shown they deserve more exposure.
“Irrespective of what happens next, the Netherlands, Zimbabwe, Ireland, even
Namibia and Scotland have demanded more opportunities in T20 cricket,” he
wrote on Twitter.
“This World Cup should lead to a greater democratisation of our game.”
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 the World Cup.
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 think it’s a good confidence booster and
very good for Dutch cricket, so hopefully we can take advantage of it,”
Glover said.
