Amatuers. It's a rather back-handed term. But I guess they will agree that's what they are. That is, all of the prospective teams who are looking to qualify for the 2011 Cricket World Cup.
Ireland are now favourites to go through to the final showpiece in 2011. They top the standings of the Super 8 section. The other hopefuls include Kenya, Canada, UAE, Netherlands, Scotland, Namibia and Afghanistan. All of these bar Afghanistan hae taken part in World Cups previously.
But the best part about writing about all of these teams is that they are, I love to say it, real people. Sometimes when we talk to professional cricketers, no matter how young and upcoming they are, they are really just cricketers. You've heard it said a million times, they "eat, sleep and breathe the game." Overall, it makes most international cricketers as interesting another Amy Winehouse bust-up.
When Ireland got through to the Super 8 section of the 2007 World Cup, they had to ask their bosses for some more time off work. Their wives had flown back home - and then went back to the Caribbean for a bit more sunshine, rum cocktails and a bit of cricket.
Ireland do have a few professionals in their ranks. Boyd Rankin and William Porterfield play county cricket; but most of the lads (they are really "lad's lads") are talented high-schoolers and club cricketers. Beyond cricket they would be carpet salesmen, teachers and office workers with real families, real kids and real problems.
So one can imagine that it's hard to stop these boys "charging" (to the bar and around the town)after they win and move closer to the World Cup. The Irish coach is Phil Simmons, the ex-West Indian allrounder. He's has decided to put a ban alcohol for the tournament in South Africa. Well, it looks like it's working, Simmo. The Trinidadian is a big unit and could probably beat any of his squad at either a cricket or drinking contest. They are best advised to heed his words.
Talking to him before the start of the tournament he said that their preparations were good, having played something like 42 games in the run-up to SA. As things stand going into the Super 8 part of the competition: Kevin O'Brien is yet to be dismissed in his 4 innings so far, having scored 208 runs. Big Boyd Rankin and the NZ-born Regan West have picked up 8 wickets a piece so far. Ireland look set for 2011 on the sub-continent.
If they qualify for the WC, maybe then I will take Simmo and the boys out to Latinova for a drink...or ten.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment