Mumbai, Feb. 11 -- The International Cricket Council, the global governing body of cricket, has divided its members into two categories-Full Members and Associates. While the Full Members play all three formats of cricket-Test, one-day and T20-Associates are eligible for only the latter two.

The Full Members and Associates come face to face only during the one-day and T20 World Cups. And when they meet, the Full Members often beat the Associates handily, revealing the wide gulf between the two categories in terms of skill and experience.

That gap, however, appears to be closing in. The close encounter between Nepal, an associate member, and England, a full member, at the ICC Men's T20 World Cup on Sunday suggested as much.

Teams learn ...