After bursting upon the international cricket scene by bouncing highly vaunted Pakistan out of the Cricket World Cup the Ireland World Cup cricket team is excited to be in Guyana for three “Super 8” matches the first of which gets underway today against England.
Ireland qualified for their first International Cricket Council (ICC) World Cup after reaching the final of the ICC trophy competition, which is a competition for the ICC associate members.
Few cricket fans remember Ireland’s victory against the West Indies in 2004 says Barry Chambers, the team’s media officer, who spoke with Seabrook Sports during a practice session at the Georgetown Cricket Club ground on Wednesday.
But since then Ireland’s cricket has made much progress. They won their group and beat Canada in the semi-final then lost in the final of the competition for ICC associate members to Scotland by 47 runs.
Ironically, Ireland’s top player in that competition was opening batsman Ed Joyce who scored 399 runs at an average of 99.75. Joyce is now opening the batting for England, Ireland’s opponent today.
Ireland were also granted One Day International status after their performance in that competition while there was a financial benefit as the ICC provided $500,000 to be used specifically for development and preparation for the World Cup.
“This tournament has had a phenomenal effect back home, especially after we beat Pakistan. People in Ireland are now watching cricket in pubs and in their homes.
In the past football and rugby ruled the roost, “said Bray.
“Beating Pakistan was awesome especially with 2000 Irish fans present,” he added.
The game was scheduled on the biggest holiday in Ireland, St Patrick’s Day and some of the fans planned their trip around the holiday.
Chambers said after the stunning victory the Sunset Grand Hotel put on a smashing party complete with an Irish band and dancers. He said fans had a grand time partying into the wee hours of the morning when the establishment ran out of every conceivable type of alcohol.
The team’s main sponsor, the Bank of Ireland, has injected another $50,000 into the team.
Chambers said prior to the now famous three-wicket win over Pakistan the team had difficulty attracting a sponsor for their shirt sleeve. Now, he said, they are being courted by sponsors wanting to jump on the proverbial bandwagon.
According to Chambers England brought cricket to Ireland 160 years ago but the two teams have only played once.
They became an ICC associate member in 1993 and took part in their first ICC trophy the following year in Kenya.
“The English press has been a bit rough on us after we qualified for the “Super 8″ so our players need no motivation for this match, we relish the opportunity to compete with them” said Chambers.
Four of the Irish players have experience in English county cricket number three batsman Eoin Morgan plays for Middlesex, wicket-keeper batsman Niall O’Brien played for Kent but has moved to Northants.
Boyd Rankin is a fearsome fast bowling prospect standing six foot eight inches tall in his size fifteen boots which have to be custom made he has signed a one year deal with Derbyshire. Off-spinning all-rounder Andrew White also played with Northants before returning to the local competition.
Opener Bray, a fitness instructor, was born in Australia and represented New South Wales and the national under-19 team. He was the most valuable player in the 1992-93 under-19 competition in Australia.
Before marrying an Irish girl and moving to Ireland, he had shown his mettle by top scoring for Ireland in their famous victory over West Indies in 2004.
More recently, he carried his bat against Zimbabwe in this competition when he scored 115 not out.
Chambers said the batting is very deep as the first nine batsmen have scored centuries. The bowling attack was balanced, he said, with three pacers and two off- spinners.
South African coach Adrian Burrell who has been at the helm for the last four years is here with the team but he will soon be replaced by former West Indies all-rounder Phil Simmons who has also accompanied the team.
