foreignfield wrote:I have a feeling that Cricket Ireland, fully aware of the challenges, is not really striving for Test status right now, but some sort of 'full member status light' (= more money, guaranteed entry into WCs, more ODIs/T20s via the FTP). I recently read an article along those lines somewhere.
Au contraire, Ireland is gunning for Test status by 2020. They are steadily ticking the boxes of the vague conditions provided by the ICC.
They have got sponsors and have a contract with Sky Sports for terrestrial match rights. They have started a 3-day domestic tournament, alongside a 50-over and T20 tournaments. They have been producing good results against Full Members.
That's true, and you have to ask for everything to get anything. That was just my interpretation of the shorter term goals. I could be totally wrong, of course.
Don't get me wrong: I would love to see Ireland play Test cricket tomorrow, and if India/Aus/England were to pay them regular visits they could easily afford it. And they have one big plus: CI is obviously a much, much better run organisation than ZC.
Anyway, how about that Sky deal? I guess they'll only ever cover ODIs against said England/Aus/India ... yesterday's coverage was more like watching via a webcam.
Yeah I too read that CI's goal is Test status by 2020.
CI has already got most of their players under central contracts. If they get Test status they will be able to bring in at least 15-20 players under contracts, and pay them more. I would assume they are already among the lesser paid County players (minus Morgan who probably is gone permenently anyways) so I don't think CI will have trouble retaining their players if and when they get Test status. If they had Test status players like Morgan and Rankin would have never left. They do have quite a bit of talent in the likes of Stirling, Obrien, Dockrell, and a few other players.
foreignfield wrote:
Anyway, how about that Sky deal? I guess they'll only ever cover ODIs against said England/Aus/India ... yesterday's coverage was more like watching via a webcam.
I agree that deal has been pathetic. Last year, Ireland and Scotland were supposed to play exhibition matches with IPL teams, but the ECB used its right of veto over televised fixtures in those countries to prevent what it saw as IPL infiltration on its own territory. I read that this deal is getting over by the end of this year. Hopefully, they get a better deal by Irish sports channels the next time.
Game 2 against Pakistan another srtong performance by Ireland, really should have won this one but considering they rarely play Im very impressed with their performances this series could have easily been 2-0 Ireland. I think this series shows Ireland are getting closer to Zimbabwe than most people think ...... or at least I thought
jaybro wrote:I think this series shows Ireland are getting closer to Zimbabwe than most people think ...... or at least I thought
They are close in mental fraility as well. The only 2 other sides I can think of losing the match when they have 100 to defend off 10 overs with 3 wickets left is Zim and Ban.
It would be awesome if someone came forward to sponsor a quadrangular series between Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Ireland and Afghanistan. It would be one really hard fought series. In fact, why shouldn't ICC put some money and arrange it?
CrimsonAvenger wrote:It would be awesome if someone came forward to sponsor a quadrangular series between Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Ireland and Afghanistan. It would be one really hard fought series. In fact, why shouldn't ICC put some money and arrange it?
The ICC is not known for its pragmatism and an eye for the future. The only thing that concerns it is whipping an obsolete cash cow called Champions Trophy.
They have got sponsors and have a contract with Sky Sports for terrestrial match rights.
