QUITE A COMEBACK, and one which comes at the most opportune time for Ireland as they end an up-and-down year on a high note with a series victory over their old adversaries Afghanistan.
From 1-0 down following Wednesday’s all-too-familiar capitulation to this, an emphatic five-wicket victory underpinned by a controlled and disciplined bowling display and an assertive century from Paul Stirling, his sixth in ODI cricket. It has been quite the turnaround.
All of a sudden, John Bracewell ends his time in charge with two straight wins and hands the reigns over to incoming head coach Graham Ford on the back of progressive performances leading into March’s World Cup qualifiers.
Stirling stole the show in Sharjah with a 97-ball ton but the victory was spearheaded by George Dockrell’s four-wicket haul as Ireland restricted Afghanistan to 177, with Barry McCarthy also claiming three wickets, to add to his five from Friday; why he had been left out originally, and has carried the drinks more often than not over the last 18 months, remains a mystery.
But, credit where credit is due.
Backs to the wall, Ireland regrouped to haul themselves back into the series in the second ODI and then followed that imposing performance with another today, to at least send Bracewell into the sunset with a green tick on a copybook otherwise pockmarked by a string of disappointing results.
Perhaps it’s too early to completely write this team off but the fact remains that these two end-of-season games have seen Ireland produce their best collective performances since the 2015 World Cup.
It is no coincidence that Ireland play their best cricket when they are assertive with both bat and ball, typified by Stirling who took the game away from Afghanistan with each belligerent boundary.
The opener set Ireland on track for a successful chase with a 62-run second-wicket stand with Andy Balbirnie (35) before falling with just eight needed for the win.
Earlier, Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat but could not cope with Dockrell — who continues to impress in that all-rounder role — and the busy medium pace of McCarthy, who finished with 3-32.
As one of few players still playing county cricket in the squad, it’s essential Ford builds the bowling attack around the Durham all-rounder going forward, with the likes of Boyd Rankin, Tim Murtagh and Kevin O’Brien still ever-presents.
To be fair, many of the problems over the last 24 months have stemmed from the lack of consistency, and form, in the batting and Stirling’s two innings (82 on Friday) shows how crucial it is for one of the top-order to lay the platform. All too often, batsmen failed to show the application to do this.
To that end, this victory was a throwback to former glory days when Ireland out-worked, out-fought and out-played their opponents with both bat and ball, but, just as significantly, in the field. There was fight, spirit and passion. Confidence, conviction and character also make a world of difference.
The hope is that this successful mini-tour of the United Arab Emirates — Ireland also beat Scotland in the final round of the four-day Intercontinental Cup — will be the turning of the corner for this golden generation.
A busy schedule lies ahead in 2018 and certainly the prospect of a first Test match in May and the arrival of a new coach, particularly one of Ford’s calibre, engenders a level of optimism and giddy excitement.
But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. There are still areas of immediate concern, most notably the middle order, which has consistently faltered over the last year, while the form of several players is a major worry. A change of coach may help to address that, particularly if he’s willing to select on the basis of form over reputation.
For now, the players and staff deserve to enjoy this sweet victory at the end of a year which will be remembered for what happened off the pitch rather than on it, but the most important thing is that the last four days don’t simply paper over the cracks but help glue them together again.
The key in all that is to ensure the players, both current and future, gain enough exposure to meaningful and competitive cricket in order to battle-harden and prepare them for the international cricket arena, and if you look at the teams which brought England and West Indies to their knees in the last two World Cups, the common thread is county cricket.
Therefore, it is no accident that the downturn in results under Bracewell coincided with more players falling out of favour at counties or, in the case of others, returning home to play domestic cricket in Ireland.
The Brexit vote has certainly complicated matters in that regard and it’s likely we’ll see the current crop in England — McCarthy, Stirling, Murtagh, Rankin, Gary Wilson and Stuart Poynter — dwindle over the next two seasons due to those restrictions.
But that puts even greater significance on Cricket Ireland and their ability to provide those professional structures to ensure players are given the platform to learn and develop sufficiently where county cricket used to in years gone by.
The organisation is doing trojan work behind the scenes and was rewarded this year with ascension to Full Membership of the ICC but face the biggest challenge in helping their players bridge the gap between domestic, inter-pro and international cricket.
