Ricky Ponting has doubted the role of the World Cup minnows during the six-week tournament. Scotland, Ireland, Bermuda, The Netherlands and Canada will compete in the 16-team event. Ponting said he has “never been a fan” of the smaller countries taking part.
“I have always thought there are probably places and times for minnow nations to be playing,” he said. “I am not sure if the World Cup and Champions Trophy is one of those times.”
Source → CricInfo (for the complete article)
Re: I have never been a fan of "smaller" countries taking part in WC or ICCCT - Ponti
Hope he did n't speak too soon. Did he not see how Ireland almost caused an upset against SA today?
Re: I have never been a fan of "smaller" countries taking part in WC or ICCCT - Ponti
I agree 100% with Ponting(& Holding) on this issue.
Imazine India, Pakistan etc being able to play in the Soccer World Cup with Brazil, Italy, France and the rest.
To allow countries like Bermuda, Ireland and expatriate outfits like USA, Namibia etc to play in the WORLD CUP dilutes the grandness of the occasion.
And most improtantly, I don't see any benefit coming out of it.
Re: I have never been a fan of "smaller" countries taking part in WC or ICCCT - Ponti
Most people I know will tune into the World Cup only from the Super 8 stage. The initial round is only for the record books. Agree with Ponting. Its just a waste of time. I don't mind 1 or 2 best associate teams making it into the World Cup. May be we should have a total of just 10 teams participating in the World Cup rather than 16. Its a disservice to cricket and a disservice to these poor teams.
Re: I have never been a fan of "smaller" countries taking part in WC or ICCCT - Ponti
I agree 100% with Ponting(& Holding) on this issue. Imazine India, Pakistan etc being able to play in the Soccer World Cup with Brazil, Italy, France and the rest.
To allow countries like Bermuda, Ireland and expatriate outfits like USA, Namibia etc to play in the WORLD CUP dilutes the grandness of the occasion. And most improtantly, I don't see any benefit coming out of it.
You are taking group matches too seriously. Count them as Warmup game and you will be happy. Good thing about these group games is that by the time top 8 team get into super league, all team would have adjusted to conditions and had good 3-4 matches behind them.
I am no fan of having minnows in worldcup but model of current worldcup provides us best of both world. Smaller countries gets to play in worldcup which does help spread cricket outside as well as it provides good 20 odd games in superleague.
Re: I have never been a fan of "smaller" countries taking part in WC or ICCCT - Ponti
I agree 100% with Ponting(& Holding) on this issue. Imazine India, Pakistan etc being able to play in the Soccer World Cup with Brazil, Italy, France and the rest.
To allow countries like Bermuda, Ireland and expatriate outfits like USA, Namibia etc to play in the WORLD CUP dilutes the grandness of the occasion. And most improtantly, I don't see any benefit coming out of it.
I think the no. perhaps is an issue, maybe instead of 8 there should be 4 minnow teams. The ICC programme is such that the WC and CT are the only tournaments where some of these minnows will ever get a chance to play the stronger nations. How are they going to improve if the ICC doesn't provide them with this opportunity else-where (outside of WC and CT)
Re: I have never been a fan of "smaller" countries taking part in WC or ICCCT - Ponti
You are taking group matches too seriously. Count them as Warmup game and you will be happy. Good thing about these group games is that by the time top 8 team get into super league, all team would have adjusted to conditions and had good 3-4 matches behind them. I am no fan of having minnows in worldcup but model of current worldcup provides us best of both world. Smaller countries gets to play in worldcup which does help spread cricket outside as well as it provides good 20 odd games in superleague.
agreed. Barring a mishap it will just be the top 8 nations competing with each other in the super-eight round which can only be good for world cricket.
Re: I have never been a fan of "smaller" countries taking part in WC or ICCCT - Ponti
^Kenya reached the Semi Final the last time.
Who knows what tukka these minnows might deliver this time around.
Re: I have never been a fan of “smaller” countries taking part in WC or ICCCT - Ponti
you are trying too hard to pronounce like a pakistani:omg:
Re: I have never been a fan of "smaller" countries taking part in WC or ICCCT - Ponti
^ U know what...when I first read you post ...I thought to myself..'Obviously this guy does not know that 'imazine' can be spelt with 'g' as well as 'z' ".
