Irish Cricket 2009

[Sheridan]

Ireland have (provisionally, though it won't change) been drawn in Group A of next April's World Cup Qualifying tournament in South Africa, along with Scotland, Canada, Oman, Namibia and the runner-up from the World Cricket League Division 3 (likely to be Afghanistan, Hong Kong or Uganda.)

Despite their heroics in 2007, there is absolutely no guarantee that Ireland will qualify for a repeat performance in 2011. Scotland and Namibia are pretty much at the same level as Ireland, with Canada a little bit behind but still capable of finishing in the top two. Only the top two in each group will qualify for the World Cup.

Ireland have already named their preliminary squad, which is as follows:

William Porterfield - captain (Gloucestershire)
Andre Botha (North County)
Peter Connell (North Down)
Alex Cusack (Clontarf)
Phil Eaglestone (Strabane)
Trent Johnston (Railway Union)
Kyle McCallan (Waringstown)
John Mooney (North County)
Eoin Morgan (Middlesex)
Kevin O’Brien (Railway Union)
Niall O’Brien (Northants)
Andrew Poynter (Clontarf)
Boyd Rankin (Warwickshire)
Paul Stirling (Cliftonville)
Reinhardt Strydom (North County)
Regan West (Civil Service North)
Andrew White (Instonians)
Gary Wilson (Surrey)

[BobtheDrog]

nice to see eoin morgan in the squad. wonder what the odds on him actually playing are

on another note, glad to see that the minor cup draw has paired us with civil service/bohs and then a chance at getting some revenge on owlsfan in the second round, bring on the new season

[BobtheDrog]

I hope this works out for us. it could help keep more players in ireland

from cricket europe
Four Ireland players are set to become full time employees of Cricket Ireland when the central contracts are handed out for the first time.

Player of the Year Andre Botha, former captain Trent Johnston plus all rounders Kevin O’Brien and Alex Cusack will become the first Ireland players to be contracted by Cricket Ireland as the commitment and increased playing schedule of the squad is finally recognised.

There will be three different levels of contracts with the county players, captain William Porterfield (Gloucestershire), Niall O’Brien (Northamptonshire), Boyd Rankin (Warwickshire) and Gary Wilson (Surrey) all being offered significantly enhanced payments whenever they play for Ireland.

Any contract to Eoin Morgan is likely to depend on the progress he makes towards the England squad, for whom he is now qualified.

The full-time employees form the second level and the third tier will encompass the bulk of the rest of the senior sq uad who will be offered a retainer to be available for Ireland matches and Cricket Ireland will also have a say in any future move to county cricket, declaring they must be available for all Ireland matches.

This level is likely to include Paul Stirling, the 17 year old batsman who was the Cricket Writers’ of Ireland Young Player of 2008 and Clontarf’s Andrew Poynter along with opening bowler Peter Connell who has moved to England where he has a part-time teaching post at a sports academy.

Other regulars on the Ireland team, Kyle McCallan, Andrew White and Regan West who have full-time jobs outside cricket are also likely to be offered part-time contracts.

Associate members received a extra $350,000 dollars in grant aid as a High Performance country in the ICC and if Ireland, as expected, finish in the top four in the April tournament, and qualify for the 2011 World Cup finals in Asia, another £1 million dollars will be forthcoming and players at all three levels in the contract system can expect increased financial reward every time they play for their country.

[shefellover93]

I think this shows the vast progression of Irish Cricket in the last 5 years

[Sheridan]

The schedule for the World Cup qualifiers in South Africa has been announced. Ireland's games are as follows:

1 April: Ireland v Scotland (ODI, Willowmoore Park)

2 April: Ireland v Oman (Krugersdorp)

4 April: Ireland v Uganda (Krugersdorp)

6 April: Ireland v Canada (ODI, Willowmoore Park)

8 April: Ireland v Namibia (Wanderers Oval 2)

Top four in the group progress to the Super 8 stage from April 11-17. Final and play-offs on the 19th. Ireland should beat Oman, Uganda and Canada to make the second phase, but might well lose to Scotland and Namibia. I wouldn't be staking too much on their qualifying outright.

[TheBoss]

I think in IC matches, they are equal enough but in ODI, I think Ireland have an advantage over them, Ireland have some more attacking players than they do. So I would be confident of qualification.

[BobtheDrog]

namibia will always be dangerous with gerrie snyman in the side

[Sunny Jim]

Anyone know if this will be on TV?

[Stuttgart88]

Nothing to do with Irish cricket, just cricket, but I see Sir Allen Stanford has been charged with securities fraud in the US, in what appears to be a smaller version of Bernie Madoff only $8 billion!). FT ran a piece recently saying he was under suspicion.

I thought that series was OTT vulgar and the ECB was shameful to allow the England brand to be associated with it. That said, it seems to have given cricket in the WI a shot in the arm.

Is there a "world cricket" thread?

[shefellover93]

Nothing to do with Irish cricket, just cricket, but I see Sir Allen Stanford has been charged with securities fraud in the US, in what appears to be a smaller version of Bernie Madoff only $8 billion!). FT ran a piece recently saying he was under suspicion.

I thought that series was OTT vulgar and the ECB was shameful to allow the England brand to be associated with it. That said, it seems to have given cricket in the WI a shot in the arm.

Is there a "world cricket" thread?

Would agree with all said above. England's decision to play in the competition with this idiot cheated the mainstream test followers, nevermind accept the schedule set out by the BCII for the previous series in India

Do we need a World Cricket thread? It's not THAT popular a sport on here

[Sheridan]

Ireland lost a close warm-up match against an Eastern Province XI in South Africa on Sunday. Ireland set 309 in their 50 overs. Openers Porterfield (97) and Poynter (62) were the top scorer.