It remains to be seen how the academy players — many of whom are preparing for January’s U19 World Cup in New Zealand — will get that same chance but with increased funding and Warren Deutrom and Richard Holdsworth at the helm, it’s only fair to reserve judgement of the long-term prospects for now; it’s widely-acknowledged that the landscape needs to change, because currently there isn’t a lot of excitement surrounding young players coming through. They need experience and to be given a chance.
Additionally, any criticism levelled at the team over the last 12 months, on these pages or otherwise, is not directly specifically at Cricket Ireland as an organisation or the players, but objective analysis of the performances of professional cricketers and a view of the long-term prospects of the sport in this country without wearing green-tinted glasses. Perhaps we’re not as well-equipped as we think to be competitive beyond a certain level?
What we do know, however, is that the standards in performance have slipped at senior level over the last two years and the departure of Bracewell tells its own story in that sense, Cricket Ireland clearly acknowledging change was required.
2018 will be the year Ireland play their first Test match and let’s hope it will also mark the start of a new chapter by way of performance and results as much as anything else.
The last few days were a good start, but it would be misguided to read too much into it until a full corner has been turned. Just like one or two defeats don’t turn a good team into a bad one overnight, a couple of wins doesn’t instantly resolve all the shortcomings.
A fine series win, and now the springboard to go into the New Year infused with the belief and confidence those shortcomings can be resolved. After all, that’s what we all want.
The42 has just published its first book, Behind The Lines, a collection of some of the year’s best sports stories. Pick up your copy in Eason’s, or order it here today (€10):
The rules are the rules and he’s right they were not applied consistently and as the manager of Dublin he should be grateful. In the first half, McCauley should have been carded for a deliberate trip and Connolly should have been gone for dragging a player to the ground.
on the Sunday Game last night the panel were suggesting that the was no difference between the shoulder by Aidan o Shea in his run up to the referee and McCarthys except there was. The latters was a block to take a defender out which is cynical and hence the black card. IMO it was the harshest of the 3 Dublin instances in the first half.
This is not an anti Dublin comment btw. Mayos OConnor and OShea should also have been black carded for cynical fouling also.
Given that there was only 1 black card shown and in my view for probably the least of the instances it was very harsh.
Overall I thought the ref had a poor game.
I think you need to replay the incident – Dublin had the ball in their OWN back line so McCarthy could not be accused of taking out a ‘defender’ – Dublin were 10yards from their own goal and had comfortable possession. There was nothing to be gained by McCarthy deliberately barging. Spirit of Rule is about punishing players who cynically take guys out with the ball or off the ball when a team is ATTACKING WITH THE BALL. MAyo didn’t have the ball and no one was attacking
Ah! But you must know that if the ref gave out black cards to all who deserved them he would have “spoiled the game as a spectacle!!!!!!!!”.
@BMJF I don’t think you know much about football if you think it matters where on the field an offence occurred to determine what colour of a card you get. It’s a third man tackle, it’s effective everywhere on the field, as is dragging people down to waste time. If what your saying is true then every team would be doing that.. rules are rules there’s no spirit.
Players put there lives on hold to play in games like these to get a black for that was terrible decision.
Nothing about Macauley there Jim, just looking for some consistency.
What about OShea should have gone OConnor should have gone too
@Liam Melia: he didnt say consistency against Mayo, he just said consistency.
Yeah to be fair – he was talking about the type of incident that McCarthy was black carded for…. O’Connor had one, right in front of ref that was way more cynical. For me mccarthys wasn’t a card (what could he do in the conditions), oconnors was.
Though I agree McCauley (twice) and Connolly probably deserved black cards. As did o’shea.
There were other inconsistencies, the ref called one free for over-carrying, yet there were loads of incidents of it (including by parsons in the very next play) that didn’t get called.
@Augustus hoop:
Was it McAuley who made that high neck challenge, if so?, then on another day he would’ve got a straight red never mind a black.
