[D3PO]

Originally Posted by Hayte

. I'm English but I've lived in Ireland for 6 years and cricket is regarded as confusing, arcane and something of a tan sport over here.

with all due respect Id have to say your way off with the above. Im not denying there was an attitude years ago about cricket but that simple doesnt exist any more.

I used to get usual jibes about going to enjoy cucumber sandwiches, or enjoy your game you west brit etc etc when I would tell somebody I was going to play cricket

that doesnt happen anymore. I havent seen so many kids playing cricket in the streets as I have over the past few weeks since Test Match Special used to be on the BBC.

There is a very definate move to embracing the game here, partly due to the success of the Irish team, partly due to the amount of cricket avaiable on digital TV these days and partly due to the hardwork at grass roots level by cricket ireland and the many cricket clubs nationally.

This is what really annoys me that the ICC can come in and in one foul swoop look to undoor a large proportion of this in a second.

[Hayte]

I dunno. I still get ribbed over it constantly. Its not serious of course but still...I don't know many people that follow or understand the sport nor do they want to. I guess its the same in England though. Shrugs.

[bitter]

The same clown who calls someone a west-brit for playing cricket is most likely a rabid follower of a EPL club. The Irish don't do irony very well.

[d'Oracle]

Originally Posted by D3PO

with all due respect Id have to say your way off with the above. Im not denying there was an attitude years ago about cricket but that simple doesnt exist any more.

I used to get usual jibes about going to enjoy cucumber sandwiches, or enjoy your game you west brit etc etc when I would tell somebody I was going to play cricket

that doesnt happen anymore. I havent seen so many kids playing cricket in the streets as I have over the past few weeks since Test Match Special used to be on the BBC.

There is a very definate move to embracing the game here, partly due to the success of the Irish team, partly due to the amount of cricket avaiable on digital TV these days and partly due to the hardwork at grass roots level by cricket ireland and the many cricket clubs nationally.

This is what really annoys me that the ICC can come in and in one foul swoop look to undoor a large proportion of this in a second.

Where are you at though?

I reckon, unfortunately, that ignorant attitude still exists.
Despite the fact that it is largely not actually true at all.

[riffmongous]

Saw this on the BBC website today, Middlesex bowler Tim Murtagh talking about wanting to play for Ireland since he has no chance of playing for England.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/9502158.stm

I'm not too familiar with him, I had a quick look at his stats for this year and they didn't seem hugely impressive with the exception of his LVCC wickets tally, anyone here know much about him?

Edit: I hope this is the best place for this, I didn't really think the article was concrete enough to warrant its own thread and this seemed like the most appropriate thread (in a reverse way)

[Cremated]

In his last first class game he did get 8 wickets and against Essex, hope someone on here will know more about him?, he does know Ed well...

[Flashdean]

Originally Posted by riffmongous

Saw this on the BBC website today, Middlesex bowler Tim Murtagh talking about wanting to play for Ireland since he has no chance of playing for England.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/9502158.stm

I'm not too familiar with him, I had a quick look at his stats for this year and they didn't seem hugely impressive with the exception of his LVCC wickets tally, anyone here know much about him?

Edit: I hope this is the best place for this, I didn't really think the article was concrete enough to warrant its own thread and this seemed like the most appropriate thread (in a reverse way)

Has Murtagh followed this up since he announced this?? Im a surrey fan and i grew up watching Tim play for us and would be a great addition to th irish team!

Played the u-19 world cup for England in 00 or 01..

He will get wickets and score a few runs for any lower nation side and would be a grean asset!

[TheDrog]

I would suspect that the Murtagh situation is exactly the same as the Hamish Marshall one whereby if the player appears for Ireland then he is no longer considered english and as such the ECB removes funding. At the moment every game a Kolpak player plays instead of an English qualified player, the county gets £1,100 less from the ECB, so it works out as a lot over the course of the season.

[vutshuvo]

may be they want to get short time celebrate y ... we have to change this mentality

[Tiernster7]

‎''But Rankin has some tough decisions to make in the next few weeks. He is out of contract at the end of the season and, while Warwickshire are keen for him to stay, they are reluctant to share him. They would prefer that he retired from international cricket - Rankin is Ireland's strike bowler - and that he concentrated on county duty. The feeling at Edgbaston is that Rankin often returns from international duty carrying an injury. It leaves Rankin with a desperately tricky decision and provides another reminder of the challenges facing Irish cricket as they seek to break into the top tier of international teams.'

Paragraph from ESPN. Interesting to see how this pans out but emphasizes how the counties understandable self interest means Cricket Ireland needs to be able to pay players enough to make a county contract not the be all. I know crazy talk