General Ireland news thread

Cricket fan · 14-08-2015 12:08am

Always gave his all and that spell vs Zim at the WC was excellent and won us the game.

Almost the unnoticed hero of 2011 too. Best wishes to him

Cricket fan · 14-08-2015 12:09am

Our squad vs Australia was announced as well.

William Porterfield (captain) (Warwickshire), Andrew Balbirnie (Middlesex), George Dockrell (Somerset), Ed Joyce (Sussex), John Mooney (Balbriggan), Tim Murtagh (Middlesex), Andy McBrine (Donemana), Kevin O’Brien (Railway Union), Niall O’Brien (Leicestershire), Paul Stirling (Middlesex), Stuart Thompson (Eglinton), Gary Wilson (Surrey), Craig Young (Bready)

Stunned Thompson gets yet another go tbh, Kane or even Sorenson deserve a spot more than him IMO.

Hope rain stays away

riffmongous · 26-08-2015 6:43pm

Great news for next summer, 2 games vs Sri Lanka and also 2 vs Pakistan, fair play to Pakistan, they are always good for more than a token appearance, I am looking forward to when we can return the favour

riffmongous · 14-09-2015 12:59pm

Another few games lined up, probably more important than the 'glamour' games against the full nations to be honest, 3 ODI games against Zimbabwe and a 4-day against Zim A in October

link to cricketeurope

Zim will be hungry for revenge after the world cup I think

Cricket fan · 14-09-2015 2:47pm

Disappointed the team will be expected to play 2 days after landing in what are typically testing conditions without any practice.

Wont be surprised if we play poorly in the first ODI as a result, Zimbabwe pitches tend to be minefields in the first innings and pancakes in the second, toss is vital

Garryowen Red · 14-09-2015 6:58pm

I'm much happier that we are getting the 4 day practice before the Namibia game in the Intercontinental Cup, to my mind winning that game with a full 20 points is more important than the 3 ODI's against Zimbabwe. Saying that however it would have been nicer to have a weeks build u with two practice games before the ODI's.

Cricket fan · 15-09-2015 2:38am

While it is true the IC Cup is vital its just as vital we remain ahead of Zim in the ODI rankings IMO, and that we prove we are definitively a better side.

If we screw up vs Zim and the Aghans beat Zim a couple times we could drop down to 12 in the standings

Cricket fan · 05-10-2015 11:46pm

Lads have arrived in Zimbabwe.

Bad news:

Zim by virtue of a fortunate DLS win vs Pakistan are now only 3 points behind us if I'm not mistaken.

Good news:

Cremer (their premiere spinner) went over on his ankle and may not be fit for the series. Likewise Ervine (formerly of the Northern Knights for a season if I'm not mistaken) could be out injured.

Zimbabwe are not in good form IMO, losing to Pakistan, India and NZ reserve sides. If we play sensibly for the first 20 overs when their battery of medium pacers like Panyangara and Jongwe can be dangerous on lively tracks we can certainly beat them, in fact considering our ranking and how vital this series is we should win IMO, will be very close though I feel.

riffmongous · 08-10-2015 2:30pm

It's a pity we havent played a warm up game when we were there a few days beforehand, but the weather forecast saying it will get up to around 31°, so maybe they didnt want to tire everyone out

Cricket fan · 08-10-2015 7:40pm

My main worry is the conditions.

We simply havent received enough time for an international cricketing side IMO. Just hope it doesnt affect the guys tomorrow

riffmongous · 11-10-2015 1:16pm

Good start for zimbabwe here, the spinners need to come on early

riffmongous · 11-10-2015 1:31pm

Spoke too soon, good job KOB and Murtagh!

Cricket fan · 11-10-2015 4:01pm

This series has not been good, Looking like another loss and our ranking will take another beating unless Zim have the mother of all chokes.

Lower order for the billionth time failed to build on a platform (only 66 runs in the last 10). Not good enough

riffmongous · 11-10-2015 4:24pm

A lot of runs conceded at the end too

Cricket fan · 11-10-2015 4:28pm

Our ranking is screwed now and if Afghanistan win one or two ODI's we drop down to 12.

