Ireland beat West Indies in their opening match of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015. That surprised fewer people than West Indies would have liked, but it was an impressive win nonetheless. Much has been written and said of how Ireland punch above their weight and manage to topple giants Test-playing nations like Pakistan and England; but they remain The King of Minnows — a title they grew out of a long time ago. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Pool-wise Team Standings
Their match against UAE was an absolute thriller; the bowlers were on top for much of the first innings till Shaiman Anwar elevated himself to the top half of the run-charts with a tremendous ton. Their chase started on a poor note, and they kept getting pegged back at regular intervals. That they still managed to hold their nerve and pull themselves over the line speaks of a mental toughness that South Africa could learn from. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: SCHEDULE & MATCH DETAILS
What more do Ireland need to do to earn the respect of the ICC? They certainly have the respect of their fellow cricketers. No longer is a match against Ireland considered a soft game. They have the respect of the media. They certainly have the admiration of their fellow “minnows.” Top 10 batsmen in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
Ireland have a very real chance of qualifying for the quarter-finals. If they manage to beat Pakistan — and there is every possibility that could happen — they will be all but assured of a spot in the final eight. From there, it’s all about one or two good matches. They will not need to deal with the pressure of expectations — apart from the expectation they will have of themselves. Top 10 bowlers in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
In Paul Stirling, Ed Joyce, the O’Brien brothers Kevin and Niall, and Gary Wilson, they have enough batting firepower to chase down any total. Indeed, they are the only side in World Cup history to chase down over 300 on three occasions. It is only their bowling that remains suspect, though they have England to thank for that (Boyd Rankin, anyone?). Top 10 fielders in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
Ireland do not need to prove much more. They have been proving themselves for years. But one feels that if they manage a quarter-final or a semi-final finish, they will put the ICC firmly in the crosshairs of every cricket fan on the planet. Top 10 wicketkeepers in ICC Cricket World Cup 2015
So far, the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 has been a dream tournament for the “weaker” sides (this does not include England and Pakistan). Zimbabwe have fought admirably in all their matches, Afghanistan nearly beat Sri Lanka, Scotland made New Zealand sweat far more than England did, Bangladesh are on a roll, and UAE have batted well enough to make people sit up and take notice. And yet, the onus will be on Ireland to ensure that more than 10 teams will battle for the 2019 World Cup. ICC Cricket World Cup 2015: Complete Coverage
(Shiamak Unwalla, a reporter with CricketCountry, is a self-confessed Sci-Fi geek and Cricket fanatic. You can follow him on Twitter @ShiamakUnwalla)
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