Saturday, April 4, 2015

ICC World Cup 2015: boring cricket, but interesting sideshows

Despite what N Srinivasan had to say, it was a very boring world cup.  

More than 90% of the matches were one-sided.  The preliminary stages were dominated by minnow teams whose desperation to stage an upset is in itself very boring.  Happens in every edition of the world cup.
 



Chris Gayle scored a whirlwind century.  Yawn..!

Even the knock out stages were boring.  

The tragedy of South Africa losing in the semis.  Yeah, that sounds familiar.

India lost to Australia in semis.  Yeah, we know that one too....all too familiar for us!

And the result?  Less said the better.

It was same old Australia.  For the fifth time.  Ho hum...!  Like you didn't see that one coming.

Great for the Aussies, but very bad for the game of cricket... and the world cup.  

A new winner in the form of New Zealand would have somewhat salvaged the 50 over game's reputation.  

This world cup will perhaps be remembered for some other reasons...


While congratulations are in order for winning the cup, the Aussies' behaviour on the field puts them in contention for winning the sledging world cup as well.  Every member of the team sledges.  If you are that good a team, why not let your batting and bowling do the talking?  Why do you have to spew out venom, even at the New Zealanders who did nothing to provoke anybody throughout the tournament, and yet made it to the finals?  What is the point in Haddin apologising to the Kiwis after the tournament is over?  It is this sort of ugly behaviour that ensures that the Aussies remain the most disliked team in the world.

And there was Imran Tahir's celebrations.  He will need a bigger ground if he keeps running away each time he takes a wicket.

And what about Rubel's celebration...if you can call it that.  It was more like a boorish assault on Kohli - a clear case of an empty vessel making more noise.  For once, it would have been better had Kohli let loose his tongue and used his bat not to hit a ball, instead of walking away sedately.

Yes Riaz's bowling to Watson was very good.  But again, why all the verbal venom and close-to-his-face hand clapping when you were already making the ball talk so effectively? 

And not to forget, there was the curious case of the ICC officials conspiring to steal Bangladesh's foregone victory over India.  The people were angry.  The team was angry.  The ICC official from Bangladesh was angry.  And, get this... even the leader of the country said that India had conspired to deny Bangladesh their rightful victory.  A case of collective paranoid-persecutory delusional disorder.  

Please, during the next edition of the world cup, keep it crisp and short.  Let the minnows have a qualifying tournament.  Do not restrict the bowlers too much.  Use the technology available to get better decisions.  Let the pitch aid both pace and spin.  Do not count the sixes.  

Please ICC, also enact a few special laws...
  • Australia should be presented the alternative world cup separately.  After that the other teams can participate for the main world cup.
  • If they have to be allowed in to the main tournament, the Aussies should take the field with their mouths taped.
  • Chris Gayle should bat right handed and blindfolded.
  • The South Africans should have a reserve match if they lose the semi-final in the first attempt.
  • The point or square leg fielder should trip Imran Tahir after he takes a wicket to stop him from reaching the pavilion.
  • The umpires should be ready with shackles to restrain Rubel should he take a wicket.  
  • The refreshments served to the crowd should be laced with anti-psychotics should Bangladesh take on India again.  
  • And yes, the government should issue a disclaimer before every India match - that it is only a game; there is no need to cut off your tongue or jump from buildings should India lose the match. 
In the meantime, roll out the IPL!




Image sources:

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/d/d2/2015_Cricket_World_Cup_Logo.svg/1200px-2015_Cricket_World_Cup_Logo.svg.png

https://s.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/rsHg00kFaBdmBDaM.CW.zA--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7Zmk9aW5zZXQ7aD03MjA7aWw9cGxhbmU7cT03NTt3PTU4Mg--/http://media.zenfs.com/en_us/News/ap_webfeeds/47192fcedb7107086f0f6a706700c5c1.jpg

http://s.ndtvimg.com/images/content/2015/mar/806/brad-haddin-vs-new-zealand-wcfinals.jpg

http://img.cricketcb.com/i/news/fw/600x500/stories/2015/mar/20/prv_8df7b_1426841905.jpg

http://ste.india.com/sites/default/files/2015/03/18/336521-imran-tahir-odi-celeb.jpg


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