Disappointing this, very disappointing. Since the WC we've not had a good year at all.

Drop Kevin and throw Poynter in. Kevin has flopped with the bat all year and the series is dead so may as well give someone a try. Slot Young in for one of Murtagh or Mooney and go for a face saving win.

Dozen Wicked Words · 11-10-2015 6:46pm

Tough for any international side to go away and play a series cold in testing conditions like Ireland are doing. Particularly at the end of a long season. Saying all that, it's still disappointing.

riffmongous · 13-10-2015 10:32am

Zim 88-4 now with Williams out and no Ervine, beating them by 7/8 wickets would be a good way to finish

BarryD · 13-10-2015 2:24pm

Irl 97/3 chasing 188, 24 overs left - sort of 'even Steven' so far.

BarryD · 13-10-2015 3:26pm

145/6, 43 needed with 11 overs left - looking like it might be tight.

BarryD · 13-10-2015 4:06pm

Fair dues to our lower order, came good and held the nerve. Irish team seems to have a habit of making things hard?

riffmongous · 13-10-2015 5:35pm

Shouldn't have been so hard in the end alright. I wonder would we have won against the full Zimbabwe team? Still, it was important to win and they did it.

Cricket fan · 13-10-2015 6:20pm

Important we came away with one win at least.

Now onto the Zim A and Namibia matches. Hoping S Poynter is given a shot in the 4 day game

Cricket fan · 19-10-2015 12:33am

100 for Poynter! Top knock, take a bow

BarryD · 19-10-2015 10:02am

Heading for a draw..

BarryD · 19-10-2015 3:20pm

Hmm.. Zim 74/3 at one stage but motored away now and on 228/3 with a lead of 267. Would they be confident enough to aim to declare with say 5 overs left today and try and get an early wicket with tomorrow left? They'd want a lead of 350+ I think?

Edited to add: scoring slowed down now, looks like they're going to play safe

Though Dockrell taken for 11 in last over - maybe a spurt on? Yep, the two lads are near their tons, once they have them......

axe2grind · 19-10-2015 4:18pm

Century in both innings x 2

Will be looking for Poynter do to the same

BarryD · 19-10-2015 4:42pm

Be interesting to see what Zim do - will they push the lead out to 400+ and see if they have a bit of success early on, with us batting for a draw. Or take a chance, declare and see if they can take wickets with us having a go for it? My guess at this stage is the former. Their scoring was up and down in the last hour, the two Zim lads got stuck in the nervous nineties for a while.

Cricket fan · 19-10-2015 5:32pm

Our bowlers havent covered themselves in glory thats for sure, leaking runs at expensive rates.

BarryD · 20-10-2015 10:30am

Zim bat for three overs this morning and declare - kinda odd, meaningless. We've lost Poynter and look like, just aiming to pat away and leave for the remaining 70 overs or so.......

Edited to add.. hmm, two down now for 50 - the lads had better start concentrating

Godge · 20-10-2015 12:16pm

BarryD wrote: »

Zim bat for three overs this morning and declare - kinda odd, meaningless. We've lost Poynter and look like, just aiming to pat away and leave for the remaining 70 overs or so.......

Edited to add.. hmm, two down now for 50 - the lads had better start concentrating

No sign of Stirling. Is he injured? That would mean we are now effectively four down soon after lunch.

BarryD · 20-10-2015 12:45pm

Godge wrote: »

No sign of Stirling. Is he injured? That would mean we are now effectively four down soon after lunch.

No idea, but we're 4 (or 5) down now and 50ish overs to survive.. maybe all this one day cricket ain't so good in terms of suppressing the urge to throw the bat?

Edited to add: I see K'OB has 1 run off 20 balls now - obviously he's under orders!

Godge · 20-10-2015 1:31pm

BarryD wrote: »

No idea, but we're 4 (or 5) down now and 50ish overs to survive.. maybe all this one day cricket ain't so good in terms of suppressing the urge to throw the bat?

Edited to add: I see K'OB has 1 run off 20 balls now - obviously he's under orders!

