Irish squad to tour Caribbean

[mikesiva]

'Ed Joyce will be rested for the Regional Super50 but the squad is otherwise at full strength. Andrew White misses the opportunity to become Ireland's most-capped player, with Andrew McBrine favoured in the shorter formats, while there is a return for Andew Poynter, who last featured for Ireland in 2012.'

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ireland/con ... 10593.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"The selectors and Ed agreed that this competition was a good opportunity to rest him with a gruelling schedule ahead in 2014," Simmons said. "It's nearly ten months of full-on cricket and we've got to be careful with Ed's fitness."

Ireland squad: William Porterfield (capt) (Warwickshire), Alex Cusack (Clontarf), George Dockrell (Somerset), Ed Joyce (Sussex)*, John Mooney (North County), Tim Murtagh (Middlesex), Andrew McBrine (Donemana), Kevin O'Brien (Railway Union), Niall O'Brien (Leicestershire), Andrew Poynter (Clontarf), Max Sorensen (The Hills), Paul Stirling (Middlesex), Stuart Thompson (Eglinton), Gary Wilson (Surrey), Craig Young (Bready)

*Only for international matches

[BallOil]

Ireland have more county players than WI

[howzdat]

The importance and value of ICC global events to Ireland is unequivocal but bilateral series, such as the forthcoming one in the Caribbean, are also crucial to their progress. The WICB should be commended for their receptive approach. They are assisting Ireland's cricketing evolution when others have turned their back.

The above extract taken from: Ireland's special relationship with WI

[Gils]

Ireland have more county players than WI

A progressive associate member, methinks it's only a matter of time before their promotion over WI is achieved.

IMO This feels like WI helping them a little too much, What do WI get out of this arrangement - tourists.

[howzdat]

You think Ireland could win all their games?

[Gils]

You think Ireland could win all their games?

No, I'm not familiar with Irish cricket.

I suggest that, over time, their progress coupled with our stagnation will only lead to one outcome.

What I do know is they are the best of the associate's so Guyana bussin their tail negates that particular prophecy to some extent but prompts me to question associate standards, and reassess the viability of going it alone.

[mikesiva]

What I do know is they are the best of the associate's so Guyana bussin their tail negates that particular prophecy to some extent but prompts me to question associate standards, and reassess the viability of going it alone.

Well said!

If Ireland are the next team in line to get Test status, then the West Indies could easily split up, and we could see separate entities of Jamaica, Trinidad & Tobago, Barbados, Guyana, Windwards and Leewards applying for separate Test status....

[Gils]

I see no reason why the individual territories, or HPC and A teams, can't now arrange more Bi and Tri-lateral series with the associates. (Not specifically Canada)

Then West Indian cricket might also gain something tangible from this relationship.

Ireland, being the best among them, appear keen to get as much international experience as possible in the shortest space of time.

It's clear they are presently below the regional level as about 18 months ago Jamaica also dominated them in a limited overs series in the Caribbean.

If they are just making up the numbers or whipping boys then so it go, as they are, our whipping boys (of variety), But isn't it sensible to try and maximise WI benefits from these interactions.

[mikesiva]

And now Jamaica have hammered Ireland with ease...it seems to me that if Ireland can be considered for Test status, then Jamaica and Guyana can be as well.

http://www.espncricinfo.com/ireland/con ... 15513.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

"Ireland allrounder John Mooney is returning home from Ireland's tour of the West Indies to receive treatment for a stress-related illness. Cricket Ireland stated in a press release that Mooney had been managing the condition with treatment for an unspecified length of time, but his condition deteriorated in the last 24 hours to the point where the decision was made for him to return to Ireland."

Another player with a stress-related illness...funny that, but the majority of players with these illnesses seem to come from England, Ireland, that part of the world. It's hard to imagine anyone suffering a stress-related illness on a tour of the Caribbean. They're getting away from the miserable rain, the cold, and touring sunny Trinidad. That would be a dream come true for a lot of Irishmen!

[mikesiva]

Well, we know for now that the Windwards are not ready to go it alone....