THE Official Cricket Thread

[ANVIL]

Rain meant just 19 overs of play was possible on the second day of the Ireland versus Netherlands clash in Rotterdam, with play only getting under way at 10 minutes to six.

Andre Botha and Andrew Poynter made sure that Ireland made the most of the short passage of play, adding 70 runs to take the close of play score to 296 for 4.

Meanwhile, Kevin Pietersen crafted a maiden Test century against his native South Africa with an imperious unbeaten 104 at the crease to give England an impressive start on day one of the first Test at Lord's.

Together with Ian Bell, who contributed 75 not out to England's 309-3 at close, the pair staged a superb fourth-wicket stand of 192 from 46, prevailing against a determined South African fight back.

[ANVIL]

Ireland remain firmly on course to wrap up a convincing innings victory over The Netherlands after the third day of their InterContinental Cup clash in Rotterdam.

The Dutch will resume the final day needing a further 224 runs if they are to make Ireland bat again, after another impressive display with both the bat and the ball by the Irish.

[Liathroidi Mor]

Shite game................ .....most boring game ever!!!

[GKN18]

Shite game................ .....most boring game ever!!!

Wrong!

Twenty20 is the future :cool:

[ANVIL]

A 10-wicket haul and a hat-trick from debutant Peter Connell to follow up on an imperious 172 from veteran Andre Botha earlier in the game made sure Ireland claimed all 20 points on offer on the last day of its ICC Intercontinental Cup match against the Netherlands at Rotterdam .



Connell became only the 16th bowler in first-class history to take a hat-trick on debut when he blitzed through the Netherlands tail to wrap up the match. The 26-year-old medium-pacer is the first player to do it in an international match with all the others coming in county, state or provincial games.

[ANVIL]

A packed few days coming up for the Ireland X1 as they compete in the European Championships.

# July 25: Ireland v Norway, European Championships, The Hills
# July 26: Ireland v Denmark, European Championships, Leinster
# July 28: Ireland v Netherlands, European Championships, Clontarf
# July 29: Ireland v Italy, European Championships, Malahide
# July 31: Ireland v Scotland, European Championships, Clontarf

[delzer]

yeah am going to try and get to a few of these depending on work.

hope to make the dutch and scottish games.

[dotty]

http://www.cricketeurope4.n et/DATABASE/ARTICLES2/articles/000046/004670.shtml

Final of the ICC Intercontinental Cup gets underway this morning v Namibia.

Recent tri series v kenya was disappointing due to the poor weather than anything else - hopefully it will stand to us nevertheless.

In other news...

THIRD TEST, Delhi (day two):
India 613-7 dec v Australia 2-0

good days cricket so far,both gambhir and laxman scored double hundreds,first time that has happened v australia.

laxmans innings in particular was a joy to watch - heres hoping they can finish the job and go 2-0 up with just 1 test match remaining in the series.

[dotty]

not watching todays play but sounds interesting to say the least.

0648: Australia 155-1 Unbelievable! Two balls into Kumble's over and all the Indian players, two Australian batsmen and two umpires are all lying down face down on the ground as the Feroz Kotla ground is swamped by a massive swarm of what I think are bees. The players cover their heads with Sachin Tendulkar using his hat to hide the back of his hat. I don't think I have ever seen anything like that before. You can't make this up.

:shock:

who said test cricket was boring.;)

[elwood blues]

not watching todays play but sounds interesting to say the least.



:shock:

who said test cricket was boring.;)

good one for Question of Sport and what happened next.

[elwood blues]

The final of the Stanford Super Series is on tomorrow night with the winning team picking up $1million a man.
Puts a bit of pressure on when a dropped catch could cost your team mates that amount of money.
England v The Stanford Superstars 9.30pm tomorrow.

[dotty]

The final of the Stanford Super Series is on tomorrow night with the winning team picking up $1million a man.
Puts a bit of pressure on when a dropped catch could cost your team mates that amount of money.
England v The Stanford Superstars 9.30pm tomorrow.

ive seen england suffer some embarassing defeats over the years and this would be right up there.

chris gayle - what a player.

[elwood blues]

ive seen england suffer some embarassing defeats over the years and this would be right up there.

chris gayle - what a player.

they were truly awful alright.
In better news Ireland won the Intercontinental Cup for the third successive year by beating Namibia.
Niall O Brien scored 119 no.