Mooney in after Thompson, five down, no sign of Stirling so effectively six down. Hopefully it is nothing serious and they are protecting him for the Namibia game.

BarryD · 20-10-2015 5:14pm

Well, fizzled out for a draw - K'OB and John Mooney did well to steady the innings and close it out. I guess when there are two fairly evenly matched teams, it's hard to get a result in a 4 day game with 2 innings.. Was kinda looking this way when they were still batting into the third day with the 1st innings.

KevIRL · 25-10-2015 6:14pm

Looking good in the inter continental cup game.

BarryD · 25-10-2015 8:03pm

Jaysus - 300+ stand for 2nd wicket, that must have been demoralising for Namibia. Double century for Joyce. What'll we do - try to put up another 100 or so quickly and then declare?

BarryD · 26-10-2015 11:07am

I see we're on 521/6 now with lead of 270 and lunch - surely have to declare at this point.

axe2grind · 26-10-2015 11:14am

Unless weather is an issue (unlikely) then aim to bat only once.
Still more than a day and a half left, so another 100 needed. Put them in before tea.

BarryD · 26-10-2015 11:29am

I'd have thought you wouldn't want to be giving them too much of an idea that they could dig in and bat it out? Our bowling attack isn't exactly cutting edge.

axe2grind · 26-10-2015 11:41am

The flip side of that is you don't want them to have the opportunity to set a target to chase in the last session or 2 on a pitch that may be deteriorating.

BarryD · 26-10-2015 11:49am

axe2grind wrote: »

The flip side of that is you don't want them to have the opportunity to set a target to chase in the last session or 2 on a pitch that may be deteriorating.

Ah yes, but the option of chasing such a total is what would give our bowlers a bit of an advantage. Anyways, even if they set a total to get, it'd hardly be that high and we'd have plenty of wickets in hand. Just think these four day matches are tight on time and you shouldn't give a sucker an even break!

But sure, we'll see.

BarryD · 26-10-2015 12:10pm

Seem to have declared at 570/6 with bit more than day and a half to remove Namibia. I suppose if we can't do it in that time, we don't deserve to win!

Edited to add: two very quick wickets for Murtagh........ I guess we're on our way.

axe2grind · 26-10-2015 12:52pm

Seems like they'll get a day off.
Namibia already 4 down, 50 over left today.

axe2grind · 26-10-2015 4:40pm

It does go to final day, but only 3 wickets needed

minitrue · 27-10-2015 2:19pm

Didn't take very long to wrap them up (last two fell in 2 balls the over after the break through), innings victory and full points in the bag. 2 wins from 2 for us with only PNG (1 from 1) also having a 100% win record (Afghanistan only have an abandoned game Vs Scotland so far). Great start on the road to the Test Challenge but still a bit scary how vital Murtagh is to us, especially in this format (he ripped out the top order in the second innings) :-/

November 21st is day 1 of PNG Vs Afghanistan which will probably leave things a lot clearer as regards how much wiggle room we have (room for rain to ruin games).

KevIRL · 03-11-2015 9:17pm

BBR on his way back, great news

http://m.rte.ie/sport/cricket/2015/1103/739404-rankin-primed-to-return-to-ireland-squad/

axe2grind · 03-11-2015 11:41pm

KevIRL wrote: »

BBR on his way back, great news

http://m.rte.ie/sport/cricket/2015/1103/739404-rankin-primed-to-return-to-ireland-squad/

sure is

Cricket fan · 04-11-2015 12:19am

Rankin back and ODI's vs Aus and SA announced, great day!

riffmongous · 04-11-2015 8:08pm

Great news indeed! Pity it didn't work out for him in the end and he wasn't given a decent chance, but good for Ireland as we could really use a bowler like him at the moment.

I wonder will it also be possible to play another series against Zimbabwe around the same time as the SA odis?

KevIRL · 07-12-2015 10:36pm

John Mooney retires. A true hero of the game and often the unheralded star for Ireland.

Cricket fan · 08-12-2015 12:28am

Really came from nowhere that.

He's also been selected for the Masters t20 league in Dubai.

We're starting to see the old guard slip away now. Could Niall be next to retire??

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