Cricket World Cup 2015: ICC Associate Nations Show Worth to Tournament Already

So far, the 2015 Cricket World Cup has seen two ICC Associate nations play games against Full Members and twice give their more experienced opponents a run for their money, at the very least.

For a tournament and a governing body that had appeared determined to marginalise the non-Test playing nations, these are very encouraging signs indeed.

First, Ireland faced the West Indies in Nelson and looked in trouble as they were set 305 to win.

Their bowlers—with the notable exception of Andy McBrine—had been carted all over the Saxton Oval, in particular by Lendl Simmons and Darren Sammy, who put on 154.

The fact that the West Indies were 87-5 at one stage shows just how much recovering Simmons and Sammy had to do, especially with Chris Gayle not his usual belligerent best.

However, that did not phase the Irish, who are used to springing upsets in the ICC’s showcase event, and they managed to knock off the runs with 4.1 overs to spare.

It was a magnificent effort, led by opener Paul Stirling’s 92, 84 from the experienced left-hander Ed Joyce and an unbeaten 79 from Niall O’Brien.

That helped the Irish take the win by four wickets and meant they got off to a winning start.

The following day, co-hosts New Zealand faced Scotland in Dunedin, with the Black Caps expected to take something of an easy win over their Associate opponents.

It looked more than likely as the Saltires were skittled for 142, led by fifties from Matt Machan and Richie Berrington but lacking another score of substance.

The New Zealanders did not count on a spirited bowling performance from the Scots, although the hosts were also guilty of throwing their wickets away needlessly.

Every batsman except Grant Elliott was guilty of throwing their wicket away, whether through an ugly heave across the line or by being caught on the boundary going for a six.

It certainly made things interesting for those watching at the University Oval and on television, as the Scots made a good fist of defending their low total.

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And, if they had clung on to some of the catches they dropped, they may well not have eventually gone down to defeat by three wickets.

These two results show that the Associate nations still bring plenty to the World Cup and have a lot to offer as the tournament goes on.

Pitted against professionals from the best international sides in the world, the Associates raise their game and are determined to spring a surprise, however unlikely it may seem.

Without them, perhaps the World Cup would be far less interesting, as only the very top teams in the world would be competing against each other.

Still to commence their tournaments among the Associates are Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates, the former of which is in their first World Cup.

If those two sides can spring a surprise—especially the Afghans, a true Cinderella story after years of turmoil in their country—it will carry on an impressive trend thus far.

The Associates have once again shown they deserve a place in the World Cup, a tournament that would be all the poorer without them.