[dotty]

they were truly awful alright.
In better news Ireland won the Intercontinental Cup for the third successive year by beating Namibia.
Niall O Brien scored 119 no.

yeah,spent the last half hour or so trying to source some higlights,out of luck so far.

watched a preview programme a few weeks ago in the run up to the stanford series where the likes of nasser hussain,michael atherton,jeremy snape and an aussie,whose name escapes me at the moment - sat around and discussed englands potential lineup - the end result being that the selectors faced a difficult decision,general consensus england were spoilt for choice - and they also questioned the oppositions quality.:)

[elwood blues]

England off to a flyer in Pietersens first game as captain.
Record one day score against them by India of 387/5
England 229 in reply

[delzer]

yeah saw that. was a fast pitch too. england were terrible looked light years behind india

[dotty]

some knock from yuvraj,maybe his absence from the team over the past few months has given him the kick up the ass he needed - certainly being dropped has had the right effect on sehwag.

england were poor again,some soft dismissals.

[elwood blues]

India 2-0 up in the series now

Another century for Yuvrag and as a bonus he took 4 wickets for 28.

[dotty]

India 2-0 up in the series now

Another century for Yuvrag and as a bonus he took 4 wickets for 28.

yep watched it,on his day he is top quality,theres a spot for him in the test side if he can keep this form up,same to can be said of rohit sharma,the future of indian cricket especially at ODI level is very promising.

another question - would you replace shane watson for the returning andrew symonds?

[ANVIL]

Congratulations to Eoin Morgan on getting his call-up to the England Test squad for the forthcoming two-match series against Bangladesh.

This is a young man who is going places and ultimately, in a rather perverse way, this will be good for Irish cricket.

[RebelBhoy]

I wonder how that will go. He seems to have the stroke play to adapt to anything. Bangladesh is a nice way to ease himself in too. I'll still be watching hoping he fails, but I can't help admire what a wonderful cricketer he is.

[ANVIL]

I wonder how that will go. He seems to have the stroke play to adapt to anything. Bangladesh is a nice way to ease himself in too. I'll still be watching hoping he fails, but I can't help admire what a wonderful cricketer he is.

Begrudgery, old cock.

Morgan is merely taking advantage of a blurring of boundaries in sport in the same way that Ulster players turn out for the Irish rugby team, players with Cockney accents represent the Irish soccer team and half the English team are from South Africa.

It also helps that English cricket pumps money into the Irish game to bring on players like Morgan and ultimately that has to be good for Cricket Ireland, especially as they hope to get into the the top tier at some stage in the future.

[RebelBhoy]

Unashamed begrudgery.

Ulster platers playing for Ireland is a totally different kettle of oranges. They are Irish, just from a British administered part of Ireland. even the staunchest of Unionists concede that.

The difference with the cockneys playing for Ireland is that England wouldn't have had a use for them. Ireland with Eoin Morgan would be a better side.

That and the likes of Gary Breen or David Connolly wouldn't have played for England anyway. We'll leave that to the likes of Kevin Gallen.

[ANVIL]

World Cup itinerary 2011

Australia will begin their defence of the ICC Cricket World Cup title against Zimbabwe in Ahmedabad, India on February 21 2011.

Co-hosts Bangladesh and India will go head to head in the opening match on February 19 in Dhaka, two days after the same city stages the opening ceremony.

The top four from each group go through to the quarter-finals with the other teams eliminated.

Group A: Australia, Pakistan, New Zealand, Sri Lanka, Zimbabwe, Canada, Kenya

Group B: India, South Africa, England, West Indies, Bangladesh, Ireland, Netherlands

