Re: Ireland come to terms with qualification!
Johnston last night could only describe the immediate past and future as “huge excitement”. He added: We came over here to be competitive and put Irish cricket on the map and I think we’ve done that.
For the last five years my goal was, possibly not to reach the Super Eight but, I wanted a win in the World Cup.”
I might not be able to put this in meaningful terms, but one thing which I really admired from this entire outfit of part-time weekend cricketers is that they play their cricket with such passion and dedication that it is unmatched, however big the currency amount value be attributed to it. They march on the field with a competitve nature and a positive mindset that in high-pressure situations, it is almost impossible to beat. Millions of currency is wasted on this nonsense rewards system (which, shamefully, has been the only system left in its original shape from the beginning and not the one which is most needed), but the element which is lacking, in my opinion, is this......mentality. It is hardly ever seen these days. Matches are decided at the toss of a coin because the body language of captains and those of players are so disadvantageously appalling that sometimes it would just be plain better if the proceedings were to be forfeited. It makes no sense to even play an International game of cricket, let alone anything worthwhile, when you don't have the competitive psychology as a heavy support in your arsenal.
During the post-match ceremony last Saturday, one of the first and foremost points Johnston stated was the inconsistent and repeatedly failed top order and how they targeted it as one of the main factors in making the game 'competitive' (not winnable, but competitive). He said it so positively and forcefully that as I looked at the guy delivering his speech and I thought to myself, "Wow". His facial expressions said it all. Actions speak larger than words and actions are precisely what had taken place that day. If those part-time weekend cricketers of all teams in the world have figured and exploited the weakness(es) of this batting order regardless of what surface the match was played on, it is about time we join our heads together and make sure that a tragedy like this is never re-written in our history books.
Meh, will write about it in a day or two.