Ireland cricket can grow many folds playing overseas
IRE cricket can grow many folds playing overseas
Teams play with a purpose. The agenda maybe different but the goal remains the same. An established team wants to keep improving and feel the heat to not slide down with their playing ability. On the other hand, things are different for the minnows. They relish the opportunity to play against bigger teams and if they cause an upset, they not only increase their own image and value but are taken more seriously among other cricketing giants. Ireland cricket team fill in the latter category. They take their One-Day International (ODI) game seriously not only to move up the ladder, but wear the whites and face the red cherry in Tests. FULL CRICKET SCORECARD: Pakistan vs Ireland, 1st ODI at Dublin
Does the approach make any sense?
International Cricket Council (ICC) has not given the coveted Test status to Ireland and they are working their way, or at least trying to lay down a pedestal from where they can play the most grueling format of the 22-yard game. Ireland, who have tendency to pull off some dramatic wins over established teams in every ICC World Cup (since 2007) have showed they are here to compete If they want to play some consolatory matches with teams touring England to find a way of playing Tests, then they are wrong in their approach.
A quality side like England play a lengthy home series every summer against all big teams. They play Ireland in a short series in between their tour. The short series comprises of two matches mostly. The trend started in 2007 when India went to Ireland for one-off ODI. This has continued till date with teams like Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Australia touring them for a needless one-off or two-ODI series. Such series do not make any sense if a team like Ireland has to get a move on for a Test status. ALSO READ: Pakistan vs Ireland, 1st ODI at Dublin: Likely XI for hosts
Even if Ireland manages to level one of such senseless series against a quality team, can they really make a statement for themselves to be considered for Tests? Firstly, the need of the hour for them is to understand where they stand in fthe 50-over format to play one-off matches. Either you play three ODIs or five. Such matches would at least give a result. A 1-1 series does not give any impression that they are ready to compete in whites.
Let’s see the results of these unplanned series:
Ireland lost the one-offs versus India and South Africa in 2007. They also lost against England in 2009 and Australia in 2010. They played Bangladesh, team much more closer to their standards in a two-ODI series which resulted in a draw. They won two games against Netherlands but found their way back to losing when pitted against Pakistan and England in 2011. In such short series where rain plays spoilsport, there is nothing left to play. The same happened when Australia came to play them in 2011 and the match got abandoned.
In Sri Lanka’s tour of England in 2014, the Asian team toured Ireland for a one-off and the result was in favour of the visitors. Sense prevailed to Ireland to play Scotland but for yet another two-ODI series. Ireland emerged as winners. Till date, the trend of short series is continuing as Sri Lanka toured England in 2016 and went for consolatory tour of Ireland with the purpose of preparing themselves for the 50-overs format, after the Test series. They won the series in Ireland. Ireland’s last series have been against rising associate nation, Afghanistan. It was touted to be a close series and with one game being washed out, the series ended at 2-2. ALSO READ: PAK vs IRE, 1st ODI: Aamer vs Joyce & other key battles
Conclusion:
In short, Ireland have just hosted a limited number of matches against top teams since 2006 and that too comprising of two games, mostly. They do so depending on the teams who travel to England. With teams like Bangladesh and Zimbabwe still playing in Tests and going nowhere, this is their chance to rise, if they seriously have to. They need to realise that brief, unrequited and consolatory series will not land them anywhere. They need to compete and play more against teams of their standards, for instance, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe, before challenging the big guns, that too in one-offs or two matches. ALSO READ: Pakistan vs Ireland 1st ODI: Preview & Predictions
For now, they are just being confined as a team who are being used by visiting teams, touring England, as a dress rehearsal to shape themselves before changing guards in shorter formats after a long series in Tests.
(Aditya Sahay is journalist with CricketCountry who is completely into sports and loves writing about cricket in general. He can be followed on Twitter at adisahay7)