by Arthur Crabtree » Wed May 03, 2017 11:33 am
In the acrimonious back and forth over the ICC deal over the past week, one criticism of the ECB (surely the ECB v the BCCI is a face off without a hero) has been how little income they have used in developing cricket in its region. And that is a point that strikes home cleanly. The old country has hardly ever employed a nurturing, paternalistic relationship with the continent. The county contracts for European players have been symbiotic and the teams didn't tolerate the admission of some neighbouring countries into domestic competitions for long. And by poaching the best of their neighbouring players, England are actually guilty of impeding the progress of the associates in their own self interest.
And compare that with India's sponsoring of Afghanistan.
It is astonishing that England have never played an ODI or T20 against Ireland at home. They have played one T20 against Ireland ever, a rain off in Guyana in 2010 which Ireland were well set to win. In fifty over cricket, England beat Ireland in the 2007 World Cup again at Providence. Given all but one of the other games have been played in Ireland, it seems to be fated that these two sides meet each other in famously wet venues. The exception being in the 2011 World Cup in the famous match in Bangalore when Kevin O'Brien's 113 off 63 balls won the game for Ireland.
Other than two ICC fixtures, England have played five ODIs in Belfast and Dublin, which have mostly been one sided in the favour of weakened England sides. I was under the impression these were wet season games, but only the last of these was played in May (early May) a rain off in Malahide, 2015 with England captained by James Taylor and awarding five new caps.
And even for the first invitation to Ireland on these shores, it is difficult to isolate any obvious altruism on the part of English cricket, as the games serve as preparation for a major ICC trophy, a competition for which Ireland was not invited, though played on their doorstep. And if England have a full strength squad it is because the games are final dress rehearsals for the Champions Trophy.
Ireland squad
William Porterfield
Andy Balbirnie
Peter Chase
George Dockrell
Ed Joyce
Andy McBrine
Barry McCarthy
Tim Murtagh
Kevin O'Brien
Niall O'Brien
Paul Stirling
Stuart Thompson
Gary Wilson
Craig Young
England v Ireland records in ODIs.
Most runs: Kevin O'Brien, 213.
Most wickets: John Mooney, 10.
Highest score Eoin Morgan 124* (playing for England).
Best Bowling: Trent Johnston 4-26.
I always say that everybody's right.