The Minnows at the 2011 World Cup

The World Cup is a great platform for the non-test playing nations or the minnows to come and rub shoulders with the best in the business. Though they usually have to return empty handed, there have been occasions when some of the so-called minnows have upset the bigger boys. These teams come as the underdogs and fans back home have little expectations from them. Consequently, they have nothing to lose and the absence of pressure often brings out the best. Kenya’s fairy tale run to the semi-final in 2003, Ireland and Bangladesh’s giant killing efforts in the 2007 edition are major examples of the minnows doing much better than the more fancied test playing nations. This year too there are five nations who are not quite favourites to make it beyond the group stages but a couple of good days in the office might make raise their hopes. Bangladesh has not been included here as they are a couple of notches above the teams below. They have a decent side with a good mix of youth and experience and with the unpredictable West Indians in their group, Bangladesh will definitely fancy their chances.

Ireland

Niall O’Brien played a key role in Ireland’s successive group stage campaign in 2007

The Irish made the entire cricketing fraternity stand up and take notice when they defeated Pakistan by three wickets in their first ever appearance at the World Cup. They were also involved in a tie against a Zimbabwe side that was comparatively more experienced. That was enough to progress into the next round where they defeated another test-side, though a lower ranked one, Bangladesh. Seven members of the side that defeated Pakistan, including Boyd Rankin and Niall O’Brien, who had major roles to play in that victory, are present in the 15-man squad for this World Cup too and they also have left-handed opener, Ed Joyce who is a regular in England’s county circuit and had also represented England at the 2007 World Cup. A few more members in the squad like William Porterfield, Niall and Kevin O’Brien and Rankin have played a fair bit of county cricket and that experience will keep them in good stead. Ireland have been slotted in group B along with India, South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh and Netherlands. On paper, chances of Ireland progressing to the quarter finals are quite bleak. Ireland will be looking to upset the plans of some of the bigger teams as they did in 2003 and will be looking to return home with a few positives from their campaign.

Netherlands

Ryan ten Doeschate has been the face of Netherlands cricket for quite a few years

Netherland’s biggest success in the international arena came in the 2009 Twenty20 World Cup when they defeated hosts England in the first match of the tournament at the holiest venue of them all, Lords’. This will be Netherland’s fourth appearance in the cricket World Cup, the previous three being in 1996, 2003 and 2007. So far, they have only two victories in World Cup match, against Namibia and Scotland in 2003 and 2007 respectively. The one man who can help Netherlands be competitive is Ryan ten Doeschate, an all-rounder who has been their leading cricketer for the past few years. He was also the ICC Associate player of the year in 2010. Ten Doeschate has played quite a bit of cricket with and against some of the international stars while representing Essex in county cricket. Their skipper Peter Borren had represented New Zealand in the under-19 World Cup in 2001-02 where his team mates included Jesse Ryder and Ross Taylor. Tom de Grooth is another player who can on his day hit the ball a fair distance. He was the man-of-the-match in Netherlands’ triumph over England and a similar performance or two from him will definitely help. The Dutch too are in group A and the match against Ireland is one that they would really love to win.

Zimbabwe

Zimbabwe will have to work as a team to be able to challenge the top teams

Zimbabwe made a grand entry into World Cup cricket, defeating heavyweights Australia in their first match in 1983. But that was their only victory in the tournament, though at one time they were threatening to hunt down eventual champions, India, before Kapil Dev’s brilliant 175 snatched the initiative from them. Zimbabwe have participated in every edition of the World Cup since then. They caused another big upset in 1992, defeating England on the back of Eddo Brandes’ 4 for 21. The 1996 World Cup was an uneventful one as they won a single match, against Kenya. In 1999, they put up their best World Cup performance. A win against Kenya, and two surprise victories over India and South Africa took them to the super-six stage. They could not progress further though but it was still a big achievement. A player’s rebellion put Zimbabwe in turmoil soon after, and thus they failed to impress in 2003 and 2007. This time around, they don’t have any big stars as such, but they have a good set of players who have been around for quite some time and have a fair bit of experience. The likes of Brendan Taylor, Charles Coventry, skipper Elton Chigumbura, Ray Price and Tatenda Taibu have shown in the past that they have the ability to do well against the top sides. The likes of Greg Lamb and Chris Ervine have had their moments too and if the Zimbabweans manage to work well as a team, they can be quite a handful. They have been put in group B along with Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Kenya and Canada. Zimbabwe will expect to defeat Kenya and Canada and a third victory against any one of the other four teams will give their chances of progressing to the quarter finals a big boost.

Kenya

Steve Tikolo (right) and Thomas Odoyo are the key men for Kenya

Kenya, along with Uganda and Tanzania, fielded a team under the banner of East Africa in 1975 but they ended up on the losing side in all their group stage matches. Kenya next participated in the 1996 World Cup as a stand alone nation where they defeated West Indies in one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history. After a disappointing outing in 1999, they created history n 2003 by becoming the first non-test playing nation to reach the World Cup semi-finals. But in 2007, they were once again eliminated in the group stage. Kenya’s success in the World Cup will depend a lot on the experienced shoulders of Steve Tikolo and Thomas Odoyo. They have been around many years and have played a fair bit of cricket against the top teams. Leg-spinner Collins Obuya played a pivotal role in Kenya’s run to the 2003 semi-final and the sub-continental wickets might assist him. It has hardly been a few months or so since Jimmy Kamande has taken over the mantle of captaincy. He has been around for sometime though and that experience should help him to settle down. 2003 was the golden year of Kenyan cricket and something similar this time around will do a world of good for the development of cricket back in Kenya.

Canada

John Davison celebrates his 67-ball century in the 2003 World Cup

Canada have participated in three cricket World Cups till now, in 1979, 2003 and 2007. But they have won just one match so far, against Bangladesh in 2003, and on each occasion they have bowed out of the first round itself. And unless something miraculous happens, the trend should continue this time too. At almost 41 years of age, Canada’s John Davison is the oldest player at the World Cup. Davison shot to fame with a 67-ball hundred against West Indies at 2003, which was then the fastest century in a World Cup. He also smashed brisk fifties against New Zealand in both 2003 and 2007. Davison is by far Canada’s most experienced player. He is also a decent off-spinner and should enjoy bowling on the sub-continental tracks. Most of the members in the Canadian squad are of Indian or Pakistani origin. Skipper Ashish Bagai is another man who has played in both the previous editions of the World Cup and he will hope that the team can at least be competitive. The main aim for Canada will be to try and win at least one of the two matches against Kenya and Zimbabwe, if not both. A win against any test playing nation will be a huge achievement.