Ireland to play Test Cricket in 2018?

Conchir · 21-02-2017 11:46pm #1

RTE reporting that Ireland are set to play their first men's Test match some time in 2018, after hopefully earning Test status this year, possibly April.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/cricket/2017/0221/854386-ireland-look-set-for-test/

I've been looking for news of this on the Cricket Ireland website but haven't seen any, but I reckon it's worth a thread.

Big news if accurate, surely a lot will have to happen before then!

Royale with Cheese · 25-02-2017 6:12pm

I wonder will this be the end of players going off to play for England, what are the rules around representing two countries at test level? Once someone has played a test for Ireland how easy would it be for England to poach them?

Pickpocket · 25-02-2017 6:16pm

I really hope this happens soon. I've been getting more and more into cricket over the years but the shorter forms don't interest me as much. Test cricket is from another time and place and it's all the better for it. It's the perfect riposte to the modern sports enthusiast's diminishing attention span.

Conchir · 25-02-2017 6:19pm

Pickpocket wrote: »

I really hope this happens soon. I've been getting more and more into cricket over the years but the shorter forms don't interest me as much. Test cricket is from another time and place and it's all the better for it. It's the perfect riposte to the modern sports enthusiast's diminishing attention span.

I have to say, the thought of sitting in the sun in Malahide or Clontarf watching Ireland play a test match puts a massive smile on my face. If we do get test status in April then that gets a little bit closer to reality.

riffmongous · 25-02-2017 10:12pm

I saw a report on Cricinfo about it a few weeks ago (cant find it anymore though) where it discussed some proposed changes to test cricket, with a new two tier league system, so Ireland, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe would be bottom tier and mostly play each other but there would be an obligation on the rest of the teams to play at least one game within the time frame of the league (every few years)

Conchir · 25-02-2017 10:32pm

riffmongous wrote: »

I saw a report on Cricinfo about it a few weeks ago (cant find it anymore though) where it discussed some proposed changes to test cricket, with a new two tier league system, so Ireland, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe would be bottom tier and mostly play each other but there would be an obligation on the rest of the teams to play at least one game within the time frame of the league (every few years)

Interesting. Playing regular, (hopefully) competitive tests against Afghanistan and Zimbabwe would probably be more beneficial in the long run than continually getting whacked by the bigger sides, yet there's still the odd test against those others.

Any obvious cons to that proposal?

An Ciarraioch · 27-04-2017 8:32pm

Could June 22nd become the biggest date in Irish cricket history? Sadly, the comment that Test status might have arrived a year too late may well be true.

http://www.the42.ie/irish-cricket-test-status-sponsorship-3361384-Apr2017/

Washout · 22-06-2017 3:31pm

An Ciarraioch wrote: »

Could June 22nd become the biggest date in Irish cricket history? Sadly, the comment that Test status might have arrived a year too late may well be true.

http://www.the42.ie/irish-cricket-test-status-sponsorship-3361384-Apr2017/

It just did....I'm over the moon about his...super news.

Conchir · 11-10-2017 3:01pm

Ireland will be playing Pakistan in their first Test match in either April or May. No venue yet but hopefully it'll be Malahide. Very exciting!

Pudsy33 · 11-10-2017 3:03pm

Conchir wrote: »

Ireland will be playing Pakistan in their first Test match in either April or May. No venue yet but hopefully it'll be Malahide. Very exciting!

Where are you seeing this?

Conchir · 11-10-2017 3:06pm

Pudsy33 wrote: »

Where are you seeing this?

https://www.rte.ie/sport/cricket/2017/1011/911552-ireland-set-to-make-test-debut-next-spring/

I've been looking for something from the ICC about it, but haven't seen any so far. Hopefully RTE have it right.

Conchir · 11-10-2017 3:36pm

There's a bit more info in this article, but it all seems very mysterious and up in the air so far.

http://www.cricket.com.au/news/ireland-set-for-historic-first-test-match-pakistan-dublin-april-may-cold-icc-four-day-test/2017-10-11

Royale with Cheese · 12-10-2017 2:16pm

On Cricinfo now, to be played next May. Venue tbc.