Saturday 19 Feb - Bangladesh v India, Dhaka
Sunday 20 Feb - New Zealand v Kenya, Chennai
Sunday 20 Feb - Sri Lanka v Canada, Hambantota
Monday 21 Feb - Australia v Zimbabwe, Ahmedabad
Tuesday 22 Feb - England v Netherlands, Nagpur
Wednesday 23 Feb - Pakistan v Kenya, Hambantota
Thursday 24 Feb - South Africa v West Indies, New Delhi
Friday 25 Feb - Australia v New Zealand, Nagpur
Friday 25 Feb - Bangladesh v Ireland, Dhaka
Saturday 26 Feb - Sri Lanka v Pakistan, Colombo
Sunday 27 Feb - India v England, Kolkata
Monday 28 Feb - West Indies v Netherlands, New Delhi
Monday 28 Feb - Zimbabwe v Canada, Nagpur
Tuesday 1 Mar - Sri Lanka v Kenya, Colombo
Wednesday 2 Mar - England v Ireland, Bangalore
Thursday 3 Mar - South Africa v Netherlands, Mohali
Thursday 3 Mar - Pakistan v Canada, Colombo
Friday 4 Mar - New Zealand v Zimbabwe, Ahmedabad
Friday 4 Mar - Bangladesh v West Indies, Dhaka
Saturday 5 Mar - Sri Lanka v Australia, Colombo
Sunday 6 Mar - India v Ireland, Bangalore
Sunday 6 Mar - England v South Africa, Chennai
Monday 7 Mar - Kenya v Canada, New Delhi
Tuesday 8 Mar - Pakistan v New Zealand, Pallekele
Wednesday 9 Mar - India v Netherlands, New Delhi
Thursday 10 Mar - Sri Lanka v Zimbabwe, Pallekele
Friday 11 Mar - West Indies v Ireland, Mohali
Friday 11 Mar - Bangladesh v England, Chittagong
Saturday 12 Mar - India v South Africa, Nagpur
Sunday 13 Mar - New Zealand v Canada, Mumbai
Sunday 13 Mar - Australia v Kenya, Bangalore
Monday 14 Mar - Pakistan v Zimbabwe, Pallekele
Monday 14 Mar - Bangladesh v Netherlands, Chittagong
Tuesday 15 Mar - South Africa v Ireland, Kolkata
Wednesday 16 Mar - Australia v Canada, Bangalore
Thursday 17 Mar - England v West Indies, Chennai
Friday 18 Mar - Sri Lanka v New Zealand, Mumbai
Saturday 19 Mar - Australia v Pakistan, Colombo
Saturday 19 Mar - Bangladesh v South Africa, Dhaka
Sunday 20 Mar - Zimbabwe v Kenya, Kolkata
Sunday 20 Mar - India v West Indies, Chennai
Wednesday 23 Mar - First quarter-final, Dhaka
Thursday 24 Mar - Second quarter-final, Colombo
Friday 25 Mar - Third quarter-final, Dhaka
Saturday 26 Mar - Fourth quarter-final, Ahmedabad
Tuesday 29 Mar - First semi-final, Colombo
Wednesday 30 Mar - Second semi-final, Mohali
Saturday 2 April - Final, Mumbai

[ANVIL]

Eoin Morgan next in to bat for England against Bangladesh for his test debut.

[RebelBhoy]

Three simple words.

GOLDEN DUCK

[RebelBhoy]

Strauss looked nervy early on and Cook looked under pressure too (He got away with an LBW but got a bad decision to get out). Its maybe not all that rosy for a left hander on debut.

Still, coming in at two hundred and whatever for 4 can't be bad.

[ANVIL]

In now.
Difficult time after tea- I don't expect many fireworks today.

[RebelBhoy]

His reverse sweep is quite incredible. knocked one to the boundary there with ease. He's being quite adventurous in his shot selection.....the prick.

[ANVIL]

His reverse sweep is quite incredible. knocked one to the boundary there with ease. He's being quite adventurous in his shot selection.....the prick.

Yeah, you're right.
He's a prick for deciding to use existing rules to play test match cricket rather than fester in a second tier side always wondering what might have been but being proud to be an Irishman.
Morgan is a quality player who deserves to excel at the highest level.

[RebelBhoy]

Morgan is a quality player who deserves to excel at the highest level.

The prick.

Brit written on his jersey, I reckon he has "west" written in tiny letters before it.

He should have his passport revoked.

[ANVIL]

The prick.

Brit written on his jersey, I reckon he has "west" written in tiny letters before it.

He should have his passport revoked.

What's wrong with an Irishman seeking a better life on the mainland ?
Millions do it already. ;)

[RebelBhoy]

mainland....*shudder *

true, but they all want to get back home again.

[ANVIL]

Congratulations to Eoin Morgan after being picked for the England side touring Australia for the Ashes this winter.

Morgan is an Irish sporting great after fighting his way to the top of the English game with glorious stroke-play and an ice-cool temperament.

To be playing in the most celebrated fixture in the second most popular sport on the planet is a fantastic achievement.

Of course, to the eternal shame of this country his success is hardly ever applauded even though third-rate and third place boxers receive a hero's welcome.

[whathefeck]

What a joke of a sport. Its even more of a joke that it need a west brit irishman to make the country that invented it competitive.
If they were playing an international out my back garden i wouldnt even look out the window.