Ref obviously deemed that McCauley’s wasn’t ‘deliberate’! You can name every player and every incident! The card is a mess and it needs to go. Replace it with straight red for pulling a guy down on way to go which is where this came from in the first place – Cavanagh rugby tackle on Monaghan attacker
It was an awkward challenge after having legally dislodged the ball. I don’t think people appreciate just how slippy the pitch is. He won the ball fairly and then grabbed his man as momentum carried him through. He did grab him around the neck but it was awkwardness rather than anything malicious
I’m a dub and I thought it was an awful challenge! Tho I also thought the one on John small, when he was cleaned out off the ball (which we didn’t even get a replay on) was also awful.
But as you say this tit for tat (green/blue tinted) all your lads should have been sent off, but none of ours, is just ridiculous. The ref wasn’t great, but he (having watched it more calmly again – obviously first time around I felt he was anti-Dublin) didn’t advantage one team over the other.
Ah great timing Declan. I mention green-tinted and you appear.
You are right tho, despite all replays showing Keegan starting it (and everyone knowing all week that part of his role was always going to be to rile Connolly up)….. it was all Connolly.
The cheek of Joe Brolly to comment ‘isn’t it amazing how everyone lee Keegan has ever marked gets booked for wrestling with him’.
Great post declan. You display excellent knowledge of the game. One thing, what exactly does the first sentence of your post mean?
Mayo are a despicable rabble. Constant diving dragging pulling and cheating. A horrible team who will never get their grubby paws on Sam. Back in your box Mayo. You blew it
There’s was only one team 5 points u p at half time and one team 3 points up with minutes left. It’s not Mayo who blew it!!!
@Skim Coat: how many minutes?
Dublin were shit and all you fans knew to win you would have to meet Dublin on an off day. You got exactly what you wanted and still managed to spill the tea. Stop cheating constantly and focus on ball and you might do it some day. Roll on replay
I’d respect your opinion emmet if you knew your arse from your elbow but you wouldn’t know anything about football if it smacked you in the mouth! I’d say we blew it there to be honest!
@Spoddgy: I was at the game and witnessed the constant cheating. Especially off the ball. The ref was completely out of his depth too which didn’t help. He was conned for the black card.
Mayo have become, through constant heartache, the most cynical team in Ireland. If it was Tyrone there would be calls for them to be banned.
Emmett
You make out as if Dublin would never do any of those things…..
@Paul: Every top team operates on the edge of the rules. Mayo break them constantly. The absolute state of their tackling. They lack discipline and resort to fouling. If we get a decent ref the next day it will be Dublin by 7 points
@Gerry Healy: your’e worse than Catherine Noone
Emmett ya haven’t a clue. Mayo played by the rules. As did Dublin. Yes there was a couple of dodgy decisions against both teams but I think to be fair to ref he let it flow as much as possible which resulted in a great game. Now stop talking rubbish good boy.
They need a stronger ref for the replay, one who will apply the rules consistently to both teams. I’m amazed there were not more fist fights yesterday, the ref seemed to have no real control at times.
Unfortunately for the GAA in general there is only one David Coldrick.
Ref done his best for Mayo,thought the days of the referee being biased were gone.
@Dave cullen: it was the same in drawn semi last year
Look the truth of it is, diarmuid Connolly is one of the best Footballers in the country, Lee Keegan has done such a great job in every final encounter that Connolly has only scored 5 points against mayo in the last few all Ireland finals, whatever you say about him starting fights he is an amazing defender
Don’t mind the referee or the players, the absolute worst performance yesterday was the ‘Dublin Kit Man’.
All that money spent in preparation went to shit because the players didn’t have long enough studs in their boots to be sure of their footing.
I think that the Ref. got McCarthy right enough as the rule stands. He did see O’Connor but kept going. McCauley should have gone on Black early on, in my opinion he hand in ripped an opponent and that is black as the rule stands. As well as that, McCauley was luck because he was a consistent fouler and should have been gone on two yellows early on. He actually committed at least four bookable ones . That is probably why they took him off, but he was playing poorly.All in all, it was a very poor game, as was the minor game. That is the level that these so called managers and tactitions have brought Gaelic football to.. It is now a bore of a game just like soccer.
Emmet and Dave both of you are talking complete rubbish.
The moderator on this thread is obviously an idiot, deleting legitimate comments.
Actually, do me a favour and ban me from this site.
You could just delete the app.
Consistency for Dublin getting every decision in the semi final and the final ;-)