Irish Cricket 2023

Probably be 3 down, Moor is a walking wicket, hope Tector gets a start

Really poor response by the top order, Stirling and Balbirnie are very experienced a bit more fight needed. It's not even England's first choice attack. If they make it to the third day it won't last long.

Test status brings in more ICC funding. That was the main driver for getting it.

You could maybe, very maybe see the benefit of this game if Ireland had a full test program coming up but they don't.

Tector and Tucker will learn lots this morning but by the time they next play a test it'll mean nothing. There's no point playing one test every 7/8 months, players can't get into a rhythm. When Zimbabwe were starting out, they played enough tests each year to continue to develop.

CI and the ICC need to decide what the long-term plan is for Ireland and test cricket. If the plan is as it is, a test every now and then, it's better if Ireland walk away from tests, focus on the other formats and try and develop into a competitive limited overs side. If the plan is for Ireland to play a more intense test schedule, then investment is needed. A good first class structure needs to be put in place and a full A program needs to be a priority. You can't keep having guys learn on the job in tests.

Tector gets the half century then out next ball. Looking like an innings defeat is inevitable

Tector going well and then plays the absolutely lousiest cut shot to give Brook a dolly of a catch at gully. 😖

Campher a couple of balls later with a lazy stupid shot and Root picking up his wicket… going arial to Root knowing Stokes is at at backward square leg… had to have known there was a fielder there….dumb, naive stupid cricket.

163/6 but probably only 3 wickets remaining with the injury.

was so hoping we’d post a competitive 300+ in this second innings. But brain dead naivety really our downfall.

McBrine and Adair going on the attack, good to see.

Well fair dues to these lads batting down the order: Tector, Tucker, McBrine and Adair. They've shown up the efforts of Balbirnie & Stirling for sure, time for change you'd think. Great to see a bit of fight and make the English bat again. If McBrine can get his century now at all, it'd be great.

They avoided an innings defeat, just.... Don't get carried away

We seem to have very uneven performances and carrying some passengers, who occasionally reprieve themselves. Don't like to be unkind but coaches need to be telling Paul Stirling for example to get fitter and lose a bit of weight or retire. Any international sport now requires athletes on the field, players who can move quickly and who are agile. Even 'hiding' Stirlo in the slips is not great as there's inertia there before he can throw himself forward or sideways. Anyways we obviously need a more threatening bowling attack most urgently or at least one that can bowl tight and keep scoring down.

And they had supportive boards and future tests planned. What have Ireland planned? When's the next test.? The chief executive described a Lord's test as not the pinnacle of the game, that shows the priority. Why play tests when the board have no interest in it? Ill tell you why, it's for the money. They couldn't care less if the bowlers go at 15 an over as long as the account balance increases. And where does the money go? The Wolves haven't had a proper game since Covid. There's no first class structure. The number of domestic 50 and 20 over games were slashed this season. So the money isn't going into the grassroots. Plenty of admin staff though... Maybe you're one.

It's nothing to do with the players, they've done their best. The board have hung them out to dry. We'll be in the same situation in 2024 when the next test might happen. Again you'll have young lads making first class debuts in test matches. Again on a hiding to nothing.

You either take test cricket serious or walk away. There's no hiding place on the Lord's pitch. You get what you put in, and CI put in as little as possible.

Decent fight back, Adair and McBrine took the fight to England. At least they made England bat again - the gap between the sides is immense and won't change anytime soon unfortunately.

Ok. Thanks