[ANVIL]

What a joke of a sport. Its even more of a joke that it need a west brit irishman to make the country that invented it competitive.
If they were playing an international out my back garden i wouldnt even look out the window.

Men hitting a small ball with a stick - no, hang on a minute that's hurling.
Millions of men hitting a small ball with a stick all over the planet watched by millions of others.
Yup, we got there eventually.

[whathefeck]

Yeah if we were a bunch of drug pushing colonial bastards they would be playing hurling instead. To be honest just because a sport is widespread doesnt make it better or even worthwhile in its own right. The spread of cricket had more to do with politics colonialisim and the climate of the countries it spread to more then any aesthic beauty in the game.

[ANVIL]

Yeah if we were a bunch of drug pushing colonial bastards they would be playing hurling instead. To be honest just because a sport is widespread doesnt make it better or even worthwhile in its own right. The spread of cricket had more to do with politics colonialisim and the climate of the countries it spread to more then any aesthic beauty in the game.

2-3 billion fans of cricket worldwide suggests you might be a tad wrong on this one old bean.

[whathefeck]

All in former colonies of great shitten

[ANVIL]

All in former colonies of great shitten

Yup,that's why it's played in Ireland as well.

[whathefeck]

By a few former press boys who were too fairy for rugby and a few prods. To be honest most people who play it in ireland are making a cultural statement more then anything else. Just like your good self.

[ANVIL]

I take it you tried the game once but found the task of having to concentrate for more than a few minutes too much.
I understand old chap.



Cricket: Eoin Morgan remains on course to become the latest Irish cricketer to feature in the Ashes after being named in England’s 16-man squad for the series against Australia later this year.

The Dubliner, who has yet to fully prove himself at test level, is by no means a certain starter but his stellar form in the limited overs format guaranteed his inclusion in the squad itself.

Four Irish-born players have previously played for England in the series, three of them between 1878 and 1908. Martin McCague - born in Co Antrim, raised in Australia and capped by England – was the last ‘Irish’ player to feature when he played in 1994.

[whathefeck]

I take it you tried the game once but found the task of having to concentrate for more than a few minutes too much.
I understand old chap.



Cricket: Eoin Morgan remains on course to become the latest Irish cricketer to feature in the Ashes after being named in England’s 16-man squad for the series against Australia later this year.

The Dubliner, who has yet to fully prove himself at test level, is by no means a certain starter but his stellar form in the limited overs format guaranteed his inclusion in the squad itself.

Four Irish-born players have previously played for England in the series, three of them between 1878 and 1908. Martin McCague - born in Co Antrim, raised in Australia and capped by England – was the last ‘Irish’ player to feature when he played in 1994.

More like five fucking days, any game that takes that long to play out is by definition boring. Cricket: the menstrual cycle of the international sporting world.

[3pointplay]

So what about all the match fixing.

[ANVIL]

More like five fucking days, any game that takes that long to play out is by definition boring, Cricket: the menstrual cycle of the international sporting world.



But you're unemployed.
You have all the time in the world on your hands.
Perhaps you might be better seeking out gainful employment than wasting your time on here complaining about a sport you've never played.
By the way, are you simply a bitter old pug because you're jobless or perhaps did your attitude get you the sack in the first place ?

[ANVIL]

So what about all the match fixing.

Yes, unfortunate business.
It's a sub-continent thing where illegal gambling is huge and many player come from poor backgrounds so the ability to bribe them is easy.
It's a shame because Pakistan are great cricketers but I suppose there are rotten apples in every barrel.
Fortunately this latest scandal is about spot-fixing rather than match-rigging.

[whathefeck]

But you're unemployed.
You have all the time in the world on your hands.
Perhaps you might be better seeking out gainful employment than wasting your time on here complaining about a sport you've never played.
By the way, are you simply a bitter old pug because you're jobless or perhaps did your attitude get you the sack in the first place ?

Actually back in education. I was wondering how long before you had to make it personal. Cant defend the sport on its own right.:lol!: :lol!:
http://www.flintoffsashes.c om/wp-content/uploads/cricket-fail.png

[ANVIL]

Actually back in education. I was wondering how long before you had to make it personal. Cant defend the sport on its own right.:lol!: :lol!:
http://www.flintoffsashes.c om/wp-content/uploads/cricket-fail.png

Education ?
So not actually working.
When I was a student I had lots of time on my hands because I found the Degree work so easy.
Politics, English and Economics.
But only a 2:1 I'm sorry to say.