Eastern Province chased their target down with two balls to spare. John Mooney took 3-72 on his return to the national team.

Eoin Morgan was absent due to "missing a connecting flight..."

[holidaysong]

Anyone know if Ireland's first match against Scotland tomorrow is on TV or online?

[TheBoss]

It does not look like it unfortunately.

[Sheridan]

Scotland have made an imposing 232-7, thanks to a century from McCallum. Ireland sent down a shocking 18 wides.

[Sheridan]

Ireland won easily in the end, reaching their target in 37.4 overs for the loss of just three wickets. Porterfield made 101, Morgan 64.

[DaveyCakes]

Good win...should set them up nicely for the rest of the tournament. Cricinfo says 14 wides, either way it's poor...

[holidaysong]

Good win alright. There was text commentary on http://www.cricketeurope4.net. It should be running again for the Oman game tomorrow.

[DaveyCakes]

Uganda beat Namibia by 6 runs and Canada beat Oman by 103 runs.

[DaveyCakes]

In the other group Afghanistan beat Denmark by 5 wickets, the UAE beat Bermuda by 4 wickets, and Holland beat Kenya by 7 wickets

[holidaysong]

Ireland won the toss and opted to bat first. We are currently 133-4 after 30.0 overs. Updates available here (http://www.cricketeurope4.net/LIVE/CHANNELS/2/commentary.shtml).

[holidaysong]

Ireland ended with 285-4 after 50.0 overs.

[BobtheDrog]

285-4 after 50 overs Kevin O'Brien 101 not out Andrew White 71 not out

[eitoof]

Don't know much about cricket but could Ed Joyce come back to play for Ireland now that he is out of the England picture?

[BobtheDrog]

he's still trying to get back in the england side

[BobtheDrog]

things looking better now from 98-0 to 103-4 Regan west has 3 and an eoin morgan run out

[BobtheDrog]

west has another
128-5 after 24.4 overs

[TheBoss]

Super 8 stage looks a certainty now.

[BobtheDrog]

still namibia and uganda and canada to come who could cause problems, but they should do it

[TheBoss]

Namibia are the only there to cause trouble one thinks, Canada should not cause much of a threat, but Uganda might be problem, a bit of an unknown quantity.

[BobtheDrog]

namibia are the side i would be least worried about they've underperformed so far, uganda have caused other sides some problems and canada will always be a little tricky

[TheBoss]

I think that if Ireland perform any where their best, they should beat all of them.

[BobtheDrog]

i'll definately agree with that. do you play any cricket yourself TheBoss?

[TheBoss]

No, used to play at Primary School(Long time now :D).

[BobtheDrog]

well if you ever consider taking it up there's a couple of us drogs up at rush now and i'm hoping to get a couple more out

[TheBoss]

Thanks for the offer, but a little busy recently. May consider it if things settle down a bit.

[TheBoss]

Uganda 155 All out after 44.2 Overs
White 4-22

Ireland 160/4 after 31 Overs
Wilson 61, Porterfield 44

[TheBoss]

Canada 220 All out after 48 Overs
Rankin 2-36, Johnston 2-37

Ireland 223/4 after 41 Overs
Morgan 84*, K O'Brien 89*

[BobtheDrog]

eoin morgan has been called into the 30 man provisional england squad for the twenty20 world cup. another good recovery in the canada game when it was needed

[TheBoss]

The ICC has to end this madness, one minute he is allowed to play for Ireland, and the next and he can play for England. Surely they have make some rules/laws about this, it is a bit of joke in my opinion.

[Sheridan]

If it was a choice between qualifying to play for England and playing for Ireland at the same time, or simply qualifying for England, he'd do the latter. Sad but true.

[TheBoss]

I understand the reasons why he would want to play for England, I have no problem with that, the problem is that he has played for Ireland many times in Official ODI matches recognised by the ICC against the test nations. Surely there has to be some sort of country protection rule.

[Sheridan]

If there was such a rule, players who felt they had a chance of representing a Test nation simply wouldn't make themselves available for Associate countries.

[BobtheDrog]

exactly, eoin morgan has been touted as being good enough to play at the highest level since he was about 8 better he played for us for as long as he did than that he never did and decided to take his chances with england

[endabob1]

Surely letting the test nations cherry pick the best players from non-test nations is only going to stiffle growth in the associate countries. I know it has had the same effect in Rugby for the south sea island nations that get raided by NZ & Aus scouts.
I see the reasoning for Morgan playing Test cricket but it would make more sense to limit his 20/20 & ODI games to the country he declared for?

[BobtheDrog]

and by doing so we would be making it less likely that he would get the test call up. england have on a number of occasions brought players into the test squads based on good odi performances.

namibia 213-9 off their 50 overs sounds like the 9th wicket was amazing run out by mooney
Ball appeared to be going for six, over Mooney's head, Mooney took catch one handed, realised he was going over line, threw it back into play, picked up ball threw the ball in and ran Scholtz out at far end with help of Niall O'Brien

[BobtheDrog]

ireland 39-1 off 10 wilson out for a 3rd ball duck

[BobtheDrog]

60-1 0ff 15 now

[BobtheDrog]

morgan out caught for 42 with the score on 88
after 24.4 ireland are 105-2

[TheBoss]

Nambia 213/9 after 50 Overs
Rankin 2-17, West 2-43

Ireland 214/3 after 45 Overs
Porterfield 84, N O'Brien 64*, Morgan 42

[razor]

I'm liking the Official Cricket Ireland Replica shirt (http://www.cricketbatsetc.co.uk/cricket-ireland-twenty20-replica-cricket-shirt-p-511.html?zenid=be60d45876d6d175ebd4d4967a6fb4a0) for the Twenty/20 World Cup.
Be a nice purchase for the summer.