Cricket-Match-Special ... A forum for discussion

Arthur Crabtree wrote:Got the big wicket.

Looks like SA A. No Amla, ABDV, Steyn, Morkel.

lol some Associate fan boys are taking something.

@garynaylor999 @Vitu_E at peak, in 2011 WC, Ireland possibly 4th best in world (Aus, SA, NZ), and certainly better than India

Scrap that they talking about fielding.

Either way quite funny Ireland are getting Test status when the golden generation is over and new players are not coming through out of the European sides Scotland got more players coming through.

really guessing Ireland only getting Test status because ICC want Afghanistan to get one now and they don't want ireland and some of the European associates calling foul play if Ireland don't get one either.

TBH only a matter of time before Afghanistan becomes a full member since they got a full domestic programme and the under 19 can beat most full members, the same can not be said with ireland.

Arthur Crabtree wrote:It wouldn't be much of a problem playing before an early tour of UK, because they would replace the warm ups, much as England are using a trip to BD before going to India. Though the weather might be an issue.

Maybe 400 not on, with ABDV not playing? (put that in so Mike doesn't move the post...)

400 looks a long way off.

It is good that teams like Ireland and Afghanistan get the chance to play games like this. Long may it continue, we want the game to grow, not to be limited to a few nations.

A chance here for Duminy to play himself into some form.

Of course, let's not forget that the records of the Irish players are based entirely on playing other associates and in domestic cricket. We've seen how hard it is for players with good domestic records to step up and succeed for England and that's with the huge coaching infrastructure the ECB have. How are the Irish going to make that step up. If they're thrown into the same mix as all of the major Test teams they're going to be battered and who, if anyone does that benefit?

I've said for a very long time that a staggered introduction to Test cricket is a good idea, with the new teams playing against A sides and the bottom ranked teams for a few years until they've built up enough experience and players to start playing the bigger sides. Let's not forget that England are likely to find it hard going in Bangladesh and are probably going to be mauled in India, how are the Irish going to get on in the same situation? Which major side would even want them touring? They're not going to be bringing in revenue, aside from maybe in England.

yuppie wrote:It is good that teams like Ireland and Afghanistan get the chance to play games like this. Long may it continue, we want the game to grow, not to be limited to a few nations.

A chance here for Duminy to play himself into some form.

Why? Does being completely outclassed do anything for a side?

Hope Ireland get these, and shut us all up...

Presumably the ECB shutting associates out of limited overs competitions means they don't think being outclassed is much help (or very lucrative). Though that doesn't explain why they should be promoted to Tests, where the gulf will be greater.

350 may be a good score for SA now.

Looks a painful innings from FDP on paper.

Maybe Afg v BD is the more interesting game, and where the future lies.

Murtagh bowls his 10 overs.


Can't have been easy coming off the plane from celebrating Middlesex' title win.

One over to go. 69 runs have come from the previous five overs.

355 to win for Ireland then.

Making_Splinters wrote:

yuppie wrote:It is good that teams like Ireland and Afghanistan get the chance to play games like this. Long may it continue, we want the game to grow, not to be limited to a few nations.

A chance here for Duminy to play himself into some form.

Why? Does being completely outclassed do anything for a side?

So do you think Ireland should not play full member teams in ODI outside of world cups?

Who does that benefit? It certainly does not help the growth of the game. Just keeps it ticking along with the usual suspects playing each other 10 times every 2 years? How do you encourage cricket in these countries? Do you think games against UAE will build interest of cricket in Ireland, or do you think playing some one day games against England and Australia will build more interest?

No team will ever be ready to step up to the next level due to the way the ICC is run. Self interest is to great. To give the Irish players a chance to test themselves against the bigger teams a few times a year can only help them develop, and to also give them a better chance at the WC. Players coming through the system might stay in the system if they see the opportunity to play against the bigger teams. I mean if your 15 years old now playing cricket in Ireland and there was no chance to play against the bigger teams, why would you continue to do it?

yuppie wrote:

Making_Splinters wrote:

yuppie wrote:It is good that teams like Ireland and Afghanistan get the chance to play games like this. Long may it continue, we want the game to grow, not to be limited to a few nations.

A chance here for Duminy to play himself into some form.

Why? Does being completely outclassed do anything for a side?

So do you think Ireland should not play full member teams in ODI outside of world cups?

Who does that benefit? It certainly does not help the growth of the game. Just keeps it ticking along with the usual suspects playing each other 10 times every 2 years? How do you encourage cricket in these countries? Do you think games against UAE will build interest of cricket in Ireland, or do you think playing some one day games against England and Australia will build more interest?

No team will ever be ready to step up to the next level due to the way the ICC is run. Self interest is to great. To give the Irish players a chance to test themselves against the bigger teams a few times a year can only help them develop, and to also give them a better chance at the WC. Players coming through the system might stay in the system if they see the opportunity to play against the bigger teams. I mean if your 15 years old now playing cricket in Ireland and there was no chance to play against the bigger teams, why would you continue to do it?

To get a contract with an English county given that is the only way they will make real progress and are set to get a wage. Oddly enough even when Ireland get Test status that will remain exactly the same.

SA strike first ball and Ireland already lose their review.

Aidan11 wrote:SA strike first ball and Ireland already lose their review.

Real tight call as well.

Porterfield is terrible. Gets out for a duck in the first over so many times.