[whathefeck]

Yes, unfortunate business.:lol!:
It's a sub-continent thing:lol!: where illegal gambling is huge and many player come from poor backgrounds so the ability to bribe them is easy.
It's a shame because Pakistan are great cricketers but I suppose there are rotten apples in every barrel.
Fortunately this latest scandal is about spot-fixing:lol!: rather than match-rigging.

Your still a dirty paddy to the queen in spite of your aspiration to britishness

[whathefeck]

Education ?
So not actually working.
When I was a student I had lots of time on my hands because I found the Degree work so easy.
Politics, English and Economics.
But only a 2:1 I'm sorry to say.

I have a degree as well but mine isnt a fantasy like yours :lol!:
Aiming towards getting a h-dip.
All of this of course still doesnt take away from the rigged boredom that is cricket

[3pointplay]

Yes, unfortunate business.
It's a sub-continent thing where illegal gambling is huge and many player come from poor backgrounds so the ability to bribe them is easy.
It's a shame because Pakistan are great cricketers but I suppose there are rotten apples in every barrel.
Fortunately this latest scandal is about spot-fixing rather than match-rigging.What was the story with the head of Pakistan cricket claiming the English lads were cheating as well or was it just a case of sour grapes?

[Apennyforyourthought]

Your still a dirty paddy to the queen in spite of your aspiration to britishness

Your wumming is still "piss poor". An imporovement though, but only slightly.I give you a 'D'. Please take note of my wumming and you'll learn quickly :cool:

BTW to end on a sports note as this is a sports page yet some one is doing his best to ruin it(shame on you WTF). The scandals are showing cricket in a bad light, but like all sports it will come through. That is all!

Last post woohoo :lol!:

[whathefeck]

What was the story with the head of Pakistan cricket claiming the English lads were cheating as well or was it just a case of sour grapes?

So who said cricket was fair?: Cheating has always been rampant, argues Kenan Malik, whatever they say at Lord's


I HAD always known that the schooling of England's elite inculcated some pretty bizarre habits into its unfortunate pupils. Quite how bizarre I never understood until the England cricket captain Michael Atherton - graduate of Manchester Grammar School and Cambridge University - dipped his hand into a pocketful of dirt to dry it. Cricket, I know, can be a sweaty business, and cricketers tend to be a peculiar bunch of people, but even they usually make do with a towel or flannel.

Of course, I fully believe Atherton when he says he was drying his hand, not tampering with the ball. Ball tampering - scratching it on one side, picking the seam, applying various substances to it - is helpful to the bowler because it allows him to swing the ball more and thus to deceive the batsman. But it is also against the laws of cricket. And as we all know, an Englishman never cheats. Foreigners may flout the rules, they may take drugs, their referees and umpires may be biased. An Englishman, however, merely has a dirty pocket. :lol!: :lol!:

[whathefeck]

Your wumming is still "piss poor". An imporovement though, but only slightly.I give you a 'D'. Please take note of my wumming and you'll learn quickly :cool:

BTW to end on a sports note as this is a sports page yet some one is doing his best to ruin it(shame on you WTF). The scandals are showing cricket in a good light, but like all sports it will come through. That is all!

Last post woohoo :lol!:

I lol'ed :D
i'll give you that

[ANVIL]

What was the story with the head of Pakistan cricket claiming the English lads were cheating as well or was it just a case of sour grapes?

The English cricket authorities have demanded an apology or will bring legal action.
Even the Pakistani authorities are distancing themselves from the feller who is an old boy and up for retirement.
Rum do though.

[ANVIL]

I have a degree as well but mine isnt a fantasy like yours :lol!:
Aiming towards getting a h-dip.
All of this of course still doesnt take away from the rigged boredom that is cricket

So you're going to be a highly-qualified layabout ?
There are quite a few of them on here.

[whathefeck]

So you're going to be a highly-qualified layabout ?
There are quite a few of them on here.

Why dont you rub your balls in some dirt like your heroes. :lol!:
Anyway penny has ruined my wumming of the wums so i'm out of here. Who knows maybe i'll catch your next cricket update.

[ANVIL]

Why dont you rub your balls in some dirt like your heroes. :lol!:
Anyway penny has ruined my wumming of the wums so i'm out of here. Who knows maybe i'll catch your next cricket update.

Such bitterness.
Along with poor syntax, spelling and grammar.
And you say you have a degree ?
They must set the bar at limbo-dancing level these days.

[3pointplay]

The English cricket authorities have demanded an apology or will bring legal action.
Even the Pakistani authorities are distancing themselves from the feller who is an old boy and up for retirement.
Rum do though.