But then I was shocked to discover that 'imazine' (with a 'z') is incorrect after checking Dictionary.com , Britannica.com as well as the word spell-checker.
So that you Sir...for this bit....guess we are always learning.
Re: I have never been a fan of "smaller" countries taking part in WC or ICCCT - Ponti
^The last line should read :
So thank you Sir for this bit....guess we are always learning.
Damn, "Edit Post" does not work.
Re: I have never been a fan of “smaller” countries taking part in WC or ICCCT - Ponti
**Pakistan coach: Minnows deserve their day in the sun
**
http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/834070.html
Re: I have never been a fan of "smaller" countries taking part in WC or ICCCT - Ponti
Instead of Ireland, Scotland, England etc,...there should be one UK team?
And Bermuda is a part of the Uk anyway?
Re: I have never been a fan of "smaller" countries taking part in WC or ICCCT - Ponti
I personally think that its unfair to compare the Cricket World Cup to that of another established sport like the FIFA World Cup. On the world stage, cricket is still in its infancy and the inclusion of these “minnow” teams is one way to help increase the sport’s reach to the rest of the world. FIFA World cup started in the 40s I think whereas the Cricket World cup started in the 70s.
Also, soccer has a representation in the Olympics which was originally regarded by FIFA as the “world football championship for amateurs”… so there is an alternative avenue for participation for all teams at the global level.
Until such a time arrives for Cricket, when we have alternatives other than the World Cup and the Champions Trophy (which in itself is an attempt to supplement the World Cup with another grand event)… I think we have no other way to ensure that the “minnows” will get their fair chance at formidable competition.
Re: I have never been a fan of "smaller" countries taking part in WC or ICCCT - Ponti
^ Agree.
Re: I have never been a fan of "smaller" countries taking part in WC or ICCCT - Ponti
I agree with Ponting there are too many bore matches till super 8.
Re: I have never been a fan of “smaller” countries taking part in WC or ICCCT - Ponti
200% :k:
couldn’t have put it better.
also, I think the test teams shouldn’t be stuck up.
Re: I have never been a fan of “smaller” countries taking part in WC or ICCCT - Ponti
The group stage is just time pass and friggin money waste…As far as I am concerned the real world cup starts on 27th March and the biggest day of the world cup is April 15th!
http://www.icc-cricket.com/icc/events/worldcup/schedule.html
Re: I have never been a fan of "smaller" countries taking part in WC or ICCCT - Ponti
I personally think that its unfair to compare the Cricket World Cup to that of another established sport like the FIFA World Cup. On the world stage, cricket is still in its infancy and the inclusion of these “minnow” teams is one way to help increase the sport’s reach to the rest of the world. FIFA World cup started in the 40s I think whereas the Cricket World cup started in the 70s.
Also, soccer has a representation in the Olympics which was originally regarded by FIFA as the “world football championship for amateurs”… so there is an alternative avenue for participation for all teams at the global level.
Until such a time arrives for Cricket, when we have alternatives other than the World Cup and the Champions Trophy (which in itself is an attempt to supplement the World Cup with another grand event)… I think we have no other way to ensure that the “minnows” will get their fair chance at formidable competition.
Agree with everything you have said here. Personally I think noone can really complain about the format in 2007 WC. I think it's the best there has ever been. It allows minnows to pit their wits against the more established nations and also ensures that barring a mishap, there will only be the top 8 nations left in the super 8 round. So the chance of seeing another minnow nation in the semis by default this time around is next to nil. Not least it gives the top eight nations the opportunity (two warm-ups are not enough) to experiment a few combinations before the real business starts on 27 March with a game between Australia and West Indies. Could we have asked for more?
Re: I have never been a fan of "smaller" countries taking part in WC or ICCCT - Ponti
Hope he did n't speak too soon. Did he not see how Ireland almost caused an upset against SA today?
the word to be emphasised upon is "almost". yeah they almost did, but did not do it.
I dont think that so many minnows should be put at such a big stage. one best one would be enough, but not the amount that is being thrown in. everyone knows the real world cup will start from the 27th.
besides its not good for the morale of those countries to lose all the time.