For years, Ireland have been the underdogs of the cricketing world, playing the best sides on the planet, usually being defeated by heavy margins, but slowly and surely getting better.
Then on Monday Irish cricket reached a turning point, defeating the West Indies in a convincing manner.
Throughout the years of the ICC Cricket World Cup and T20 World Cups, teams such as Ireland, the Netherlands and Kenya have fought and clawed victories against larger, full-member nations.
These wins have seemed to be flukes, with not many performances to back up that one victory. This win for Ireland seemed different though. It was as though they had come not only to win, but to assert themselves to the rest of the cricketing world as proper threats in the competition.
They played brilliantly against the Windies, out-bowling, batting and fielding them, and if it was not for the stand of 154 between Darren Sammy and Lendl Simmons for the sixth wicket partnership, and the follow-up partnership of 61 from Simmons and Andre Russell, Ireland would have been chasing under 150.
Ireland have a wealth of talent under their belt, with William Poterfield, Kevin and Niall O’Brien, Ed Joyce, Paul Stirling and John Mooney playing well for the Irish, and young stars coming through the ranks thanks to a strong system. They are not small fish in a large pond anymore, proving they have everything they need to compete at international level.
It has also been confirmed that if they win the ICC Intercontinental Cup they will gain status as a Test playing nation by 2019. This would be a huge stepping stone for Irish cricket, with Ireland’s own stars staying in Ireland to play cricket for their country, rather than going to ply their trade in the English county system, and potentially the Test team, such as Eoin Morgan has done.
It would reaffirm their status as a proper cricketing nation, and with the strong support of their government, Ireland could forge a rich cricketing history. Irish cricket is slowly rising through the ranks, and this ICC World Cup just may their launching pad from cricketing minnows to legitimate contenders for a quarter-final berth.
Ireland is a powerhouse among the minnows of world cricket, and it may not be long before they become a strong Test team, fighting for a place alongside Zimbabwe and Bangladesh.
The luck of the Irish is oddly not even apparent in Ireland’s rise to cricketing fame; dedication and hard work will catapult them to Test status.
JimmyB
Guest
Of course he has, but that's not the point in question. He chose to throw his hat in the ring for England, he most certainly was not poached. There's a big difference, whether you wish to acknowledge it or not.
Renegade
Guest
So the English Eoin Morgan hasn't played for Ireland then?? Must have been a different Eoin Morgan.... ;)
JimmyB
Guest
Poached?? Come on ffs. Irish players are given opportunities to further their careers in county cricket and some of them openly choose to try and represent England, there is not a single Irish player that has been poached by England. Since when has a Scot played for England? Gavin Hamilton, about 15 years ago.
JimmyB
Guest
Swampy, not that fits most people's narrative, but England have done more for Irish cricket than any other nation (bar the Irish obviously). Do you really believe that England don't want Ireland to become a Test nation? The reasons you give are laughable I'm afraid.
W4str3l
Roar Rookie
so "if" ireland win some international cup, they will be granted test status...by 2019. never mind that the current intercontinental cup is run between this year and 2017. never mind a bunch of affiliate and associate teams will be involved. so if one of those teams should happen to win...are they going to be granted test status? why dont the icc just produce a bunch of members only jackets, hand them out to full member nations, and bar the door to anyone and everyone else trying to have a go? they may as well be obvious about things, because theyre bloody well not very subtle!
Stephen Martin
Guest
Irish cricket is based around a tiny number of private schools and old boys clubs in Dublin and Belfast, like Rugby used to be but much smaller - Samuel Beckett is the only Nobel prize winner in Wisden, I believe. Irish kids tend to grow up with very good ball skills due to the variety of games they play and how long they spend on them, but the playing pool is tiny. The women's team regularly picks schoolgirls, some as young as 13 or 14. They have some good players now, but they could easily go into a long drought that would make a mockery of test status. The Netherlands had as good a claim as them 10 years ago and no one is pressing for them now. Plus, when was the last time Ireland went five days without rain?
The Bush
Roar Guru
Unless it was in Darwin or Cairns, possibly both...
Targa
Guest
In NZ or Australia
Ryan Chidgey
Roar Rookie
Don't let ireland fade into international obscurity like kenya.
Sandy
Guest
Cold and wet, I should think.
Two dogs
Guest
Yeah g'day 13th, I'm only pointing at test matches here. A recent roar columnist pointed this out. NZ have improved to the point that a decent series is undeniable.
cathal
Guest
well ye met in the last world cup didn't ye, australia won by 7 wickets.
13th Man
Guest
Surely that is only for test matches in 87/88? New Zealand must have played an ODI or t20 at the G in the last 10 years. Still we should be playing NZ regularly and building a good rivalry like the rugby one.
Two dogs
Guest
Ireland has been a country awash with hard times. Many of which we're imposed via neighbours. One thing you will notice is they are resourceful and tough. I'd love to see them in the test arena earlier but cannot see it happening. The big three or four barely play the remainder enough. It could well be time for a two - tiered system where for example last from premier tier goes to secondary and first from secondary goes to premier. If Ireland can make test status they certainly won't die wondering. But a question would be does Australia for example meet them once every 8 years? Our neighbours NZ for example last played at the mcg in '87/'88? (Anyone confirm this?) that's diabolical if true. Love see you in the finals Ireland. Have a good dig fellas.
Targa
Guest
How good would a St Patricks Day test be?!
Rob
Guest
I'm all for the Irish getting test status but not if we just end up with another Bangladesh or Zimbabwe - I was at the game at the 92 World Cup where Zimbabwe beat England and it seemed by the time I got home they had been granted test status - and have been bearly competitive in the 23 years since. Kenya was offered test status after they made it to the semi finals in South Africa but wisely suggested that they wait a few more years to be sure they would be ready and competitive. Good thing they waited because they can't even qualify for the World Cup
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Not sure of playing numbers Swampy, back when I had a season there were plenty of Clubs in Dublin. There was certainly a private school association with some of the Clubs but not all. It isn't a mainstream sport however there is a lot of potential for it to become one. Most if not all the Irish team play County cricket and wins in the World Cup particularly yesterday can only help the sport gain more exposure and grow. I texted a few mates in Dublin saying congrats on a great win, all of them came back instantaneously excited ( only one of them a Cricket fan ). One of the lads is a GAA man but used to teach Eoin Morgan so is now a fan.
The Bush
Roar Guru
My understanding is that they are only winning the right to play a Test team and if they win that THEN they'll be granted Test Status - has this been updated to confirming Test status irrespective? The question then becomes, if we continue to expand Test status (which I am in favour of), what sort of plan do they intend to put in place re a future tours program (or some such simliar thing). It's all well and good adding teams, but Australia barely plays the Windies, Bangladesh, New Zealand and Zimbabwe now, we're certainly not going to add Ireland to the regular line-up. In many ways I guess it could add some real excitment to series - if enough teams gain Test status, a player might only get to play a team once in their career (and I mean decent teams, not the current situation).
Swampy
Guest
Out of interest, how many people play cricket in Ireland? Is it more a grammar/private school thing? A lot of the Irish lads I work with have not much idea about cricket - it certainly doesn't seem like a mainstream sport there.
Worlds Biggest
Guest
Rankin is fairly pedestrian at International level however would bolster Ireland who are short of a couple of quicks. Morgan notwith standing current form is quality and would make a big difference. I'd love to see Ireland gain Test match status before 2019 if it was possible. I played a season of cricket in Dublin many moons ago and was impressed with the standard and some of the grounds were magnificent. There is a lot of potential in Ireland.