Ireland v England ODI

Harry2001

See ya there

The Irish Cricket Union have pulled off a coup by securing a prized home fixture against England's Ashes heroes for next June.

Adrian Birrell's Irish side will create history on June 13, 2006 when they play in the country's first ever full One-Day International.

And the ICU have added spice to the occasion, in another first, by netting England as Ireland's first ODI opponents.

The venue for the historic tie will be an Irish one, but is yet to be confirmed.

Irish cricket has been on an upward curve since July when Birrell's side earned ODI status by virtue of their qualification for the 2007 World Cup in the West Indies.

South African Birrell, who took over from former New Zealand captain Kenny Rutherford in 2002, also guided Ireland to their first ever ICC Intercontinental Cup success in Namibia last month - Kenya were beaten by six wickets in the Windhoek decider.

Peter Thompson, chief executive of the Irish Cricket Union, said of the developments: "This (playing England) is a major boost for Irish cricket both in the context of the team and our supporters.

"It shows how much the Irish team has progressed over the last three years and is a reward for reaching the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2007 and winning the Intercontinental Cup in Namibia, last month.

"A match against England, our nearest Test nation, has long been the desire of everyone associated with cricket in Ireland and with the success of the current English team the match next June will certainly be an occasion not too be missed."

Meanwhile, the fixtures announcement for the 2006 C&G Trophy will see Ireland play five matches in England, with the May 28 outing at Lord's against Middlesex, the club of Ireland's star batsman Ed Joyce, a particular highlight.

The 27-year-old Joyce, who was Ireland's top runs scorer at July's ICC Trophy tournament - hitting 399 runs in five matches - may not be playing for Ireland next summer.

Left-hander Joyce qualified to play for England on July 1 courtesy of the four-year residency rule, and having earned an England Academy call-up, looks set to be involved in the England 'A' tour of the West Indies in March.

Ireland's 2006 C&G Trophy fixtures:
April 23: v Hampshire (Clontarf)
April 30: v Gloucestershire (Bristol)
May 1: v Glamorgan (Sophia Gardens)
May 7: v Essex (Chelmsford)
May 14: v Surrey (Stormont)
May 28: v Middlesex (Lord's)
May 29: v Kent (Tunbridge Wells)
June 11: v Sussex (Clontarf)
June 25: v Somerset (Stormont)

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RuggieBear

How about playing it in croker?:D

Hope it's played in dublin. find belfast a little far away

Dagnir Glaurung

Damn, right in the middle of the leaving cert.

RuggieBear

Dagnir Glaurung wrote:

Damn, right in the middle of the leaving cert.

ohh that sucks:(

Royale with Cheese

What are the chances of Ed Joyce being in the England ODI team by next June?

Warney

I sure hope it is in Dublin its so awkward getting to Belfast.Does anyone know if Ireland were in the C and G trophy last year? Is eveyone else a member of a club or am i the only one who can only bowl because know one will help him practise.

DMC

That Hampshire game in Dublin will be live on Sky Sports, the first match they'll cover next season.

Press release below, one slight natch is that Ireland have played in the C&G for a few years now, hardly inaugural.

SKY SPORTS OPENS WITH IRELAND V HAMPSHIRE

http://www.skysports.com/skysports/article/0,,8-1202329,00.html

Ireland’s inaugural match in the C&G Trophy will be Sky Sports’ first live domestic cricket fixture of the 2006 season.

Ireland face defending champions Hampshire in Dublin on 23rd April. The following week, Sky Sports will screen live coverage of Scotland’s C&G clash against Warwickshire meaning that both C&G debutants will be seen live within a week of the start of the domestic season.

Barney Francis, Sky Sports’ executive producer for cricket said: “We always like to start with the defending champions and when the fixture computer brought Ireland out of the bag it was the dream scenario.

"The game presents a fantastic chance for Sky Sports viewers to see very early on what Ireland’s admission to the C&G Trophy will bring, plus the agonising prospect of a potential banana skin for defending champs Hampshire.

"I’m sure the Irish will be determined to put on a good show having recently qualified for World Cup 2007.”

Sky Sports will announce its full domestic broadcast line-up at a later date.

Next year, Sky Sports will broadcast all international and domestic cricket in England and Wales including exclusively live coverage of every Test and One-Day International and exclusively live coverage from each of the domestic competitions as part of its new broadcast deal with ECB.

legspin

DMC wrote:

That Hampshire game in Dublin will be live on Sky Sports, the first match they'll cover next season.

QUOTE]

Goddamn it, why the fcuk does it have to be on Sky? I suppose there's no chance an Irish channel will be able to get it as well?