Cricket Minnows and the Elite: Shall the Twain Ever Meet?

About a fortnight back, New Zealand routed Ireland by a record 290 runs in a one-day international. It got me thinking: the ICC (International Cricket Council) has been trying for many a year now to add to the ranks of countries that play cricket competitively, and consistently, at the highest level. How successful has it been? Answer: it has not. Not in the slightest bit.

 

In 1980, seven countries played cricket competitively at the highest level: Australia, England, New Zealand, West Indies (technically an amalgamation of countries), South Africa, India and Pakistan. Today, eight countries do so: the same seven, with the addition of Sri Lanka. Bangladesh – currently hovering somewhere between minnow and elite – is most likely to be the next team to make it. (Zimbabwe did compete at the elite level for the better part of fifteen years, but it has retreated drastically in recent years. But that’s material enough for another article.)

 

Has the ICC played a meaningful part in the development of either Sri Lanka or Bangladesh? Not really. Sri Lanka’s growth is almost entirely a product of the love for cricket in that nation. When Bangladesh eventually graduates in full measure, it will also be for the same reason. A cricketing subculture permeates the subcontinent: it’s everywhere and unavoidable. For Sri Lanka and Bangladesh it was always just a matter of time; they would have made it regardless of the ICC’s contribution.

 

Participation of second-tier nations in major tournaments has been a central pillar of the ICC strategy for improving cricketing standards outside the big eight. It has failed miserably by any measure. Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, the United Arab Emirates, Kenya, Bermuda, East Africa, Namibia and Scotland, have each participated in at least one World Cup. Their records speak for themselves.

 

Team	Mat	Won	Lost	Tied	NR	%
Australia	70	51	18	1	0	73.57
Bangladesh	20	5	14	0	1	26.31
Bermuda	3	0	3	0	0	0
Canada	12	1	11	0	0	8.33
East Africa	3	0	3	0	0	0
England	60	36	23	0	1	61.01
India	58	32	25	0	1	56.14
Ireland	9	2	6	1	0	27.77
Kenya	24	7	16	0	1	30.43
Namibia	6	0	6	0	0	0
Netherlands	14	2	12	0	0	14.28
New Zealand	63	35	27	0	1	56.45
Pakistan	56	30	24	0	2	55.55
Scotland	8	0	8	0	0	0
South Africa	40	25	13	2	0	65
Sri Lanka	60	27	30	1	1	47.41
U.A.E.	5	1	4	0	0	20
West Indies	59	35	22	0	1	61.4
Zimbabwe	46	9	33	1	3	22.09

 

Of the 13 matches won by minnow nations in World Cups, only five have come against elite nations. The odd upset is, of course, a nature of sport. But none of the minnow countries have been able to take the next step and be consistently competitive. Ireland, which defeated Pakistan during the last World Cup, was the team that helped create the new record mentioned at the beginning of this piece – the largest ever margin of victory in a one-day international: 290 runs. Sadly, it was at the wrong end of that record.