Ireland deserve better

Ireland became the first Associate team to book a place in the 2015 World Cup.

It is very likely that most of the cricketing world would have missed the finish of a tense game at Amstelveen on Tuesday. Ireland,after a last-ball tie against their Dutch hosts,became the first Associate team to book a place in the 2015 World Cup. Going by their past record,Irelands third straight World Cup entry should ensure one thing: early entertainment at the ICC event in Australia in two years time.

During the 2007 event in the West Indies,the Irish stole many hearts and broke a few,when their motley bunch of amateurs including a postman,an electrician,a farm-hand and a school teacher defeated Pakistan. Four years later,Kevin OBriens sparkling ton stunned England. Everybody loves a fairytale and Ireland were consistently churning them out. Besides giving these big-ticket events an early buzz,Ireland also provided players to England,with their non-Test status coming in the way of retaining players with dreams of playing Test cricket.

Eoin Morgan and Boyd Rankin,both from the class of 2007,are part of the current England setup and its only a matter of time before talented 19-year-old left-arm spinner George Dockrell joins them. Ed Joyce,meanwhile,is back in the Irish side after playing for England but failing to cement his place.

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So what does Ireland get in return? Nothing. Test nations ignore their improving one-day results since it doesnt make financial sense to play them. The ICC,despite its rhetoric about globalising the game,doesnt act to stem the talent drain. Such is their desperation to be part of high-level action that Ireland,disregarding the fears of the rest of the cricket world,are even willing to tour Pakistan. They are yet to hear from the PCB,however.

So could providing Ireland Test status help them retain talented players and feature in more top-level competition? Their ODI record shows they are good enough. And with a number of their players playing in the highly-competitive County circuit,the Irish should be better prepared for Tests than,say,players from Bangladesh or Zimbabwe. If only the ICC was a genuine meritocracy.

Sandeep is National Sports Editor based in Delhi

sandeep.dwivediexpressindia.com