KEY POINTS:
Columnist Richard Boock says that if anything was calculated to refocus Kiwi minds after the heady win over England at the weekend, it was the news that Ireland had eliminated Pakistan from the tournament and Bangladesh had beaten heavyweights India.
"These results might have been great news for the emerging cricketing nations and for World Cup organisers keen to see an open contest, but imagine the effect they'll have on the leaders.
"It wasn't just that two of the minnows had made good, it was that they'd prospered courtesy of bowler-friendly pitches and early-morning starts."
What are your thoughts on the cricket?
Send us your views
>> Read Richard's column
Here is the latest selection of your views:
Sebastian
What a way to go out of the world cup for Pakistan. Poor Inzy, to one day be captaining a top squad of world-class cricketers and then the next to have lost to Ireland!, have his coach die! and then retire from international cricket! It doesnt get much worse than that. He was the slothful run-out king, but he was also a great batsman and captain.
Razib
Pals this was no upset.It was a deserving victory for Bangladesh over big mouth Indians who are tigers on paper and on their dead flat pitches where the bowlers have nothing to do with the ball. If you look at the Indians record in the foreign soils, it will be clear to you. In the previous years Bangladesh did not have the right mind set whey they used to face the big boys of cricket but with the audacious youngsters in the team, the mental approach of the team has totally changed. Now the boys are not scared of names like Sachin, Dravid, Shane Bond, Ponting and so on. They are merely players like others. We are coming.Can you hear it?
Paul Tudor
Hopefully one of the five teammates back on shore shouted: "Come in No. 6, your time is up!"
M. Imtiaz Mazumder, Ph.D
Please do not call Bangladesh a "minnow" anymore. We have had the opportunity to beat Australia, Srilanka, India (twice) and Pakistan among others. Even New Zealand was our latest victim in a warm up match! As our coach (Dav Whatmore) said, from now on you have to find a new meaning for "minnow" in the Oxford dictionary! Bangladesh now has the ability and can beat any cricket-playing country at any stage of the game! Three cheers for the Tigers!
Kamina
I have always supported the minnows making it to the big stage of the world cup. These teams were not just put in the tournament to make up the numbers, they won the right to be there by beating the other teams. I think it is great for cricket that new teams are winning and getting a chance to show the world that they too can play the games. Hopefully these results will make Ricky Pointing shut his mouth now after commenting on that the minnows do not deserve to be in the world cup. More upsets to come.
Doug Bowker
The heady adventures of the Bangladesh and Irish cricket teams in the West Indies is a stark reminder to those in the soccer and rugby worlds that World Cups are not just for the big boys. Nothing but good can come from these victories for not only is it a good advertisement for cricket to attract in younger people but it is,also, how you grow a game globally. When it gets to a position where any team can down any other team then the World Cup bristles. Compare that with the often-dowdy affairs in the soccer and rugby equivalents. A lesser sport has shown up two other major sports - let us celebrate and revel in it and hope the other two sports take notice.
Dave
Superb wins for Ireland and Bangladesh! Well done boys! They have really given life and excitement to this World Cup and proven the doubters - including myself - wrong that the minnows should not be in the World Cup.. truly boys-own stuff. Not surprised with the performances though.. Bangladesh did beat NZ in the warm-up and Ireland should have beaten South Africa then too. Their bowlers love this surface and even the best batsmen struggle to adjust on it. Hope both of them make it through so that it not only boosts cricket in those countries but boosts NZs chances of winning the World Cup!
Ben Hill
Great for the game that a part-time team can beat one of the top test teams in the world. We will grow from this and will be better regarded next time!! Next scalp the Windies!!
Devraj Karkera
Well those who know the game well, will also know that Indias performance always depends on how well the other team performs.
Wayne
My views on allowing minnows to participate in a world cup event, is that all countries who play the sporting event should be allowed to participate, because it is a World Cup event.
Satish
I was apprehensive of the match India vs Bangladesh.Apprehensive because India as a team of cricketers , has the very uncanny habit of folding up when least expected. They have achieved the unimaginable. And to think that punters have been putting their money on India as a dark horse. Well done Saurav ! And to an extent Yuvraj too. Shame on the rest that surrendered so meekly . Sehwag needs to be dumped in the Carribbean Seas. Sachin needs a break like the one Saurav had - an enforced break ! If the only objective of the Indian team is to play , and not win might as well play youngsters who would take pride in representing India on this world stage. I would not put it past this Indian team to lose to Bermuda as well & then beat Sri Lanka in the last group match - just before they take the flight back home. Good luck New Zealand ! I am sure the Black Caps will do us proud.
Martin
While it was not a game that most people ear-marked as "must watch" beforehand, public interest would have skyrocketed as the game progressed. Even if there are no more major upsets, this result is enough on its own to justify the format.
We hope Ponting will be as gracious in his apology to the minnows, as he was hasty in his criticism of their participation. Maybe the Aussie hierarchy will now point out to their captain, how elitist his comments were. What would Wimbledon or the British Open be without amateurs? Come to that, it was only a few years ago an amateur won the Australian Open.
Toby
Bangladesh were always going to have a team capable of sustained international competitiveness, due to their large talent pool, once they got their basic coaching and development structures in place. Setting these up has no doubt been helped by their proximity to Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan, who must now be beginning to wonder what their neighbours will bring to their next encounter. Ireland on the other hand, will likely continue to play cameos on the main stage of cricket, unless they can set up a professional unit that players like Ed Joyce would want to be a part of full time. As with NZ in the early years of their international exchanges, nothing will motivate these teams, and other teams like them than writing them off before a ball is bowled. Any move to exclude national teams large or small from at least competing to qualify for the World Cup would only serve to stunt the growth of the game.
Glen Smith
It seems to me that top teams can sometimes relax too much against the "minnows". Pakistan have always been unpredictable and India (who also lost today to Bangladesh) have not had such a good run lately. I think the minnows who are there deserve their shot, and it is good for the game worldwide.
Raj
I think India should discord Virendra Sehwag for sometime otherwise he cant get his form . Such a world cup it is very difficult to get back his form. If he plays continuously in match and give the bad starting of India team , it would be very effective for the other batsman so he is not able to play now.
Daryl
Two words - "Match Fixing."
Bachet
Cricket is a game , win and loose only decided on the ground no matter which on other side/