The Ireland squad is in South Africa preparing for the World Cup qualifiers and the best wishes of all followers of Irish cricket are extended to manager Roy Torrens, coach Phil Simmons, skipper William Porterfield, and every member of the party. It promises to be a tough assignment, but it says much for the development of our game on the world stage that we are rated favourites to qualify, and that our squad is the most experienced and best prepared ever to leave the island.
Irish cricket has come a long way in the past decade, and with the memories of World Cup 2007 and that unforgettable Caribbean fairytale still fresh in our minds, everyone will be hoping that the next fairytale ride starts in South Africaover the next three weeks. It won’t be easy, given the first match against Scotland could well be the final, but beating our old cricket adversary would be the ideal start to our campaign. Ireland should qualify. After all, we are rated the best Associate Cricket nation outside the big guns, and there are many people who feel we are worth a place at the table of the great nations. If and when that happens remains to be seen, but in the evolvement of Irish cricket, it is vital that we perform well in South Africaas failure to qualify would be a serious blow to all our cricket aspirations. It is often said that there are no certainties in life, so big Phil Simmons will know only too well the importance of wiping complacency out of the players’ minds and ensuring his talented squad keeps a clear focus. There’s a lot of expectation riding on this trip.
Cricket Ireland’s 2009 season is a phenomenal commitment for a small cricket country that has jumped in leaps and bounds to bridge the gap from amateur to full professional status. We are still in the transition stage, but with so many of the players in fulltime cricket jobs, we are moving in the right direction, and hopefully the rich ICC will acknowledge our development in a more tangible form, and give us the proper funds to put the game on a solid long-term footing. The talent is coming through, and if only Ed Joyce had waited for us, then we would be in an even stronger position. Hopefully aspiringEngland ‘hopefuls’ like Niall O’Brien and Eoin Morgan don’t make the same mistakes.
Having watchedEngland in theCaribbean, they aren’t that far ahead of Ireland’s players, and without Kevin Pietersen and Freddie Flintoff they are very beatable. Certainly if both of these players were playing for Ireland, we would fancy our chances against anyone, and that says much for the way Phil Simmons has marshalled his troops after the successful and highly-acclaimed Adi Birrell era.
Success in South Africa would be the ideal fillip for a season that continues in April with the Friend’s Provident matches against the counties, and then the eagerly-awaited Twenty20 Cricket World Cup. We also have the Englandteam at Stormont in late August. Our 2009 fixture list could see some of our best players playing over 30 games for Irelandin the one season. Some of our greatest cricket legends didn’t even play that many games in their Irish careers!
Every level of Irish cricket is on the way up, not least our umpires. Some of the best from their midst will also travel the world this season, and once again what a tribute to their forefathers that they have reached such lofty status. I was therefore intrigued that the AGM of the IACUS should devote enough time for a lengthy debate on their dress code for 2009 and thereafter. Not surprisingly, the discussion was led by the dapper Paddy O’Hara and it was interesting to note that their majority backed a directive that a white fleece jacket would replace the old white coats and polo shirts if used, ‘should be navy, have proper tailored collars, long sleeves, and tailored cuffs.”
Obviously these guys not only play the part, but they want to look the part, and judging from the way ‘Hawkeye’ has exposed the so-called elite panel in the last two years, maybe our best umpires should be getting their chance on the world stage. What an incentive for aspiring umpires.
Until then, all eyes are on our boys in South Africa.
Good luck to them.
Clarence Hiles
Editor