KevIRL · 12-10-2017 4:01pm

Conchir wrote: »

Ireland will be playing Pakistan in their first Test match in either April or May. No venue yet but hopefully it'll be Malahide. Very exciting!

I think we can safely predict a draw in this one. Rained off for at least 3 of the days

Tom Mann Centuria · 12-10-2017 6:38pm

KevIRL wrote: »

I think we can safely predict a draw in this one. Rained off for at least 3 of the days

How can you be so negative?

Agree completely.

Actually, they're bit short sighted going on about four day test, have 5 days, at least there's the possibility of a result.

Conchir · 12-10-2017 9:33pm

KevIRL wrote: »

I think we can safely predict a draw in this one. Rained off for at least 3 of the days

I very much hope you're wrong about the rain, but obviously I'm worried you'll be right. If we're lucky it will be as late into May as possible.

Royale with Cheese · 14-10-2017 3:47pm

Does it rain anymore in Dublin than it does in some of the English test venue cities?

A quick look on Wikipedia (because I really have nothing better to be doing) says May in Dublin is actually drier than May in Manchester, Leeds, Cardiff and Birmingham. Slightly wetter than London, Newcastle, Southampton and Nottingham.

bill66 · 14-10-2017 3:55pm

Royale with Cheese wrote: »

Does it rain anymore in Dublin than it does in some of the English test venue cities?

2015 annual rainfall

London 592mm
Birmingham 681mm
Manchester 829mm

Dublin 878mm

Beasty · 23-10-2017 9:12pm

Manchester has a reputation for rain but having lived for nearly 30 years there and over 10 here, I think the weather in Dublin is typically worse and the quality of wicket required for test cricket is probably quite a bit higher than we are used to in Ireland

Test grounds in England and Wales have invested quite a lot over the past decade or two, and typically have much improved drainage systems meaning they can resume quicker after a rain break. I suspect there is simply not going to be the money to match those standards and we probably will find more and longer interruptions.

Conchir · 21-11-2017 12:43pm

RTE reporting that Malahide will host the test from the 11th to the 15th May.

TrueDub · 22-11-2017 12:29pm

Bought tickets this morning for the first 3 days.

Now to negotiate time away from home - good behaviour essential!

Conchir · 22-11-2017 3:48pm

Ticketmaster says they're unavailable due to technical issues with Cricket Ireland. I wonder if that's true, or if it's that they've sold out.

TrueDub · 22-11-2017 3:59pm

Conchir wrote: »

Ticketmaster says they're unavailable due to technical issues with Cricket Ireland. I wonder if that's true, or if it's that they've sold out.

There was a post on Facebook saying tech difficulties, and they'd be back up soon. They also said tickets that had already been bought were unaffected.

I'd be flabbergasted if any day other than Day 1 comes even close to selling out.

riffmongous · 22-11-2017 4:20pm

Fair play to Pakistan, they always seem open to playing us

Richard Hillman · 22-11-2017 8:33pm

Ticket purchased. Pimms and sunscreen ordered.

Conchir · 22-11-2017 8:45pm

Yep, problems with ticketmaster were momentary. Tickets purchased! Can't wait.

Skid X · 22-11-2017 11:55pm

It felt quite exciting buying tickets for an Ireland Test Match.

I never really thought it would happen, now it's very real!

StringerBell · 27-11-2017 1:52pm

Trying not to get too excited yet cause its so far away but this is really going to be one of those "I was there" moments for me. Cannot wait

Conchir · 26-12-2017 10:45pm

I thought of this earlier today when I found this from the last match I was at. I hope that, as it's an historic match, the tickets aren't just standard ticketmaster-style things. Something with a bit of style and unique artwork would be really nice to have afterwards. Obviously this is a pretty small thing in the wider context of the match, but I just think it's a good opportunity to go with something interesting.

Having said all that, I'll be happy when my tickets arrive regardless of what they look like. I'll be going to see Ireland play test cricket for feck sake

Inquitus · 28-12-2017 7:14pm

Aye I'll defo have to take the family to watch Day 1 or 2 of this in May, hope the weather decides to favour cricket.

s3rtvdbwfj81ch · 03-01-2018 10:23am

Picked up two Day 2 Tickets, woohoo.

Ireland to play Test Cricket in 2018?

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