It is almost part and parcel of everyday life so why should local cricket be any different?
The continuing debate on internal representative cricket in Ireland and the failure of both the unions and individuals to come up with a widely acceptable platform to bridge the gap between club and international cricket is largely because the key players in the debate have different agendas, different motives, different objectives and different expectations. Everyone sits comfortably under a generic cricket banner and everyone wants to see local cricket prosper so we all start out with good intent. However, not far down the line the paths go in different directions, simply because the goalposts are moving targets.
The key elements in this debate are the Irish cricket hierarchy, the provincial unions, the clubs, the players and theIrelandsupporters. But do we really have all five components behind the same wheel pushing for the national cause?
Therein lies the frustration that many well-meaning individuals have been grappling with in recent times and which doesn't seem to have a solution unless someone acts as the catalyst to bring all the forces together. That won't be easy as club interests at grass roots level have a higher priority than the national cause, and while it was great watching Ireland's heroics in theCaribbeanlast year, it didn't spark the new beginning in cricket popularity that was expected. Not surprisingly some critics have plenty of answers on that score, but when all is said and done, everyone has their own agenda, and in most respects the priorities are very different.
Do local clubs really want success for the national teams or does it come behind their own ambitions? Do local cricket 'supporters' really support Irish cricket or are they armchair followers? Does the cricket hierarchy really want the financial and administrative burden of representative competitions on top of its current commitments and are the provincial unions the promoters of club cricket or representative cricket? Why don't we have more Irish cricket members and are we doing enough to promote this support at grass-roots level?
These are big questions and before anyone can deliver a suitable format to bridge the playing gap, perhaps they should step back and ask themselves are all the nuts and bolts in place to keep it intact and have they got the support of all the parties?
The Northern Cricket Union won't be rushing to the table after their Ulster League initiative was kicked out last year and the absence of any public statement from the new Board of Management for Irish cricket leaves us all in the dark as to what their views are going forward.
There's a lot happening in Irish cricket these days and no quick fix is going to solve all the challenges that lie ahead, but issues such as player payment and recruitment at club level can not be ignored either because when it comes to club and representative cricket clashes, it is the body paying the wages that will control player availability.
Because of the uncertainty as to what's happening and their own passionate interest in the welfare of the game, well meaning individuals like Paul Stafford and Ivan McCombe have come up with innovative ideas to stimulate the debate. But unfortunately we need more input from all the key players and in particular some guidance from the hierarchy, because ultimately they have to assess the importance and viability of an internal representative structure, and if they are interested, then do the research to determine what would be the best format to meet its objectives.
The opinions of all the keys players in this debate are essential if any new competition is to have the support to make it viable and sustainable, but one feels right now we have the cart before the horse.
Clarence Hiles
Editor
