Sri Lanka Told Us Not To Write Off The Underdog

Garfield Robinson looks back and reflects on two recent Test match shocks either side of the globe and reiterates that nothing is ever certain in the world of sport

- Garfield Robinson

Some years ago, the“Miracle on Ice” was voted by fans in theUnited States as the biggest sporting upset in history. The “miracle” took place during the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York, where the American ice hockey team stunned the world by beating the Soviet Union 4-3.

It wasn’t supposed to happen. The Soviet team of professionals were supposed to wipe the floor with a US team made up only of amateurs. They had won gold in six of the previous seven games and were overwhelming favourites to do so again. But the American team played out of their skins and emerged with a hard-fought, hugely unexpected win. “Do you believe in miracles?!” famed sportscaster Al Michaels shouted in the final moments.

Upsets are not that unusual in sports. That, in part, is why we watch. On any given day, the underdog can rise up and defeat the big favourite. On any given day, David can slay Goliath.

That occurred recently when, to the astonishment of every cricket fan in the world, Sri Lanka travelled to South Africa and swept them in a two-game series. It was a result that hit the cricket world like a clap of thunder, one that will be long remembered.

There was so much that pointed to Sri Lanka going down in flames. According to the records, South Africa is the most difficult battlefield on which to fight and win. Additionally, they lost all three tests at home against England some months ago, they were then beaten in New Zealand before being savagely brushed aside in Australia. So bad was their performance down under that they were frequently referred to as the worst team to set foot there.