da betsson： Zimbabwe ridiculed the notion that they might be underdogs for Thursday’s encounter against an Irish team that nearly upset South Africa in a warm-up game last week
Dileep Premachandran at Kingston14-Mar-2007
Ahead of their first game the Irish are quite pumped up © Getty Images
Kevin Curran, who played two World Cups in 1983 and ’87 before moving intocoaching, took umbrage at the suggestion that Zimbabwe might be underdogsfor Thursday’s encounter against an Irish team that nearly upset SouthAfrica in a warm-up game last week. Curran admitted that it was achallenge to coach a young side, but was confident that he had the playerswith the quality to start the World Cup on the right note.”We’ve lost a lot of our senior group of players, and that’s left a dent,”he said. “But the new group has responded well and is improving all thetime. Prosper Utseya, the offspinner who captains the side, said that hisplayers were ready – “We’ll give it our best shot” – and weren’t tooaffected by news of further strife back home. “Now that the guys are here,we’re concentrating on playing the games.”For Ireland, who make their World Cup debut, it will be a momentousoccasion. Already, the near-saturation coverage back home has amazed thesquad, though Trent Johnston, the captain who learnt his trade in NewSouth Wales, laughed off suggestions that the side could eclipse BrianO’Driscoll’s rugby heroes. “By all accounts, it’s amazing back home,” hesaid. “Our [board] president brought over clippings of full-page articlesin the newspapers, and there’s been lots of coverage on Sky as well. Thematch starts at 2:30 in the afternoon there, so it’ll be prime-timeviewing.”Curran preferred to highlight Zimbabwe cricket’s admittedly fewpositives, one of which is the new generation coming through. He mentionedAndy Flower, a world-class performer who departed for Essex and SouthAustralia in 2003, as an example of how even the best needed time tomature. “At the age of 20, he was an average player, and I hope herespects me for saying that. But by the age of 30, he was averaging over50 in Tests. So it takes time.”Time is something that’s running out for Adrian Birrell, whose time at thecoaching helm runs out after this competition. “Maybe you guys shouldbring your recorders into the room for the last team talk [ahead of thefinal game against West Indies],” said Johnston with a laugh. “Maybe a boxof tissues as well.”
Kevin Curran doesn’t want to look too far ahead: “We’ve not played Ireland before. They’re a solid outfit and have had good recent results, and we’ll give them respect’ © Getty Images
Birrell, a South African, was in no doubt as to what had impressed himmost about Irish cricket. “It’s the passion for the game,” he said, “thetime, effort and money spent to keep the game going.” It hasn’t alwaysbeen easy, with the likes of Ed Joyce shifting loyalties to England aftermaking a mark on the county circuit. Eoin Morgan, who plays for Middlesex,could be the next to take that path, especially after his outstandingdouble-century against UAE in the ICC Intercontinental Trophy recently.”It could end up like that,” said Birrell, when asked if the Irish cricketteam could eventually comprise professionals who played their game abroad,much like the national football team. “I’m delighted for Ed [Joyce],” hesaid. “Maybe he didn’t feel he could achieve his ambitions with Ireland,and for most players, it’s about having a professional career.”For Johnston, whose parents have come over from Australia to watch, itwill be a proud moment, but not one that will overawe him. “We beat WestIndies three years ago in Belfast,” he said. “Obviously, it’ll bedifferent here with 20,000 spectators in [for the West Indies game]. Theatmosphere yesterday [West Indies-Pakistan] was unbelievable, and evenwhen we played South Africa in Trinidad, the crowd were going bananas forus.”The team that wins can then dream of the impossible, a place in the SuperEights. With West Indies so mercurial and Pakistan weakened by the absenceof some key players, an upset can’t be ruled out. But Curran isn’t lookingthat far ahead. “It’s the first game, and we want to treat all three thesame,” he said. “We’ve not played Ireland before. They’re a solid outfitand have had good recent results, and we’ll give them respect.”If people want to say that they’re favourites, then great. I know whatwe’re capable of. We competed well in the Caribbean last year, and I’dlike to think that we can go from strength to strength.”First, he and his wards will have to overcome the luck of the Irish.