I was watching him on Sky news he was on a right old rant that day.
Bit strange the power of sport there is his home country sinking under all the rain and he is banging on about English lads cheating.

[Kielys Baby Batter]

yawn.............

[RebelBhoy]

I was watching him on Sky news he was on a right old rant that day.
Bit strange the power of sport there is his home country sinking under all the rain and he is banging on about English lads cheating.


And one former irishman leading those brave three Lions to glory

[ANVIL]

And one former irishman leading those brave three Lions to glory

Well to be honest the team is full of South Africans as well but that's not different than the Irish football team being full of Cockney accents.

Everyone takes what they can buddy.

[RebelBhoy]

Those cockneys qualified for Ireland via a grandparent or parent.

The English cricket team picks fellas with no connection at all.

Fair play to the souper anyway for another majestic innings yesterday.

[delzer]

I take it you tried the game once but found the task of having to concentrate for more than a few minutes too much.
I understand old chap.



Cricket: Eoin Morgan remains on course to become the latest Irish cricketer to feature in the Ashes after being named in England’s 16-man squad for the series against Australia later this year.

The Dubliner, who has yet to fully prove himself at test level, is by no means a certain starter but his stellar form in the limited overs format guaranteed his inclusion in the squad itself.

Four Irish-born players have previously played for England in the series, three of them between 1878 and 1908. Martin McCague - born in Co Antrim, raised in Australia and capped by England – was the last ‘Irish’ player to feature when he played in 1994.

Did Ed Joyce not play in the ashes in Australia the last time? Or did he just play in odi?

[ANVIL]

Did Ed Joyce not play in the ashes in Australia the last time? Or did he just play in odi?

No, just the ODI's.

But according to wiki " the highlight of the series for Joyce was the victory over Australia at the SCG on 2 February 2007. Opening the innings, Joyce scored a match-winning 107 from 142 balls, helping England amass 292-7, and became the first English cricketer to score a One Day International century away from home in nineteen matches "

Should be playing for Ireland in the World Cup.

I rather fancy a trip over to India.

[Mr Bojangles]

George Dockrell, the Ireland and Somerset left-arm spinner, wants to put behind him a frustrating 2011 and begin the new year in style when he faces England in Dubai next month.

Dockrell, 19, has been named in the ICC Associates and Affiliates team that will play England in their first warm-up match before the Test series against Pakistan. He is already a highly regarded bowler and has just completed his first year on the Somerset books, but a dislocated shoulder at the World Cup meant he wasn't able to quite make the strides he wanted in the county set up. He made just one County Championship appearance although did play in the Friends Life t20 semi-final against Hampshire and at the Champions League in India.

"It was a tough year after the World Cup," he told ESPNcricinfo. "I was hoping to take my form into the English season but the injury set me back a bit which was annoying. These things happen and I'm now just looking forward to next year and playing a lot of cricket. If I have a good winter with Ireland then that will set me up well for the next English summer."

The three-day match against England will also allow Dockrell an extended bowl against a Test-match batting order rather than the four-over and 10-over stints he has been restricted to in his previous Twenty20 and ODI outings.

"I've played them before in the World T20, the World Cup and again in Ireland but this will be something different in the longer form and it will be more of a test bowling more overs," he said. "The longer form of the game is the one side I want to develop most at the moment so it will be great to bowl against the No. 1 Test team and hopefully I'll get plenty of overs under my belt."

Dockrell will line up alongside Ireland team-mates Will Porterfield, who will captain the ICC team, and Boyd Rankin with the latter also part of the England Lions set up. Dockrell has already been tipped as another Ireland cricketer who could press for Test honours with England in the future but is adamant none of those thoughts are crossing his mind yet.

"I've only been playing for two seasons and I'm still trying to break into the county scene so that is where my mind is focused at the moment," he said. "I need to make huge developments in my game before I look too far into the future."

Although the match in January is a nice bonus for Dockrell it is not the most important cricket he has coming up in the early part of next year. In March, Dubai will also host the World Twenty20 qualifiers involving 16 teams of which only two will qualify for the full tournament in Sri Lanka next September. Having elevated themselves to the leading Associate nation, Dockrell is aware that it is crucial that Ireland continue to reach these global events.

"Only two teams qualify and it's a huge thing for Ireland," he said. "It's quite a long tournament and our focus is getting to that World Cup because it's massive for the team to ensure we stay on the world stage."

