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ICC CHAMPIONS TROPHY, 2017

Snapshots: Of lies, statistics and perceptions

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Shakib and Mahmudullah gave Bangladesh supporters plenty to cheer about.
Shakib and Mahmudullah gave Bangladesh supporters plenty to cheer about. © Getty

Young converts

"Thank goodness for the school children," said an official in the media box as play got underway an hour late. It was 11.30AM, the ground was less than a quarter full, and half the audience was under the age of 16. It was the lowest attendance for the tournament thus far, and would have been embarrassing but for the school kids that were enjoying a day out.

Of course, the other half was largely made up of Bangladesh fans, and it wasn't long before these two groups began to interact. Intrigued by the enthusiasm with which the Bangladeshis in the crowd were supporting their team, the children soon joined in. By mid-morning, young Welsh children wandering around the ground were prone to spontaneously raising one finger in the air and suddenly chanted, 'Bang-la-desh! Bang-la-desh!'

Britain is such a multicultural place that one often forms an expectation of how a person may sound based on outward appearance, only to be surprised by the accent that is produced. But this was a particularly unexpected scene.

New balls please

Cardiff's premier cricket venue is a strange ground. The stands square of the wicket are so flat that they make you wonder if this is in fact a football stadium, yet the low stand at the River Taff End allows the trees to peak into the ground and add a touch of village cricket essence. The fact that one can walk to the ground through Sophia Gardens, along the river, with the birds singing and squirrels bounding, contributes to the rural feel.

There is a danger to those low stands though. While they bring a welcome greenery into view, they are easy enough for batsmen to clear - as Martin Guptill showed at the start of the fifth over when he walked down the track to whack Mustafizur Rahman over long-off for six.

The ball cleared the stands, and probably bounced once on the dog walkers' path before plopping into the wide, fast-flowing river beyond. From where it would have bumped along the bottom of the river as it was ushered into Cardiff Bay, while the umpires called for a replacement.

Lies, statistics and perceptions

In the wake of Kane Williamson's dismissal, Brendon McCullum had something to say on Twitter: "Ross Taylor & Kane Williamson have 10 x 50 & 11 x 100 run partnerships and now 9 run outs when batting together! Still taking that!!!"

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