Small fries and giant killers

Never underestimate the underdog. What Ireland did to West Indies was much like what it did to Pakistan in 2007 and Bangladesh did to us that very year

So, the minnows have struck again. The demolition of the West Indies isn't the first time the Irish have beaten a test playing nation in the Cricket World Cup. In 2007, it was Pakistan that tasted defeat at their hands, while England was worsted in 2011.

The year 2007 was, in fact, as admitted by the likes of Tendulkar, Dravid and Kumble, the worst in their career aswell. Reason? -- India lost to Bangladesh and thus couldn't make it to the knock out stages of the World Cup held in the Caribbean.

 
There has been a call from certain cricketing corners to exclude teams like Afghanistan, Ireland, UAE and the other newer teams from the coveted tournament. What a disservice that would be to the game. On one hand, it will eliminate the possibility of upsets of the kind seen at the Saxton Oval on Monday, and on the other, it will limit the game to an exclusive club countries. What will then happen to the dream of expanding cricket and truly making it a global sport?

Imagine what the Wimbledon would be like if only the top-20 or top-40 seeds vied for the prize. You might not have heard of Boris Becker, for starters.

Here is a list of five matches in which small fries played giant killers and altered the mathematics of World Cup tournaments

1. World Cup 2007: Bangladesh trounce India by 5 wickets  

A star-spangled team versus an completely inexperienced side sounds more like a practice match. But had you put your money on the minnows that day, you would have come away with quite a packet.

India, who opted to bat first on a lively wicket, had its entire top order heading backto the pavilion when Bangladesh quickie Mashrafe Mortaza ripped through the batting line-up, claiming 4 for 38. Spinners Abdur Razzak and Mohammad Rafique shared the other six wickets as India ate dust with a less than modest 191.

2. World Cup 2007: Ireland pip Pakistan by 3 wickets

The Irish had already tied with Zimbabwe and needed what then seemed like an impossible victory over Pakistan to move to the knockout stage.

But the minnows struck early, shaving off six wickets and conceding just 72 runs, before sending Pakistan crashing to 132 all out. Resilient speedster Mohammad Sami sent the entire top order back to the pavilion and it seemed that Pakistan might just avoid a big upset. But wicketkeeper Niall O’Brien had other ideas and held fort with 72 precious runs even as he began running out of partners.

With Ireland at 113 for seven, it was almost as if the huge upset wasn't going to happen. It was then that Kevin O’Brien's unbeaten 16 saw Ireland romp home and Pakistan make an exit from the tournament.

3. World Cup 1996: Kenya thrash the Windies by 73  

In what is regarded as one of the biggest upsets in World Cup history, Kenya walloped two-time champion West Indies with a superlative bowling performance.

The minnows had wrapped up their innings with what looked like an undefendable 166. However, the team got the dream start it was looking for from its pace bowlers, and reduced the Windies to 35-4, before Maurice Odumbe took over with a fine spell of spin bowling in which he knocked off Shivnarine Chanderpaul, Jimmy Adams and Roger Harper to end with 3-15 off 10 overs.

4. World Cup 1983: Zimbabwe beat Australia by 13 runs  

The Zimbabweans were absolute freshers, as the match against Australia was their first one-day international ever.

It was Duncan Fletcher who showed his stuff both with bat an ball to write the first big upset at a World Cup tourney. Fletcher got to the crease when his team was tottering, and delivered a rapid-fire 69 that gave the team a reasonably defendable total. All was hunky dory for the boys Down Under, who had mopped up with 61 for the loss of none, when Fletcher came back to exhibit his prowess with the ball, running through the Aussie top order and taking four crucial wickets.

5. World Cup 1999: Zimbabwe trounce South Africa  

With not a single win against South Africa in ODIs, the Zimbabweans were clearly the underdogs. But that day, the minnows, who had notched up a well, sort of defendable 234,  reduced the Proteas to 40 for 6. Lance Klusener saved South African the blushes with a marvellous 52, but it wasn't enough to win them the match.  

Bottomline: Never underestimate the underdog. They might not necessarily lift the trophy but they surely have the capability to change the build-up plot of the tournament. We don't know much about UAE and Afghanistan, but Bangladesh and Ireland have a record of pulling off spectacular upsets. So dear Goliaths, beware of the strong willed David!