[polar bear]

When are England playing Pakistan?

[Mr Bojangles]

When are England playing Pakistan?

Jan 17th and 25th

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ci/content/match/fixtures/index.html?days=365

[delzer]

Porterfield is captain of the Associate side. Boyd Rankin is also playing. He is hooking up with the English Lions after that so he could be the next Irish player to play for England in the future.

[delzer]

Huge addition to Irish squad.


LAST Saturday morning a brown envelope embossed with a harp dropped through a letterbox in London.

Inside was a letter congratulating the addressee on his new status as an Irish citizen.

That letter could prove priceless to Irish cricket if the man who received it, Tim Murtagh, joins the team in its quest for the Twenty20 World Cup.

“It’s something I should have done a long time ago”, says the Middlesex all-rounder, who was 30 in August.

“My uncle and dad have been joking about it for years.”

Murtagh – who took 80 wickets in 15 championship games last summer – can be added to the Ireland squad for the Dubai qualifier if his passport application is processed by 12th February. He has been assured by the Passport Office that there should be no problem.

Murtagh qualifies through his grandad: “I was very close to my Irish grandfather, Francis Vincent Murtagh, who died about five years ago.”

A couples’ weekend away last winter started the ball rolling.

“In the pub Ed Joyce started quizzing me on my Irish roots and he reckoned I qualified for Ireland.

“He made a couple of calls and then (performance director) Mark Garaway checked me out.

“I had to chase down lots of original birth, marriage and death certificates before I applied in October.”

Murtagh also had a frank chat with coach Phil Simmons.

“Middlesex director of cricket Angus Fraser drove me up to Loughborough to meet Phil just before Christmas.

“He said he’d like me to part of the team but he wouldn’t make any guarantees, which is fair enough.

“He’s a good man – I think I played against him at the tail-end of his career with Leicestershire.”

The 6’2” seamer also knows most of his new squad-mates from the county circuit.

“We’ve a very strong Irish element at Middlesex, with Paul Stirling, Eoin Morgan, Andy Balbirnie and the Poynters.

“I know Gary Wilson well too, we play a lot of golf together.”

Murtagh has played twice against Ireland – in 2006 for Surrey when the match was ruined by Belfast rain, and the following season for Middlesex at Clontarf. He took 1-38 and a catch to dismiss Kevin O’Brien.

His brother Chris, 27, also played county cricket for Surrey, for whom their Dad played at 2nd XI level. Dublin-born uncle Andy played for Hampshire in the 1970s.

Tim played for England U19s in the 2000 World Cup, when Andrew White, Niall O’Brien and John Mooney were in the Irish team, but the sides never met.

That tournament was held in Sri Lanka, also the venue for this year’s World Twenty20.

Murtagh is just back from Thailand where he honeymooned after his 28th December wedding.

And with Trent Johnston signaling that he will retire at the end of the year, there could be plenty more long-haul travelling for the newest Irishman.

[delzer]

It would take a mighty plug to stem the talent drain to England — and Irish cricket chiefs believe that bringing Test cricket to this island is the solution.
Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom made the bold declaration yesterday that Ireland will be playing Test cricket by 2020.

He also announced a new two-year contract for national coach Phil Simmons, a strategic plan for 2012-2015 and 23 new player deals worth just under €500,000 a year, but everybody wanted to talk about Deutrom’s headline goal.

Simmons, the former West Indies all-rounder who has been here since 2007 and lost Eoin Morgan to England, with Boyd Rankin on the verge of joining him, believes Ireland have to aim for the top or face being a feeder nation forever.

‘We’re not that far from England, and Test cricket is buoyant there now, so I think it’s why we have been moving so quickly,’ said Simmons. ‘We keep seeing things that other people haven’t seen. I think we were one of the first associates [ICC associate member nations] to contract two and six players, and so on. I look forward to that day, and I look forward to it mainly because that’s the only way we are going to stop our players moving to England. You’ve given them something that a lot of players move to England for — to play Test cricket. Once we get to that stage, we’re going to keep our players and we are going to get stronger.’

Deutrom said his target was based on the remarkable strides Ireland have made in seven years since qualifying for their first World Cup, the improved governance of the game and the surge in participation numbers — he hopes to have 50,000 playing the game by 2015.

‘In the past people would have said to me: “Super Eights of the World Cup? What are you talking about?” They wouldn’t have believed the two million hits on the website either, or the contracting of players. We have achieved everything we have set out to achieve,’ he said.

