Andy

Yes i'm following the women but after a great set of performances in the build up I see they were skittled for 60 odd today - shame - they had high hopes.

As far as the football is concerned, it is a fair point that few if any of the current NI team would get a place but this has not and will not in the future always be the case. RoI had never qualified for the WC until 1990 and there subsequent success has been built round Jack Charton's 'does you granny come from Ireland' policy. NI on the other hand reached the Q/F's in 58 and qualified with distinction for 82 and 86. Who could forget Gerry Armstrong scoring the winner against the hosts, Spain, in 82?!
Here are some names that would have made a combined side, McParland, O'Neill, Whiteside and what about Best?!
It certainly would be an interesting team if we had one from both parts with just the genuine Irishmen!
A combined side has been talked about in the media but the problem is very few players, supporters or administrators want it - never gonna happen.

If you don't mind, as one of very few Irish visitors here, in order to understand Irish cricket a bit more, I've got a couple of questions for you:

I've heard recently that cricket is a growth sport in Ireland. Exactly how popular is it? Well behind soccer, rugby and some of the more traditional Irish game I imagine - is it mainly played in the West of Ireland do you know?

The Welsh and Scottish really have to follow England on the main stage as their players can make the English side and play against the best in the world - recently players such as Robert Croft and Simon Jones have been important for England. Could England be followed by the Irish - especially if players like Ed Joyce were to make the team? Or would this be viewed with suspicion in some parts?

Who do you think are the players which are key to Ireland's future? Obviously Ed Joyce would be a coup, but there are other Irish players with first class experience like Adrian McCoubrey. Would you like to see people like Matt Mason (who I believe has Irish grandparents, but born in Australia) play for Ireland, or would you be against so-called passport players?

How do you think the ECB could help Ireland? After good showings in recent C&G Cups, due you think regularly featuring in this competition will aid development more than the ICC Intercontinental cup? What more could be done to help?

And finally - I agree with all you've said about the NI football team. They are currently on a low ebb, and of course they've got a history of good players. I just can't see what benefit it would give anyone in either the short term or the long term! It sounds like a pretty poor idea to me.

Here goes with a few answers:

Whether or not cricket is a growth sport or not is a tricky one; there is more media coverage now but no more players than say 20 years ago. There is also a much better youth structure in place at the top level - hence the better ones attract attention from the counties.

It is what the media refer to as medium, below football, rugby and the Gaelic sports but above tennis and darts! It is the No1 summer sport.



It is mainly played around Belfast, L'Derry (NI) and Dublin (RoI). There are also a handful of clubs in Cork. In Belfast (Northern Cricket Union, NCU) there are about 40 clubs with on average 3 teams each, in Derry (North-West Cricket Union, NWCU) there are about 25 clubs with on average 2 teams each while in Dublin (Leinster Cricket Union, LCU) there are about 20 clubs with on average 4 teams each. The Irish Cricket Union (ICU) estimate that around 20000 people are involved in the game one way or another. There is no cricket in the west - that is strong gaelic country!



The next one is a good one; without getting too political, it would be fair to say that cricketers in the north support England while cricketers in the south support whoever England are playing against!



The Irish teams results have improved in the last 4/5 years on the strength of a number of southern hemisphere players. The Celtic Lion was strong in the 90's and a lot of people came from Aus and SA to Dublin to work. Some good players, some average. The Ireland team currently has 2 Aussies, 1 SA and 1 Pakistani all qualified through residency. For most of the season this just makes up for those who are with counties but hopefully with them all together for the ICC trophy it will be the key. I know Mason was asked but turned it down, I wonder if they qualify will he be asked again??

It is a touchy subject at the minute but the coach is doing pretty well. He said he would only bring people in if he thought they had plenty to offer and in fairness there are other guys who are only slightly better than the locals who he has not used. Personally, and I mean personally, as long as there is a decent balance then if the locals are good enough they must prove it.



Ireland have been invited to compete in the new C&G in 2006 which will guarantee them 9 matches with the counties per season – this can only help. The ICC Inter- Continental Cup is also good because it is 3-day, something different and widely acknowledged as helping to improve technique. We have a stable diet of 50 over cricket in all our competitions at the minute.



A lot is resting on qualification, the finance is vital to contracting the players and in theory turning ‘pro’ – roll on the ICC Trophy!

After winning birth to worldcup 2007 what are the development and preparations going on these countries ? I heard that whatever games played by these countries against these countries or the current international countries will be given ODI status. This is a good move. Is there any games or schedule for these countries from January 2006. Any countries playing ?

Any news of the world cup qualifers or their developments like countries like Scotland, Ireland, Bermuda, Holland, etc...

Imagine Switzerland touring India in summer!They wouldn't stand the heat.More over,think of the result.It might be good to watch if two weak teams play against each other.

__________________
Karthik Venkatesan

Speaking of minor teams,Ireland have named their 15-man squad for next year's world cup.In my opinion,it's a bad idea because there is still a long way to go and some talent could sprout up in that time which might help Ireland do better.

__________________
Karthik Venkatesan

what first class (or minor county standard) players out there have irish passports?

Welcome back Paddy!

Anyway, I don't know the exact answer to your question I think I know of a couple.

There's that keeper at Kent, O'Brien, I believe.
Matt Mason of Worcestershire is an Aussie who can play in England as an EU player as he holds an Irish passport (I would guess that Ireland have already tried to approach him, but he said no)

Apart from that, I'm not sure. There's the obvious Ed Joyce. Adrian McCoubrey was a Northern Irelander, but he's left Essex now... Apart from them, I'm not sure.

EDIT: Just noticed I said virtually the same think about a year ago on a post on this very thread. Sorry about that!!

Well looking at the form of the various smaller countries going into this competition and the groups they are in, I would have to back Ireland to be the one most likely to pull off a shock, even without Joyce they have some very good players.

Personnaly I would like to see the various associate countries allowed into the county championships with an additional division or two to cater for the extra sides and the best of the minor counties, or at least set up a european league for Ireland, Holland, Scotland, etc...