THE minnow teams at the World Cup in the Caribbean have become a protected species as television commentators have been told not to question their worth in the tournament.Writing in the Australian newspaper, journalist Robert Craddock said commentators are understood to have been told by Global Cricket Corporation producers that it frowns on them denigrating the minnows.

However, it is deemed acceptable for commentators to call a game a mismatch — but not to say that some of the teams do not deserve to be in the tournament.

The commentary teams, including Australians Greg Blewett, Damien Fleming and South Africa-born Barry Richards, have been assembled from around the world for the six-week competition. Some commentators who agree with the directive and feel the minnows are a necessary part of global expansion, are happy to abide by it.

Craddock wrote: “However others, who feel the tournament has been devalued by their presence, would rather speak their mind. The minnow sides have produced a mixture of the good (Ireland), the bad (Scotland) and the downright ugly (the Netherlands and Bermuda).

“Games such as Australia and South Africa versus the Netherlands have been cringing mismatches. Bermuda continued its embarrassing form on Monday when India scored 5-413 then skittled it for 156 to record the greatest winning margin in limited-overs history. The widespread feeling that the minnows are enjoying every moment of their matches against the big boys is wide of the mark.”Several Dutch players privately conceded they have been embarrassed by their team’s efforts. International Cricket Council high performance manager for the developing nations Richard Done concedes the minnows have produced a mixed bag, but with enough positives to warrant the inclusion of the six novice teams.

Done told the press: “Our statistics say that they are improving. We are trying to bridge the gap as much as we can.”

Ease off the ‘minnows’