Desert T20 was great showcase but the Dutch must improve
Tim Wigmore’s regular look at the game below the Test-playing nations, with the Desert T20 final the talk of the week
Almost all of the 18,000 packed into the Dubai International Cricket Stadium were left jubilant. They had come for the final in the hope of witnessing Afghanistan win the Desert T20. Never did there look any chance of the raucous fans being left disappointed: Afghanistan bowled Ireland out for 71, and then cruised to a 10-wicket win, sparking pandemonium. It amounted to a thrilling finale to the inaugural Desert T20.
Given some significant limitations – the late notice of the tournament; the absence of TV coverage or live streaming because of the nature of the ICC’s commercial rights deal; and the absence of any Full Members, after Bangladesh and Zimbabwe predictably declined to take part – the first edition of the Desert T20 could hardly have gone better.
The cricket was competitive, high in standard and often thrilling. The compact nature of the event – all over and done in a week – meant there were no dead games. Some moments – most notably Najibullah Zadran’s astonishing scythe through the offside for four, hit at the moment as he was falling to the floor, after losing his balance – went viral on social media. It was an advert for all that is best about Associate cricket.
The Desert T20 now seems certain to become an annual event, and can go some way to helping Associates suffering from a crippling lack of cricket. Next time it should be even better.
With more notice, there should be live streaming of all matches. There could, also be more teams taking part. It is understood that A-teams from a number of countries – including Australia and England – want to take part. Whether the tournament organisers should let them is an interesting question. Would Associate cricket be well-served by letting in A-teams to flagship tournaments, helping to increase the profile, standard and commercial opportunities, or would they devalue the competition?
A personal viewpoint is that allowing one or two A-teams would ensure the Desert T20 remained fundamentally a showcase of the best of Associate cricket while bringing in an exciting new aspect of competition – and potentially revenue too. It is even possible that A teams from wealthy Full Members could be charged for their participation, and so help to cross-subsidise cost, an overdue sign of Robin Hoodism in international cricket.
All that, though, can wait. For now, the Desert T20 reaffirmed that Afghanistan are the supreme Associate in T20. They won all five games, most crushingly. They have a beguiling side, including Rashid Khan, a wonderful legspinner now ranked the world’s fifth best in T20I cricket, the audacious hitting of Mohammad Shahzad, the raw power of Najibullah, Mohammad Nabi’s canny offspin and an attack brimming with pace. Afghanistan are actually ranked above Bangladesh and Zimbabwe, and it was easy to see why. Still, for all their quality, it was heartening to see the pleasure Afghanistan gleaned from this send-off to retiring former captain Nawroz Mangal.
Ireland could also draw strength from the tournament, notwithstanding their dismal final performance.
After failing to hit any sixes in the first two games, continuing years of lacking power-hitting in the format, Ireland hit a combined 17 over the next two games, which included topping 200 in the semifinal against Scotland after 50s from Paul Stirling and Gary Wilson. Stuart Poynter also did well as opener, even if William Porterfield’s dreadful form is a concern.
It might be wise for Ireland to relieve him of the T20I captaincy, notwithstanding
his superb fielding. Either Andy Balbirnie, injured before the tournament, or Nick Larkin, a New South Wales batsman with Irish heritage who played two matches against Sri Lanka A in 2014 and has had a superb season for the New South Wales second team, could succeed him at No.3 with Wilson an obvious choice as skipper.
Yet most encouraging was the bowling which confirmed the emergence of two fine talents. Left-armer Josh Little, 17, only played the first two matches, but impressed with his slower balls and cool temperament at the death. Jacob Mulder, 21, was even more impressive: the legspinner finished as the top wicket-taker in the tournament. Though not a huge turner of the ball, he has great room for growth. And, crucially ahead of their nine-game tour of India, to play Afghanistan in all three formats, in March, Ireland now have viable options in legspin, left-arm spin – George Dockrell, fresh from playing grade cricket in Australia, had a fine tournament – and offspin, though Andy McBrine was relegated to third spinner and seemed something of a spare part by the end.
Until being overwhelmed by Ireland in the semi-final, Scotland also did well in their first tournament without captain Preston Mommsen. Kyle Coetzer, his replacement, batted dynamically, and the seven-run victory over the Netherlands had the feel of a seminal moment for a side who often flounder in crux situations. Both Calum MacLeod and Richie Berrington played belligerent innings, while Josh Davey, Safyaan Sharif and Con de Lange bowled with purpose. But Scotland’s two defeats in the subsequent ODI tri-series, against Hong Kong and the UAE, were hugely disappointing, and suggest that Mommsen’s steel in the middle order might be particularly missed in the 50-over format, though Matt Machan’s return will add much.
Most the other nations had significant reasons to cheer, too. Namibia lost all their matches but, after their late call-up because Papua New Guinea did not want to take part, still showcased the depth of Associate cricket in running Ireland close.
Oman thrashed Hong Kong and snuck into the semi-finals, confirming their status as world cricket’s most improved side in the past two years. Hong Kong, still infuriatingly erratic, routed Netherlands. It was the Netherlands, suffering for the absence of preparation and burgeoning strength-in-depth of Associate cricket, who left the Emirates feeling more disappointed than any other nation.
Yet few had reason to share their gloom. The year of 2017 looms as a huge one for Associate cricket. In the desert, it had a fine start indeed.
Ireland could also draw strength from the tournament, notwithstanding their dismal performance in the final