You know what really grinds my cricketing gears?

[Uppercut]

There's no "should have been" about it - no-one is saying that Ireland did anything wrong, as I say. Once you invite a team to an event, you fully expect them to play to the best of their ability and if they spring a shock that you don't want them to, it's your (the schedulers) fault for allowing the possibility of something you did not want.

No-one is saying "Ireland should have kowtowed and let Pakistan win" - they're saying "had Pakistan beaten Ireland as expected, the 2007 WC would have been marginally less dreadful".

Not less dreadful for anyone here. Or in India, i suspect.

In reality, it's a shame that an attention-grabber for Irish cricket had to be followed by a big advertisement for watching CBeebies instead.

 

[Richard]

Not less dreadful for anyone here.

No, of course not.

Or in India, i suspect.

Well, of those who care only about their own team, maybe not. But of those (and there are countless millions of them too) who are interested in all cricket regardless of the teams involved, yes, very much so.

 

[BoyBrumby]

It's a fair point

Some South Yorkshire pit village XI knock two of the Premier Leagues aristocrats out of the FA Cup and the average pundit rightly lauds them and describes their achievement as "bringing back the magic of the cup" - yet a cricket team flying the Irish flag does the equivalent and it spoils the competition - bizarre

Interesting. Had no idea people felt that way because everyone I know and have spoken to loved that Ireland spanked Pakistan. I know I did!

In absolute agreement. In the last rugby union world cup when Argentina beat France & Fiji defeated the Welsh it was seen as a cause for grown men to openly weep tears of joy, but in cricket (well some corners of the cricketing fraternity anyway) two upsets are blamed for ruining the whole tournament.

It's no wonder the game hasn't (seriously) spread beyond the Commonwealth with such attitudes.

 

[GIMH]

Well a few extra weeks of Pakistan would not be a good trade-off with the greatest St. Patrick's day known to man.

In any case, it's not relevant when mentioned by you, but when pundits like Michael Holding says it it's just infuriating (and I really like Holding). There's so much talk of spreading cricket throughout the world, not having it as a closed shop, etc. In Ireland we're invited enthusiastically to a big party in the Caribbean, then show up to find nobody actually wants us there. How dare we have the audacity to put out a team who some people might enjoy watching more (i certainly didn't). The tournament would be so much better if what everyone had expected to happen had come to pass!

I was glad you won. Not just because it gavce us a better chance of an extra win in the super 8 () but just because I like to see the underdog do well, and if the ICC wanted the "big 8" to contest the super 8 then they shouldn't have invited anyone else. You went through fair and square, it was other things that ruined the cup for me. That was one of the bright spots.

 

[Perm]

they're saying "had Pakistan beaten Ireland as expected, the 2007 WC would have been marginally less dreadful".

Who exactly is saying that? Almost every cricket fan I talked to about the 2007 World Cup mentioned Ireland beating Pakistan as one of the highlights, and I most certainly agree with them.

 

[Richard]

In absolute agreement. In the last rugby union world cup when Argentina beat France & Fiji defeated the Welsh it was seen as a cause for grown men to openly weep tears of joy, but in cricket (well some corners of the cricketing fraternity anyway) two upsets are blamed for ruining the whole tournament.

It's no wonder the game hasn't (seriously) spread beyond the Commonwealth with such attitudes.

OK, let's remind ourselves of how far rugby has spread in the meantime...

 

[Richard]

Who exactly is saying that? Almost every cricket fan I talked to about the 2007 World Cup mentioned Ireland beating Pakistan as one of the highlights, and I most certainly agree with them.

Not sure which cricket fans you talked to, but they were either a) people in denial of reality or b) people like the number we see above, who just like to see underdogs doing well.

 

[FaaipDeOiad]

Oh well. We were drinking Guinness when we should have been reading the script.

Hahaha, one of the finest responses I've seen to Richard's ramblings on these boards. Kudos.

 

[Dasa]

Not sure which cricket fans you talked to, but they were either a) people in denial of reality or b) people like the number we see above, who just like to see underdogs doing well.

 

[Richard]

Hahaha, one of the finest responses I've seen to Richard's ramblings on these boards.

Not really.

 

[Top_Cat]

Not sure which cricket fans you talked to, but they were either a) people in denial of reality or b) people like the number we see above, who just like to see underdogs doing well.

Gee, don't give much credit, do you? Personally, that Ireland were the underdog isn't all that relevant to me. I watch cricket to see high standard cricket and/or a contest. Ireland gave the contest. If Pakistan fought back and won the match, I'd have been just as happy with the result.

 

[Richard]

I thought you said you were happy specifically to see Ireland win? So it was just to see a good contest and the best team (which on the day Ireland unquestionably were, it was no fluke or freak) win that you were referring to?

 

[NZTailender]

But it was. There's just no way around that. That doesn't mean Kenya, Bangladesh or Ireland did anything wrong, but the tournament would've been much better if a

Even though Kenya especially did unbelievably well, there's just no denying that before each game against such a team, there's no real anticipation (other than perhaps from the fans of the underdog team). It's so different to a game between two "big eight(\nine)" teams.

Zimbabwe cricket is really e

 

[andyc]

Not sure which cricket fans you talked to, but they were either a) people in denial of reality or b) people like the number we see above, who just like to see underdogs doing well.

Richard, why don't you start a poll and see what result you get?

 

[Burgey]

Rather you than me. I doubt many others are prepared to make such a sacrifice for their team.

In fact I'd bet it'd be zero.

Trust me, took an hour and a half to clean my teeth.....

 

[GIMH]

Should have just had some Murray's Mints, would have cleaned your breath right up

 

[Top_Cat]

I thought you said you were happy specifically to see Ireland win? So it was just to see a good contest and the best team (which on the day Ireland unquestionably were, it was no fluke or freak) win that you were referring to?

I said I loved it but not because I was barracking for Ireland (in reality, I've always been a little partial to Pakistan but anyway....). The only expectation I went into the match with was that Pakistan were going to ream them. When Ireland restricted Pakistan to a cheap total, I still thought Pakistan were going to get up. Too classy with both ball and bat. When Ireland lost a couple of early ones, I thought it would still be a rollover. But then Porterfield and O'Brien got going and with them stabilising things, I figure Ireland were in with a shot.

They batted quite well against some good bowling, especially from Sami. So yeah, I was happy they got up because they didn't do it with poor play from Pakistan (other than their batsmen I guess), they did with good play of their own. Deserved their win.

 

[Prince EWS]

Not sure which cricket fans you talked to, but they were either a) people in denial of reality or b) people like the number we see above, who just like to see underdogs doing well.

Or c) People who put money on Ireland winning.

 

[Precambrian]

I don't like when

this happens

and then this is indicated

and finally this happens

 

[Perm]

Richard, why don't you start a poll and see what result you get?

Done.