Australian Stuart Law has etched himself into the record books after USA’s historic T20 victory
Australian Stuart Law has coached the world’s best cricketers, yet it may be the history making USA victory over Pakistan that could change the cricket landscape forever.
There was nothing more precious to Stuart Law than his one and only Test cap … until now.
Law could be Australia’s unluckiest ever cricketer – averaging 50.52 and scoring 79 hundreds across 367 first-class matches, but only cracking the Test team on one occasion in Perth in the mid-1990s when Steve Waugh was injured.
But on Thursday in Texas, the biggest state of the five countries he has coached in international cricket, lady luck shined on Law as he guided to USA’s super over miracle over Pakistan, surely one of the greatest sporting upsets ever delivered by an Australian coach.
Law could not find a way to crack into a champion era of Australian cricket, but as a coach he has pierced his way into the record books with a tale that will be told for as long as World Cups are played.
The 55-year-old has traversed the planet as coach of Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, West Indies and Afghanistan … but he will forever be remembered as the man who delivered the magic moment that might one day prove the biggest turning point in the history of cricket.
If the game can get the might of the United States on board, a new market of unprecedented size could be opened up and cricket could finally start to hold a candle to football as a truly global sport.
America’s super over classic was just extraordinary from start to finish and was fueled by a number of new stars, each with remarkable stories to tell.
There’s Nosthush Kenjige, a US-engineer who a few years ago asked his work permission to fly to Uganda for a cricket tour to represent the USA.
They said no.
Kenjige went anyway, was sacked from his high-paid job, but on Thursday was celebrating as the three-wicket hero.
Saurabh Netravalkar is the young man who held his nerve bowling the super over with the USA defending 19.
Pakistan needed a six off the last ball to force a second super over, but Netravalkar – another engineer, and someone who still holds full-time employment in that role, proved too good for the might of 2022 World Cup finalists, Pakistan.
Netravalkar had been a star of Indian under 19s cricket, and had taken three wickets to destroy Pakistan in an under 19s World Cup match.
But after falling out of the Indian system, Netravalkar gave the game away altogether, and when he emigrated to America to chase a job, he didn’t even pack his cricket boots with him.
A friend convinced him in the US to come back to the sport, and now he has created history.
Now the question can genuinely be asked? Is the unthinkable American dream possible?
Could the USA one day be a powerhouse of T20 cricket?
Aaron Jones – the slugger born and bred in Queens, New York, to Bajan parents – is another leader of something special.
Jones was perhaps the key man of this famous day, scoring 36 not out off 26 in the chase and then 11 in the super over.
Of course, we need to talk about Pakistan.
How do you concede only one four in the super over yet concede 19 runs? Mohammad Amir’s three wides were inexplicable, as were the fumbles by the wicket-keeper and over throws.
Pakistan looked gone, and then looked home and then gone again … but somehow they’re probably still a chance to beat India on Monday in New York.
Garry Kirsten, Pakistan’s new coach, bemused face said it all and must have been asking himself, ‘what have I got myself in for.’
Pakistan were unlucky in their super over reply.
A wide should have been granted to them from the first ball, and then a catch from the USA was highly questionable and cost the Pakistanis two runs.
Yet, they put themselves in that position of peril against the USA and had to live with the consequences.
Pakistan and Melbourne Stars quick Haris Rauf had 14 runs to play with in the last over of regular play, yet USA’s Nitish Kumar smashed four off the last ball to force the super over.
Two balls earlier Jones had blasted a six.
Incredible.
This result is the reason the ICC took this World Cup to America.
Poor pitches and temporary grandstands can be put up with if the bigger picture result is USA as a force in cricket.
With tens of millions of the US population hailing from cricket backgrounds across the sub-continent and Caribbean in particular, there is a hope.
And on Thursday, Australian Stuart Law helped show the way.
The USA has beaten Pakistan in a Super Over boilover at the T20 World Cup
The United States have stunned world cricket by beating Pakistan in the T20 World Cup after their Group A match went to a thrilling Super Over finish in Dallas on Thursday.
Both teams made 159 in their regulation 20 overs, with non-Test nation the United States then setting Pakistan 19 to win in the Super Over. US pace bowler Saurabh Netravalkar held his nerve as Pakistan made 13-1 in reply.
It was the biggest victory for the cricket minnow in their short life as a cricketing nation.
Pakistan were restricted to 159-7 after losing the toss before Nitish Kumar hit a four off a last-ball full toss from Haris Rauf as the United States, the tournament co-hosts, finished on 159-3.
United States batter Aaron Jones, 36 not out at the end of his side’s reply was sent out to face the Super Over together with Harmeet Singh.
Entrusted with the Super Over was Pakistan veteran Mohammad Amir who bowled several wides as panicked fielding set in, that led to wild overthrows, helping the United States score 18 runs.
The loss leaves Pakistan in a precarious position within Group A with their blockbuster against India still to come and a loss in that match meaning an early exit becomes a real possibility, especially after India’s huge eight-wicket win over Ireland
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