England Red Faced as Orange Ruled at Lord’s Green

The Dutch couldn’t have scripted their win better. An opportunity to play the opening match of an ICC event, the World Twenty20 at the Home of Cricket – Lord’s against the English, the men who invented the gentleman’s game in the midst of an orange galore of Dutch supporters. The opening match was indeed off to a contrasting start in more than one way.

First the weather was a dampener as the opening ceremony of this world class event had to be cancelled as the packed stadium waited with patience in sharp contrast to high-spirits, excitement, sporty and colors that signifies T20. Secondly the cricket story that unfolded at the Lord’s turf when one expected England to steamroll their minnow neighbors.

Another contrasting but a pleasing one to note was to see the Dutch supporters turning up in huge numbers for a cricket match while it is a familiar sight in a football or a hockey stadium. Overall it was a contrast within a contrast that where one expected an eye-catching opening ceremony and a one sided cricket match, the match was breathtaking making it up for the cancellation of opening ceremony.

The result has also proved that the lesser the number of overs the more are the chances for weaker teams like Netherlands and Ireland to compete with the stronger ones like India and South Africa. The shorter format lessens the importance of experience and textbook skills, thereby bringing teams closer to each other. The key for the T20 code relay on the ability of the teams to calculate a reasonable par score for a given conditions. Swift thinking and executing it in a short time under pressure is the need of the hour for teams to be successful.

The loss is certainly England’s black day in their cricket history but on the other hand, a Dutch win gives many a reason to smile. ICC is trying hard for years to expand and market the game in different parts of the world and will be delighted as one of their less fancied associate nation beat one of game’s stronghold nation in their own backyard. This means that ICC can hope for a day when 16 strong teams take part in the World T20 sooner than later.