India, Australia and England are the powerhouses in the cricketing world, and some attention always falls on them. However, once in a while, the underdogs take a stand and tell the rest of the world that the power of passion and belief can bring even the mightiest giants to their knees. These underdogs are often the associate nations: the non-Test countries, that are fired with passion and full of talent. When they bite, they bite hard, and the world remembers.
It is time to take a look at some of the most memorable moments when these underdog teams reversed the trend and wrote history.
Kenya’s Dream Run in the 2003 World Cup
Among the moments that have undoubtedly remained unforgettable in cricket history is the 2003 Cricket World Cup. Kenya is a team which, at the time, was virtually unknown, but it was the team to shocked the world by advancing to the semi-finals. They conquered formidable teams in the tournament, such as Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe, on their way. However, the most impressive thing was their win over a full-member team like Bangladesh.
Kenya had the performance of remarkable team effort, great bowling and fearless batting in the leadership of Collins Obuya. Their performance not just motivated the younger generation of cricketers in Africa but also showed that the associate teams can play in the highest level.
Ireland’s Giant-Killing Act – 2007 World Cup
In 2007, Ireland pulled off one of the biggest upsets in cricket history. They defeated Pakistan in the group stages of the World Cup. That victory stunned the cricket world and disrupted global cricket betting odds in a way no one saw coming. No one had expected Pakistan, a team with a rich cricketing legacy, to be knocked out by a debutant.
Irish did not stop at that. The team later tied against Zimbabwe in the tournament and defeated Bangladesh as well. Kevin O Brien and Trent Johnston even became household names.
Netherlands Shocks England – 2009 T20 World Cup
The first match of the ICC T20 World Cup of 2009 was between the Netherlands and England, played at the mighty Lord’s Cricket Ground. The home team was supposed to easy win. However, the Dutch were to have something different in mind.
The Netherlands came in with an ambition of getting a tough score and managed to win the game on the last over itself. Their victory indicated that T20 is not the game of any particular team and showed the whole world of cricket fans to notice the game of the orange brigade.
Afghanistan’s Rise to Glory
The story of cricket in Afghanistan is just a miracle. Their progress has been solid and encouraging as a result of playing cricket in the refugee camps to defeating world champion teams such as Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and even the West Indies.
The nation is proud of its qualification for the 2015 World Cup. Their victory against Scotland, however, gave them their first World Cup win. Nowadays, Afghanistan can no longer be viewed as an ordinary team–they are a force to be reckoned with.
Scotland’s Historic Win Over England – 2018
In 2018, Scotland defeated England in One Day International (ODI). England was the top ODI team at that time. However, they were outclassed by Scotland, who played brilliant cricket and showcased fearless play.
Calum MacLeod and Kyle Coetzer were the stars of the day, with MacLeod scoring a powerful century. This success did not go away on a one-off day, but it also sent a message that Scotland was here to be reckoned with.
The Spirit of the Underdogs
Such moments are not just victories. They serve as testimony to the fact that talent, hard work and belief can conquer any odds. For associate countries, each game against a large team is a chance to show the world that they are worthy. And when they do win, it gets an enormous impact not only on their country, but also on world cricket.
Associate teams are still inspired by their fight, hunger, and fearless attitude. They remind the fans that everything is possible in the sphere of sports. This is because the bite of an underdog is something one cannot predict, yet when it strikes, it leaves a mark that history never forgets
