How will we remember this World Cup?

We are through with the league stage. Entering now in the business end of the tournament. Fate of 8 teams has been decided, and by the next fortnight, rest shall follow suit. One will emerge as a champion. Rest will ponder on intangibles of the game. Some spells shall change the course of the match, some knocks will define careers, a few will call curtains on their glorious journey over the last two decades.

Every four years, the cricket world cup becomes a spectacle for millions, raises hopes for a nation, brings people together and leaves with memories for ages. Memories, I believe, whether pleasant or unpleasant ones have always inspired individuals and teams. And no wonder, each edition of a World Cup comes back with inspired cricketers, some who try to emulate success and some who try to turn new corners in the books of history. Each of the previous editions lived up to the expectation. Countless heroics have come together to define the success of the tournament. This suddenly becomes a stage where every cricketer wants to essay the role of a hero. Some succeed, some flounder.

The loyalists of the game have always taken pride to figure out those defining moments which changed the fortunes of the match, those which will be recalled every time one shall speak of a World Cup. While a few would agree on a century being the highlight, or an inspired bowling performance, a few will drift towards less appreciated but much needed skill of fielding.

So how will we remember this World Cup in years to come? Its predecessors have given us some great performances to fondly recall. From Clive Lloyd century in ’75 to Adam Gilchrist’s in’07. From Kapil Dev playing what many have labelled as the one of the Greatest ever knock played in One Dayers to when Lance Klusner almost took the South African side across the line, into the world of finals, a territory that is yet unknown to them.  No better effort of team work has ever been witnessed in this game, than the one demonstrated by Pakistan in’92 and Sri Lanka in ’96. Its hard to believe how one fine leader, Arjuna Ranatunga, got together his team mates and scripted a success story for his nation just as it was battling through a Civil War and brought his country on the world map for all the good reasons. 2003, Sachin, 98, Pakistan. Need we say more about it? Of course us Indians witnessed a few heart breaking moments too when Ricky Ponting decided to make the biggest stage in cricket his own and showed why his name shall be etched along with the legends of the game forever. And how after a 28-year long wait, MSD gave us a moment which an entire generation had wanted a repeat of since that glorious summer of 1983.

As I write this, I am well aware that the most defining moments of this world cup are yet to arrive. That like every time since last 40 years, few extraordinary men will step up the gear and deliver the goods for their team. As a proud Indian, victories against Pakistan and South Africa will be cherished.

But for me I would remember this as one where the willow took over the leather. And HOW. I would look back and say, that yes, I remember this RUN FEST, which took place in Australia-NZ in 2015, where the spectators stood more chance to catch this Identified Flying Object more than those unfortunate ones who could only see it sail over their heads.

Short boundaries, batsmen friendly rules, heavier bats, 300 becoming the new par score and inconsequential double hundreds. These features will grab the top spots if I recall the last one month of cricket. It’s strange that amongst all the matches that were played, I had the most exciting time watching these low scoring thrillers of Aus-Nz and Scotland-Afghanistan, which went down to wire. And how an inspired Pakistani team maintained their legacy of bowling their opposition, one of tournament’s favorites, South Africa, out, and are suddenly looking a force to reckon with in the later stages of the tournament.


There is no rocket-science behind figuring it out that the best of action will come out in a game of cricket when there’s a balance between the bat and the ball. That the administrators of the game shall look into the matter with utmost seriousness is the only hope that’s left for us.

Rise of the Minnows – One definite plus that’s come out of this World Cup. A step towards building a better future for the game. Where even the small cricketing nations got the opportunity to display their talent against the Big Boys of the game.
Often left to fend for themselves, teams like Ireland, Scotland, Afghanistan, UAE, Zimbabwe and Bangladesh  have been ridiculed in the past for making the tournament long and boring, time and again producing matches for only statistical purposes, not good enough to attract the crowd or the sponsors or staging an upset once in a while when they defeat the favorites.

But over the last one month, seeing some of the finer performances coming out by their players has been an absolute joy. From Porterfield to Mahmudullah, Coetzer to Taylor, Davey to Williams, Shapoor to Anwar, each shone on the biggest stage, carved a spot for himself amongst the Sangakkaras and Dhawans and Kohlis and DeVilliers of the game.

It would be a big jolt to a whole lot of teams who look forward to participate in World Cup if it gets decided that to shorten the duration of the tournament, only a few teams can participate. Imagine a war-stricken country like Afghanistan, which needs heroes for generations to come, will be deprived of an opportunity to celebrate victories, to display talent. The Irish captain has already made it evident – “No point playing if World Cup gets reduced”. There is a pronounced need to value the blood and sweat these players put into the game. The financial shortcomings that they ignore and the dreams they want to see for the betterment of Cricket. Sure there can be better ways to handle a crisis. That’s what the people sitting in those comfortable offices of ICC Headquarters are paid for.

Action packed and high octane games await us. And how I hope that the next 15 days of this World Cup produce some high quality games, some nail biting finishes and prove me wrong in judging the book by its cover. Wishing each of the 8 teams all the luck for the road ahead. May the Best Team Win!!


Comments

  1. Very sincerely conceptualized and written. Do write more please!

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  2. Thank you Rohit.. I shall definitely try to write more as and when i find time but definitely the gap wont be of 4 years now :P

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  3. Many thanks for sharing this piece. I read it with keen interest. I am delighted to read your insightful account of the cricket world cup.
    Will be looking forward to read your further pieces:).

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  4. Thanks a lot for these encouraging words.. means a lot!!

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  5. such an outstanding analysis...
    admire the way you write.

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  6. beautifully written..!!
    please do write more and more....!!!!!!!!!!!

    ReplyDelete

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