Minnow Bashing

Cricketing records kept tumbling in St.Kitts. The reason? Heavy-weights South Africa are playing the minnows Holland. The Dutch were torn apart so bad had it been a 50-over game, SA would have plundered 500 runs, a record no one has ever thought about so far. The rain gods ensured that it does not happen. But it could soon become a reality with 6 minnows waiting to get bashed in this WC.

A quick look at the records that were shattered today.

• Gibbs clobbered Dan van Bunge (pronunced van Bunga) for six sixes in an over - a record that so far had its place twice in first class cricket. Look at that kid. I instantly remembered this Vadivel dialogue on seeing van Bunge - ஒரு பச்சை மண்ண போட்டு துவச்சு த்வம்சம் பண்ணிருக்கியே டா யேன்டா இப்புடி?
• Maximum number of sixes in a WC innings - 18
• Maximum number of century partnerships in an innings - 3

And as if this were not enough, Johnnie Walker had pledged $1 Million in charity if someone hits six sixes in an over. That has become a reality now :-)

All these lead me to the question - Why do these teams win the toss and put the opposition in? Perhaps they think getting bundled out for a cheap score is more embarassing? But the duration of the travail would be much less batting first. They bat second, its the TV companies that ring their cash registers.

Next question - What is the need for 16 teams to play in this WC? Agreed that the game of cricket needs to be developed in the associate nations. Use "Money" to get the infrastructure ready in those countries. Conduct tournaments among the countries so that their game develops and then launch the top two in the international stage with the others. Not all 8. And please don't let them make their debut against the professionals. This certainly does not augur well for the associate countries who would certainly be distraught at the prospect of the "bashing". The matches that associate nations play must be accorded International status.

Michael Holding drew flak when he chided the concept of a 16-nation WC but one would realize how true he was after today's carnage in St.Kitts.

And finally, contributing to news as always is Messers Duckworth and Lewis with their dumb formula. The formula has helped the referee arrive at this conclusion - "to win the game in the event of rain, the Dutch will be required to make (their eventual final total) 132 in less than a single delivery". (Source: Cricinfo)