In a chance encounter with cricket, America is bowled over
A chance was all the Americans wanted, and the International Cricket Council (ICC), with its unusual largesse, doled one out to an audience seeking recourse to what could soon become an alternative to baseball.
Even if this sport was initially thrusted and not bestowed upon a rather unsuspecting audience in the United States of America, one can safely state that cricket is almost halfway there to becoming just as big as the sport mentioned above.
Although their national team consists largely of immigrants seeking a cricket if not the usual American dream, the USA have displayed to the world that they can hold their own, if not surpass, the best in the business in all spheres.
The ongoing ICC Men's T20 World Cup, of whom they are joint hosts with the West Indies, is a booming example of the drive of ambition and pride of aspiration that drives Americans and their spirit on an everyday basis.
Despite having been beaten by England by 10 wickets and within 10 overs in Barbados on Sunday, Jue 23, the USA won a lot of hearts across the world for the bravery they showed throughout the tournament and for not deciding discretion to be the better part of valor.
They finish the Super Eight stage of the tournament - a dolled-up round-robin version of a more authentic Round of 16 stage in global events of other sports - but go out with their heads held high deep into the American sunshine.
Stars in their own right
Take wicketkeeper-batter Andries Gous, for example. The South African emigre, who was hunted out of his home country despite putting no foot wrong with his performances year after year, finished third on the list of leading run scorers in this tournament with 219 at an average of 43.
The list will change with other batters coming in with performances of their own in the semifinal stage, but the boost in confidence that Gous will get seeing his name alongside the best in the business will be unparalleled.
The same goes with seamer Saurabh Netravalkar, who played for India Under-19 before immigrating to work for the software giant Oracle. He counts none less than Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli among his many victims in this tournament.
Ali Khan, formerly of Pakistan, impressed all and sundry with his raw pace and brought his antics to the notice of the cricketing world for the first time since his foray into the Caribbean Premier League.
Many such players showcased to the world that they were indeed ready for the plunge into top-flight international cricket and that the ICC had made no mistake in granting the USA such status to compete alongside global giants.
What more could be afforded to the nation making its bow in this biennial event of the most frenzied format that this sport can afford? Added to the fact that their national side beat Pakistan and Canada to qualify for the Super Eight stage.
If there is any room for analysis, it is in their dismal performance in that particular stage, earning defeats against South Africa, the West Indies, and England, with the latter two coming off increasingly decisive margins.
Such a supine performance was unbecoming of the grit that the Americans showed in the group stage, with them even running the mighty Indians close at one stage of their game in Long Island, New York.
What is the way forward for American cricket?
The way forward for the USA after a successful outing in this event would be to prepare extensively for the T20 World Cup slated to be held in India and Sri Lanka in 2026, for which they have already qualified by being in the Super Eight.
Another issue that the authorities will be keen on improving is the ratio of home-grown talents in their national team as compared to those lured from outside with the offer of big contracts and few commitments to develop the sport.
If this tournament does not give a big fillip to the sport among native Americans - of all colors, creeds, and races - then one is not quite sure what will. The resounding success should be enough to drive young boys and girls to their local cricket clubs.
The next focus of contention should be on developing grassroots on par with the best in the business across the world and providing young Americans the chance to see what this beautiful sport has to offer them.
The Major League Cricket - promised to be now held annually as is its feeder tournament the Minor League Cricket - is easy on the eye and flashes past public perception on the lookout for the glamour that the IPL promises a continent away, but the real test for USA Cricket would be to develop a strong club cricket system.
A big reason for this rather unsuspecting audience falling in love with cricket was the presence of the sport's greatest stars in the land of the free and of the brave, as well as the pluck and fortitude shown by some of their very own.