Ireland going for full membership of ICC?

Dozen Wicked Words

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Seems like the next logical step, and should maybe replace Zimbabwe who are plodding along miserably aiming for the new lowest score.

If Ireland were able to stop the poaching of talent, they could easily compete with Bangladesh/Zimbabwe, and, whos to say further down they line can't also compete with the rest of the full ICC members.

TrueDub

dooferoaks wrote: »

Link Here

Seems like the next logical step, and should maybe replace Zimbabwe who are plodding along miserably aiming for the new lowest score.

If Ireland were able to stop the poaching of talent, they could easily compete with Bangladesh/Zimbabwe, and, whos to say further down they line can't also compete with the rest of the full ICC members.

It's as much a way of getting the ICC to commit to a pathway as it is a serious application. We need to know what we need to do, because everyone knows we need to do lots of things, but a clear set of criteria and a pathway to the top table are essential.

Marshy

I like that we're making a formal application but in the short term I can only see us getting perhaps a few more ODIs in the schedule.

I think that trying to get us to play Tests against the top nations would be a forlorn effort but a few years down the line, if the ICC were in favour, a second division of Test cricket might be an option.

TrueDub

Marshy wrote: »

I like that we're making a formal application but in the short term I can only see us getting perhaps a few more ODIs in the schedule.

I think that trying to get us to play Tests against the top nations would be a forlorn effort but a few years down the line, if the ICC were in favour, a second division of Test cricket might be an option.

I think you're right. The simple fact is that we're applying for full member status, not test status - the two things aren't automatically linked. What Cricket Ireland really want is a roadmap for full member and test status, and this application will force ICC to work this through.

Beasty

ICC confirm they have received a letter from Cricket Ireland noting their intention to apply for full member status:

http://www.irishtimes.com/newspaper/sport/2009/1105/1224258097690.html

Beasty

Positive article on cricinfo from Peter Roebuck also:

http://www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/432937.html

TrueDub

Beasty wrote: »

Positive article on cricinfo from Peter Roebuck also:

http://www.cricinfo.com/magazine/content/story/432937.html

Saw that, an excellent article from a guy who always has an interesting point of view, whether you agree with him or not.

We'll wait & see what the mandarins of the ICC decide - in the meantime, I'd love to hear what the morons like Bob Willis have to say!!

Beasty

TrueDub wrote: »

Saw that, an excellent article from a guy who always has an interesting point of view, whether you agree with him or not.

We'll wait & see what the mandarins of the ICC decide - in the meantime, I'd love to hear what the morons like Bob Willis have to say!!

Fortunately in cricket for every Willis there tends to be a Roebuck. It seems to be a sport that attracts more talented individuals who go on to become good journalists/writers than any other sport.

BOHtox

we'd be a quality team if we could keep our good players

KevIRL

BOHtox wrote: »

we are squality team but would be even better if we could keep our good players

FYP

BOHtox

we're hardly quality.I'd rate Australia and South Africa as quality.I believe if we could keep joyce and morgan we could compete with the likes of the middle full members

d'Oracle

BOHtox wrote: »

we're hardly quality.

You suck.

whatawaster

BOHtox wrote: »

we're hardly quality.I'd rate Australia and South Africa as quality.I believe if we could keep joyce and morgan we could compete with the likes of the middle full members

Who are the middle full members?

At test level we would be destroyed by England, Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, Pakistan, India, New Zealand and the Windies.
We might give Bangladesh a good go, but they'll beat us more often than not.
This is even with Morgan and Joyce.

To compete even at the lower end of test cricket we'd need to put a proper first class system in place here.
I would suggest a very elite system with only 5/6 teams. Possibly one for each province and one team for Dublin. Playing each other week in week out in the summer in 4 day, 1 day and T20 matches. I don't think that's sustainable. To accomodate 4 day matches the players would need to be paid.

Another thing we'd have to look at is Irish-qualifying English/overseas players. i'm sure there are plenty in the english first class system, probably some in South Africa/Australia too.

We'd also need to encourage/help the likes of Morgan and Joyce to go play IN and not FOR England. The higher the level they play the better.

Dozen Wicked Words

whatawaster wrote: »

Another thing we'd have to look at is Irish-qualifying English/overseas players. i'm sure there are plenty in the english first class system, probably some in South Africa/Australia too.

We'd also need to encourage/help the likes of Morgan and Joyce to go play IN and not FOR England. The higher the level they play the better.

A problem will come (a long way down the line I'm sure) when Irish players become classed as overseas for the First Class game, would many counties pick them as their non English player? Not sure that too many Irish would be picked over a journeyman South African or Pakistani unfortunately.

Beasty

dooferoaks wrote: »

A problem will come (a long way down the line I'm sure) when Irish players become classed as overseas for the First Class game, would many counties pick them as their non English player? Not sure that too many Irish would be picked over a journeyman South African or Pakistani unfortunately.

EU employment laws prevent this. Effectively they could not restrict anyone from within the EU from playing anywhere in the EU. In soccer they have toyed with the idea of having a quota of local grown players, but I think this still falls foul of EU rules.

The Nation

So if we gained Test status would Eoin Morgan and more realistically Ed Joyce become eligeble?

d'Oracle

The Nation wrote: »

So if we gained Test status would Eoin Morgan and more realistically Ed Joyce become eligeble?

Morgan No.

Joyce yes provided he doesn't get picked for England in the interim.
Although that said, it may be that he would have to come back BEFORE we get Full Membership.

But to underline this won't be a quick process.

Feeky Magee

I'd be worried about initial results if we got Test status. We've showed very well in the limited overs tournaments, but even in them we got a couple of absolute batterings. Test cricket would expose the difference in quality between us and the leadin nations, in my opinion.

Having said that, it can only be good for Irish cricket in the long-term, more players will be retained with the allure of Test cricket, and the team could only strengthen.

So in summary, hope this happens, but don't drop the faith if we get a few early hammerings.