OPINION
Follow UsThe focus of the T20 International (T20I) series against Ireland was the return of Jasprit Bumrah after 11 months of absence. Team India fans who tuned in to watch the game on Friday (August 18) were not disappointed as their premier fast bowler picked up two wickets off his very first over. A sigh of relief indeed.
As a result, Ireland were on the back foot right from the beginning, and at 31 for 5 in the seventh over, they perhaps had no right to get to even 80. But some pyrotechnics from Barry McCarthy later saw the hosts get to a respectable 139, with some invaluable support from Curtis Campher.
Not for the first time in his brief Irish career has Campher stepped up and delivered with the bat. His overall score of 39 off 33 may not look very attractive, but it proved to be effective. When he walked in at 27 for 3 at the end of five overs, it was important for Ireland to keep the scorecard ticking, even if it meant they did not get fours or sixes for the next few overs.
Ireland were going at under six at the start of the 15th over. Campher, now set, decided to take on India’s best bowler Bumrah, smashing him for a four and a six off consecutive deliveries, which initially tilted the momentum in Ireland’s favour. From then on, it was a bowling performance to forget for India as they leaked 53 runs off the final five overs after easily getting through most of the top seven.
It was a nervous display from the Ireland batters, who clearly had not done their homework. For instance, Paul Stirling looked to cut leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi, hoping that the ball would turn away. But if they had watched some clips of him, they would have known that more than 95% of his deliveries come into a right-hander.
When India toured Ireland last year, Campher was part of the side that put up a brave fight, but sadly for the all-rounder, he did not get a game. In a chat with Cricket.com, Campher said he was looking forward to seeing how he fares against Bhuvneshwar Kumar and other Indian Premier League (IPL) stars, but that desire went unfulfilled.
In about 14 months since then, Campher has turned himself into Ireland’s go-to man – someone who can dig them out of any hole and give the team respectability. With plenty of quality bowlers at Ireland’s disposal, there were times when his side did not need his services. Campher’s bowling is more of a supporting act, which adds balance to the side. It’s certainly an option, but at the same time, not something the team cannot do without. Although, he has four wickets in four balls in a T20 World Cup to boost his credentials.
His skills with the bat are something Ireland have depended on heavily, and more often than not, he has delivered. Moreover, he also made his Test debut earlier this year, adding another feather to his cap.
In the lead-up to the World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe, Campher was not at his best with the bat in ODIs. It had been 12 innings since he scored a fifty and had gone past 25 just thrice. His form with the ball, too, was not something to write home about.
But then came what one thought would be a turning point – A maiden century (111) against Sri Lanka in Galle and a patient 33 against England at Lord’s. It looked as though he was back in form. Despite the mauling Ireland received in the Test series, Campher was among the few that gave Ireland hope that they too can be a team that can compete, not just make up the numbers, but can also topple a top side.
However, Campher received a rude shock when he was dropped for Ireland’s first match of the Qualifiers against Oman.
Ireland succumbed to a defeat, and not surprisingly, changes needed to be made in their next crucial game against Scotland, and one of them was to bring Campher in. Coming in with his side struggling at 33 for 4, the Irish all-rounder scored 120 off 108 to take his side to 286. Ireland would have had an easy win if it was not for Michael Leask’s heroics at number seven for Scotland.
Campher once again stepped up in that tournament, albeit in a seventh-place play-off final, scoring 62 off 59 against Nepal’s determined bowling unit to help his side chase down 269 off the final over. If that was not enough, in the T20 European Qualifier game against Italy (Yes, Italy) Ireland seemed on course to suffer what would have been one of the most embarrassing defeats for them in recent times.
Coming in at five in a precarious situation, Campher smashed 61 off 39 to take Ireland to 158, which was crucial in their seven-run victory. Imagine if Ireland failed to finish in the top two in a tournament with Jersey, Austria, Italy, Scotland, Germany and Denmark.
With Stirling taking over as captain of the side after the World Cup Qualifiers debacle, it certainly marks a new era in Irish cricket. Campher is and will hopefully continue to be at the heart of it.
