Ireland to play Test Cricket in 2018?

Derco

As often happens Stirling gets a rush of blood to the head just after he gets himself in. We'll be doing great to avoid the follow-on now.

At least we should try avoiding being included on this page..

http://stats.espncricinfo.com/wi/content/records/145832.html

Thompson in at 7. What's the story with Gary Wilson? I don't think I've ever seen a specialist batsman come in at 8 before. Is he injured?

Losty Dublin

Derco wrote: »

Thompson in at 7. What's the story with Gary Wilson? I don't think I've ever seen a specialist batsman come in at 8 before. Is he injured?

Took a bad knock in the nets this morning. He was subbed from fielding duties to give him a chance.

riffmongous

That was a beautiful shot down to third man

riffmongous

Thompson gone now, Kevin needs better support cause he is playing quite well

riffmongous

And Kane gone immeadiately

BarryD2

Had hoped that Porterfield would put in an innings. Every now and then he does the business but again weaker teams?

Vlad Kelly

He's capable of putting together big scores against tough opposition, he scored a ton against a good England attack in an ODI in Malahde a few years back. Got to give Amir credit for that set up, he had beaten Porterfield's outside edge on a number of occasions in the previous deliveries and the wicket ball came back sharply. It's a classic set up from a world class performer in helpful conditions, would have done for plenty of top international openers around the world.

Mysterypunter

BarryD2 wrote: »

Had hoped that Porterfield would put in an innings. Every now and then he does the business but again weaker teams?

The whole team are past their peak, him especially. They had a good side a few years ago, but nothing coming through. Joyce, Niall O'Brien, about it. Stirling is a village green slogger. A throwback to amateur days

coldfire1x

Good to have the test status but the team needs new talents especially if they want to make test cricket interesting.

Vlad Kelly

Mysterypunter wrote: »

Stirling is a village green slogger. A throwback to amateur days

It's hard to believe your cricket experience goes back to the amateur days if you're as ignorant of Stirling's talent as that.

Mysterypunter

Vlad Kelly wrote: »

It's hard to believe your cricket experience goes back to the amateur days if you're as ignorant of Stirling's talent as that.

Not ignorant of his talent, just think a player of his ability should be playing every game for Middlesex as an opener, not dropped out of a county side, obvious what I'm getting at, amateur days. As in don't train too hard. Good eye, loads of natural ability, a bit like a cricketing Shane Lowry. Very good player, no doubt.

riffmongous

Well now 95-8 isn't all that bad now is it considering how the innings started.. the real danger always was we would set a load of new records and we've managed to get past that. Now if we can just avoid losing by an innings it'll be alright. Low expectations but realistic I feel

Royale with Cheese

Pakistan could well choose to bat again so the innings defeat might not be an issue.

BarryD2

Vlad Kelly wrote: »

He's capable of putting together big scores against tough opposition, he scored a ton against a good England attack in an ODI in Malahde a few years back. Got to give Amir credit for that set up, he had beaten Porterfield's outside edge on a number of occasions in the previous deliveries and the wicket ball came back sharply. It's a classic set up from a world class performer in helpful conditions, would have done for plenty of top international openers around the world.

True, but one swallow never made a summer! Sort of the same in recent WC. Time like this you need the senior batsmen to stand true.

Royale with Cheese

Is there anyone else in the county championship with Irish relatives? Murtagh has comfortably been Ireland's best player thus far.

Derco

Royale with Cheese wrote: »

Is there anyone else in the county championship with Irish relatives? Murtagh has comfortably been Ireland's best player thus far.

ECB are bringing in new rules in two years time classing Irish international players as overseas players. That would pretty much close of the 'granny rule' route in future. Infact we could have a situation where young Irish homegrown talent could have to choose between an international career and a county one.

Royale with Cheese

The same ECB that were only too happy to encourage Irish players to qualify for England, give them a handful of games so they were no longer eligible for Ireland, and then discard them...

Conchir

And that’s the innings, Murtagh out caught. I have to say, 130 is a decent total considering how we started. Fair play to Wilson, it was clear he was in serious pain, it would have ended much earlier without his contribution.

BarryD2

Royale with Cheese wrote: »

The same ECB that were only too happy to encourage Irish players to qualify for England, give them a handful of games so they were no longer eligible for Ireland, and then discard them...

International sport is sure murky and in particular, the politics of English soccer and cricket is cloak and dagger!

Derco

130 in the end. At least 60 more than I thought we'd get at lunch. Good effort in the circumstances. Now will Sarfraz put us in again?

Edit: He is

BarryD2

Now we’ll see what our openers are made of. Let’s hope they can hang tough.

BarryD2

Good start but they mustn’t lose the head. Need to soak up a LOT of overs. Need to batting thru tomorrow and into next day to have a chance of a draw even.

Mysterypunter

50-0 now, good job. Stuart Poynter made 170 for Durham in the county championship. Good on him

Mysterypunter

Got to 64-0 at the close 116 behind

Derco

Good opening stand to end the day. I was fearing a lot worse a few hours ago

HonalD

Derco wrote: »

Royale with Cheese wrote: »

Is there anyone else in the county championship with Irish relatives? Murtagh has comfortably been Ireland's best player thus far.

ECB are bringing in new rules in two years time classing Irish international players as overseas players. That would pretty much close of the 'granny rule' route in future. Infact we could have a situation where young Irish homegrown talent could have to choose between an international career and a county one.

It’s not a new rule. All other Test playing nation squads are subject to the same rule. Ireland has got an extension of the status quo for existing players contracts, as far as I’ve been informed.

Drifter50

As far as I know the 2 Poynter brothers have both retired from international cricket. Maybe someone here can confirm if Stuart or Andrew are still available. Playing regular 1st team county cricket is where our guys need to be

Derco

Drifter50 wrote: »

As far as I know the 2 Poynter brothers have both retired from international cricket. Maybe someone here can confirm if Stuart or Andrew are still available. Playing regular 1st team county cricket is where our guys need to be

Andrew is retired alright. AFAIK Stuart is still involved. I think he had to miss the World Cup qualifiers due to his other half having a baby. He played in the ODI series v the UAE earlier this year.

BarryD2

Joyce snd Porters done well to get thru to end day. Nicely poised, first session tomorrow important. What’s most we likely score in day at this level, 250ish? That’d give lead of c 150, too small, so really need to also bat 1st session on Tues to have a chance.

BarryD2

Assuming weather doesn’t rescue us!