If Tests in Ireland became a reality, the national side would play at the new ground in Malahide, Co Dublin, their established northern base of Stormont and, eventually, at Bready, Rankin’s former club, which will be established as a new international hub in cricket-mad Derry.

But there are serious question marks over the viability of staging the slowest form of cricket over five consecutive days in this country, where there are 13 clubs in the whole of Munster and six — mainly forged amid Galway’s Indian and Pakistani communities — in Connacht.

Another problem, apart from the climate and the likely resistance of the ICC, is the marketability of the product itself in an age of quick fixes and sport kowtowing to TV executives. Even New Zealand, ranked ninth in the world, have struggled to keep Test cricket alive and with ailing attendances, resorted to bringing Test matches to small, provincial grounds of capacities of around 7,000.

Deutrom said Ireland would follow this lead, and claimed: ‘I have no doubt that we would be selling out grounds of that size, because Ireland would be playing Test cricket.’

However, when Sportsmail asked the CEO what research had been done to identify a market for what would be a brand new form of entertainment — one-day and Twenty20 internationals are played at a greater pace than Tests, and are far more appealing to the peripheral fan — he confessed that there had been none.

But part of Deutrom’s strategic vision, he said, is a major marketing push to make the whole country sit up and take notice of cricket.

The whole notion could also be blown out of the water by the ICC, who operate a cosy clique of 10 ‘full members’ who play Tests and lap up the lion’s share of the world game’s profits. Deutrom, who has launched withering attacks on the governing body in the past despite being a previous employee and still sitting on their chief executives committee, said: ‘My personal view is that any form of the game that seeks to rigidly maintain its status quo will fail.’

Cricket Ireland are still pushing for ‘enhanced membership’ of the ICC but the first step is to create an interprovincial first-class structure — four teams will be playing each other over three days by 2015.
This is one of the key stipulations of applying to the ICC for Test status.

One reason Deutrom believes Ireland would be competitive in Tests is that he advocates the much-discussed notion of a two-tier championship of 12 nations replacing the current round robin of 10.

But according to today’s rankings, that would mean Ireland playing West I ndies, New Zealand, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe and the Netherlands, knowing it could take decades to earn promotion and take on the kind of opposition who have proved they can pull a crowd on previous visits — for one-day games.

[frankeechops]

Cricket Ireland are still pushing for ‘enhanced membership’ of the ICC but the first step is to create an interprovincial first-class structure — four teams will be playing each other over three days by 2015.
This is one of the key stipulations of applying to the ICC for Test status.



This is the major stumbling block in my view. How the hell is 4 teams playing inter-pro games going to be viewed as a first class set up?

Did anything ever come of the mooted Scottish/Dutch/Irish league a few years back? At least that would have some hope.

[delzer]

This is the major stumbling block in my view. How the hell is 4 teams playing inter-pro games going to be viewed as a first class set up?

Did anything ever come of the mooted Scottish/Dutch/Irish league a few years back? At least that would have some hope.

Died a death. The first class competition is a hard one to get over alright.

[Mr Bojangles]

Unfortunately Morgan has proved to be a flash in the pan.
Expect him to be dropped for the Third Test against Pakistan and he'll struggle to get back in to the Test side especially as many of England's games this year are against sub-continent sides.
His unconventional trigger movement is now just plain bonkers.
Shame, 'cos he's a nice feller and a great slogger for the 20/20s.
As for Test status unless the Government, any Irish Government, supports Cricket Ireland more it's not going to happen especially as there's no votes in it.

[delzer]

In fairness AnvilY there are a few more of The English batsmen who are doing just as bad as Morgan. Bell and Pieterson have been just as bad. 94 runs between the 3 i think.

[Mr Bojangles]

In fairness AnvilY there are a few more of The English batsmen who are doing just as bad as Morgan. Bell and Pieterson have been just as bad. 94 runs between the 3 i think.

Unfortunately Morgan has underperformed in the Test side even before the
Dubai games.
Pietersen and Bell had excellent averages in 2011.
Don't get me wrong, I rate him highly as a person and an all-round cricketer.
But he has to go away and sort out that batting technique as you can't accurately judge line and length from a crouching position.

[delzer]

Bopara to come in?

[Mr Bojangles]

Bopara to come in?

For the next test I would think although even Bopara is flakey.
At least he can bowl a bit.
Then maybe Samit Patel who can play spin.
Can't see England holding down the No 1 spot for long, especially with
the Sri Lanka tour coming up.