Give Ireland the chance they deserve

www.espncricinfo.com/blogs/content/story/623192.html

The Irish have, for long, been a diasporic people. Over the past two centuries, it is believed nearly 100 million Irish have emigrated, a number that far outstrips the current population of the island. Limited opportunities and harsh economic conditions have created a culture of leaving to survive and prosper.

Cricket is just another facet of Irish society where opportunities don't exist at home, forcing their best to leave in order to advance their careers. As was the case with the many waves of the Irish emigrants, this is not the fault of anyone in Ireland.

The Irish cricket setup is the most professional among all Associate nations. However, they are given scant opportunities to show their development against Full Members. Over the rest of the year, Ireland will play three times against Full Members - twice against Pakistan and once against England. Even if they do win one of these games, it probably wouldn't help their cause, as evidenced by the situation they are in, in spite of having repeatedly beaten Full Member teams at ICC events.

Now there is news that Boyd Rankin will follow in the footsteps of Eoin Morgan, quitting Irish duty in the hope of an England call-up. Rankin is a talented and ferocious fast bowler, and would be a fine candidate for most Test teams in the world. His county cricket bowling average is below 30, a fantastic return in a competitive league. He has spoken about his desire to play Test cricket and who can blame him? It is the pinnacle of the sport we all love and he has a chance to play if he denies his homeland. The temptation to remain committed to Ireland must be strong on a personal level, but on a professional level he is right to make the best of what limited time is available to him as an athlete.

The ICC is nominally committed to growing the game worldwide, but it is dismally failing in this mission. As Martin Williamson argued, the prospects of Associate nations have diminished even further with lucrative Twenty20 leagues pushing them off the fixture calendar. Greed, it appears, is costing cricket the chance to develop into a truly global sport. Imagine the boost cricket would get if a fraction of the millions of people of Irish descent were given a real chance to cheer for their country.

Players leaving Ireland to play elsewhere is a symptom of a wider problem. Afghanistan, Holland, Canada, Scotland and Namibia are also promising nations who aren't being given the opportunity to develop. The message being sent by Full Member boards to Associates seems clear: They are second-class nations. The ICC which, alas, is dominated by the boards of Full Member nations must realise that their sport will stagnate and die if they don't stop chasing short-term cash over long-term development. They should not confine Associate teams to the ghetto of the Intercontinental Cup; rather they should show real leadership and force Full Member boards to play against Associate teams.

Hate poms for stealing Irish talent - don't mind them sneaking in SAffers, but seriously. In a way, it's good on them to actually give talented players the deserved international exposure - or else Morgan would've been had such a sad career like Ten Doschate, for instance. ICC should really involve in development of Irish and Dutch cricket especially, there are a lot of talented players like RTD, Rankin, Dockrell, Porterfield, O'Briens, Cooper etc. whom I see  flourishing on the international scene. Get in a mandatory ODI tour for all test playing nations with associates in their FTPs.

Kyle,

Firstly hate is a very strong word so reconsider its use.

We do not steal Irish players and I do despise the fact we have Saffers in out team.

Whilst the Republic is not in the UK, we have always seen England as England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland. We even had a Scottish Captain in Mike Denness. Even Morgan was Skipper for a T20.

Immediately prior to Morgan, we had Ed Joyce, and now he has reverted to playing for Ireland.

In terms of Saffers. We have had an influx of these guys since the fall of apartheid. Why they did not come before, you be my guest.

Prior and Strauss are Saffers but they migrated to the UK as boys and therefore went through the Education and sporting system which I believe qualifies them. However the likes of Pietersen, Trott, Meaker, Dernbach, Keiswetter etc, I would not touch with a barge pole. As an example, Trott, about 18 months prior to making his Test debut in the Ashes, was celebrating with his fellow Saffers when they beat us. It is our stupid rules that allow people like that to get in. We see the Irish as part of us and I would prefer players from th UK and the Republic playing for us rather than these Saffers who effectively came here to work. Do they have loyalty to our culture, heritage and anthem? I will give you a clue the answer consist of an N and an O, fill in the gaps.

Pietersen's mother is meant to be English but has not live here for eons and his gripe was the quota system. The quota system is a necessary evil and we have had such policy in the UK to prioritise women in the workplace in the 80s-90s. It still goes on to this day.

So go on hating Kyle but be closer to the issues.

Jesus christ, calm your tits bro - I didn't mean hate as in literal hate, but just that it saddens to see  (probably poorly phrased, yeah), and I've followed it with me justifying them being picked anyways and it actually being good for the players. Don't take it too seriously. I'm aware of all that although I'm not that close to the issue.

I see a better fit for Ireland in my native Guyana.

We have the best Rums in the World of which Irishmen would do justice.

Our mutual love of this glorious game of Cricket :

Make us a Match made in Heaven  :-*

www.demeraradistillers.com/index.php

Non can claim this heritage ...

Happy St.Patrick's Day !

Cheers .

ROFLMAO.

A poster chiding you for your use of language and that same one always talking about despising this person and that person.

And he is not even English which makes it even more hilarious.

Yes.

You shoulda say despise.

Cling on little 'arse fly'.