Canada's optimists dare to dream

Soon after the fall of the second wicket in the opening ODI match with Scotland at Mombasa, I passed Canadian coach Andy Pick on my way round the ground. "I know you'd be more interested in winning the game," I told him, "but that stand was a new Canadian ODI second-wicket record." We agreed it was another step, although a century stand would have looked better than 87 runs....and would have been a Canadian first for an ODI game. Canada's best is a stand of 96 runs for the first wicket.

John Davison's innings had gone out with a blast, after Ashish Bagai had set the pace with shots blending power, technique and the all-important singles to keep the scoreboard moving. Three or four more big overs at that time and Canada would have been really surging...but that's the nature of cricket, and sport in general.

Davison had made 41, being deprived of two runs as one six hit a couple of leaves on the tree that is within the playing area. A 'ground rule 4', as they would say in baseball. The leaves fell in front of the media table, presumably dropping some 30 feet, if not more.

The third wicket against Scotland added 122, but it included Ashish Bagai retiring hurt at 148 for 2. Qaiser Ali was then joined by Desmond Chumney. Bagai returned to the crease in the final over and ended on 64 not out. This was his third fifty in five ODI innings in Africa this Canadian winter and a new ODI personal best.

Ali went on to record his best ODI score of 70, building on his innings of 174 against the Netherlands in the ICC Intercontinental Cup in December. Realistically, Ali needed a good score in ODI cricket, his previous best from four matches was just 12, set in South Africa after missing the opening matches due to an ankle injury.

Chumney had gone to South Africa with a personal best of 28 in ODI cricket - not the kind of runs demanded from a specialist batsman. In Mombasa he matched that score, making it five innings in a row where he has matched or exceeded his ODI personal best. He reached 48 against the Dutch before his lack of acclimatisation took over in the opening match in South Africa.

The naysayers, and there are several around the Canadian cricket scene, would no doubt like a balance to be struck. These records were not set against ICC Full Member countries. The first warm-up test in 2007 will be Bangladesh, who have been doing quite well, in late February in Antigua. The Canadian batting has failed during 2006-07. The major slump in the first innings against the Dutch in the Intercontinental Cup saw six wickets tumble in eight balls. A couple of the shots played in this phase lacked discipline but that type of incident is starting to become the exception.

A couple of victims in that phase, Sunil Dhaniram and Ashif Mulla, batted well against Scotland. Dhaniram ended on his second ODI fifty. Mulla's knock of 26 was probably better from a technical perspective than his 30 against Bermuda in Potchefstroom. Clearly he has been listening to the coach.

The optimists, and those beyond that realm (Canadian cricket includes several of them, based on my experience), would delight in the January 14 headline from the Sunday Telegraph. "Pitiful line-up for World Cup" said Scyld Berry, in reference to England's prospects. We can but dream, as the big showdown in St Lucia approaches on March 18.

There is a gap in the playing levels of full-time players, especially those at elite levels, and most leading Associate country players. It has similarities to the way Rugby Union has moved since the introduction and rise of professionalism, or in a more traditional Canadian context, (ice) hockey.

Both those sports face issues of player releases from club teams to the next layer of national team. Similar to the situation of Geoff Barnett being contracted to Central Districts, so he will not be in Nairobi for the World Cricket League Division 1; a major event from a Canadian perspective. Not to mention the potential $250,000 windfall for a top-two placing and a berth in the Twenty20 World Championships later in the year.

Of course, another facet of Canadian cricket is that the selectors would have to pick Barnett: a "major league" topic in itself. There was talk at the CCA's 2005 Annual General Meeting of having to sort out the selection processes. I think there is still some way to go until things get ironed out, but I digress.

Either way, don't expect a whole chain of surprise successes at the World Cup. People talk of Davison's 111 versus West Indies in the last World Cup. it was a great achievement and a cup record, and there was also the win over Bangladesh. But on the down side, there was that 36 all out versus Sri Lanka, beating the previous low score in the World Cup that was set by Canada at the 1979 World Cup when out for 45 runs.

This will be Canada's third time in the World Cup. The way the batting is shaping up, there should be no disaster innings. Technique, application, the basics, shot selection. That, I believe, has been Andy Pick's message to the National side and I am sure he would love to see that across Canadian cricket, particularly in the elite levels from youngsters upwards.

In the meantime, on Saturday January 20, Canada face Kenya. A team Canada beat in an exciting ICC Intercontinental Cup match in the summer with batting application from different players in each innings, and solid efforts from the bowlers, especially Umar Bhatti.

Bhatti will miss this week's match with Kenya as his ankle recovers from a net practice injury sustained in Toronto. There is unlikely to be much help in the wicket for the bowlers, based on the two opening matches of this series. As Pick said on Thursday, "Kenya will be a difficult game. They are playing in their own conditions." But if Canada can get among the runs, there is certainly hope.