NOT LONG AFTER the conclusion of the last World Cup, a short documentary produced by the Irish Sports Council, labelled ‘The Journey’, attempted to delve inside the battle lines of Irish cricket: the hard work, the soaring highs and crushing lows, the sweat and tears.
The highs have far outweighed and upstaged the lows over the last eight years but the intervening period between World Cups can be a protracted one as Ireland shift from being the cynosure of all eyes, both at home and abroad, into the wilderness.
Ireland have managed to upset the established order in the past two stagings of cricket’s show piece but despite continually knocking on the ICC’s door for greater recognition, the governing body have been reluctant to set an additional seat at the top table.
Consequently, the microscope has been firmly placed on Ireland and each game, regardless of the opposition or circumstances, is an appraisal of their credentials.
The ICC’s decision to reduce the 2019 World Cup to just ten teams – from 14 – is another instance of the governing body pulling up the ladder on those trying to climb it and heightens the requisite for Ireland to prove why they deserve a place among the top brass.
So, Sunday night’s opening Pool B game in Nelson against a West Indies side engulfed in disarray and internal disharmony is of huge significance. It would probably be stretching it to say it is all or nothing but the outcome at the Saxton Oval is likely to define the next month, quite possibly for both teams.
Advertisement
Ireland head into tonight on the back of an encouraging win on Thursday Barry Chambers / INPHO
Barry Chambers / INPHO / INPHO
An early exit from the World Twenty20 last year was taken with a pinch of salt, glossed over as a blip in an otherwise smooth passage towards ascension, but the months leading up to the tournament have suggested there are more underlying deficiencies.
Reversals to Randwick Petersham, a Syndey-based club side, and near neighbours Scotland in the last week gave rise to serious concerns over the form of both the batsmen and the relatively inexperienced, and burdened, bowling attack.
But, a win over Bangladesh in the final dress rehearsal provided encouragement heading into the sterner tests that lie ahead. It is a case, however, of hoping it all comes together on the night. The prospect of a no-show is almost unthinkable.
“I think we’ve prepared as well as we possibly could,” Gary Wilson said on the eve of the game. “We didn’t play anywhere near out best against Scotland but we are hopefully peaking at the right time.”
West Indies will be hoping to do the exact same. They arrive in Nelson on the back of a disruptive couple of months which started with a player revolt during a tour of India.
They’ve decided to leave two of their most dynamic limited-overs players at home and if the enforced absence of Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard wasn’t enough to contend with, Sunil Narine was a late withdrawal as he searches for form and solace after his delivery action was deemed illegal before Christmas.
Brett Lee spent the last week with the squad in Sydney Barry Chambers / INPHO
Barry Chambers / INPHO / INPHO
While all the variables may seem to be falling into place for Ireland, it’s the unknown element of the West Indies that makes it hard to know if William Porterfield and his side have a genuine chance of blowing the tournament wide open on the third day.
The two opening games reaffirmed the assumption that this will be a World Cup during which the balance of power is tilted considerably towards the bat. While the regulations have made it harder for containment, it’s widely acknowledged the best way to keep the run-rate down is to take wickets at regular intervals.
“I think you have to go for wickets because that’s the best way to stop scoring,” Ed Joyce told The42before the squad departed. “If you can get early wickets, that stunts the batting team’s progress. It’s important that we play positively and play with freedom.
“We can’t afford to go within ourselves because if we can perform the way we know we can then we’ll have a chance.”
The squad made the five hour flight from Sydney to northern New Zealand on Friday as they finalise their preparations. With no injuries reported, Phil Simmons should have a full panel to choose from but his hugely successful seven-year tenure has been underpinned by consistency in selection.
The conditions in Nelson will play a part but given there has only been two international fixtures played at the venue before this World Cup, it’s difficult to predict how the pitch will play.
The one question mark surrounds the make-up of the lower-order. The top seven are all but set in stone, although Andrew Balbirnie’s fine form could see him promoted, but it seems Alex Cusack, Max Sorensen and Andy McBrine are vying for one place.
Cusack has endured a difficult few weeks with the ball – leaking runs left, right and centre – and could pay the price when the big decisions are made.
Having spent the last week Down Under, in the presence of Australian fast-bowling legend Brett Lee, Ireland have had no shortage of preparation time. The four years of waiting for another shot at gatecrashing the ICC’s World Cup party once again has arrived but there is now little room for slip-ups.
Ireland v West Indies, 10pm Irish time.
You can follow Ireland’s progress throughout the World Cup on The42 here.
Ireland out to gatecrash the World Cup party once again
NOT LONG AFTER the conclusion of the last World Cup, a short documentary produced by the Irish Sports Council, labelled ‘The Journey’, attempted to delve inside the battle lines of Irish cricket: the hard work, the soaring highs and crushing lows, the sweat and tears.
The highs have far outweighed and upstaged the lows over the last eight years but the intervening period between World Cups can be a protracted one as Ireland shift from being the cynosure of all eyes, both at home and abroad, into the wilderness.
Ireland have managed to upset the established order in the past two stagings of cricket’s show piece but despite continually knocking on the ICC’s door for greater recognition, the governing body have been reluctant to set an additional seat at the top table.
Consequently, the microscope has been firmly placed on Ireland and each game, regardless of the opposition or circumstances, is an appraisal of their credentials.
The ICC’s decision to reduce the 2019 World Cup to just ten teams – from 14 – is another instance of the governing body pulling up the ladder on those trying to climb it and heightens the requisite for Ireland to prove why they deserve a place among the top brass.
So, Sunday night’s opening Pool B game in Nelson against a West Indies side engulfed in disarray and internal disharmony is of huge significance. It would probably be stretching it to say it is all or nothing but the outcome at the Saxton Oval is likely to define the next month, quite possibly for both teams.
An early exit from the World Twenty20 last year was taken with a pinch of salt, glossed over as a blip in an otherwise smooth passage towards ascension, but the months leading up to the tournament have suggested there are more underlying deficiencies.
Reversals to Randwick Petersham, a Syndey-based club side, and near neighbours Scotland in the last week gave rise to serious concerns over the form of both the batsmen and the relatively inexperienced, and burdened, bowling attack.
But, a win over Bangladesh in the final dress rehearsal provided encouragement heading into the sterner tests that lie ahead. It is a case, however, of hoping it all comes together on the night. The prospect of a no-show is almost unthinkable.
“I think we’ve prepared as well as we possibly could,” Gary Wilson said on the eve of the game. “We didn’t play anywhere near out best against Scotland but we are hopefully peaking at the right time.”
West Indies will be hoping to do the exact same. They arrive in Nelson on the back of a disruptive couple of months which started with a player revolt during a tour of India.
They’ve decided to leave two of their most dynamic limited-overs players at home and if the enforced absence of Dwayne Bravo and Kieron Pollard wasn’t enough to contend with, Sunil Narine was a late withdrawal as he searches for form and solace after his delivery action was deemed illegal before Christmas.
While all the variables may seem to be falling into place for Ireland, it’s the unknown element of the West Indies that makes it hard to know if William Porterfield and his side have a genuine chance of blowing the tournament wide open on the third day.
The two opening games reaffirmed the assumption that this will be a World Cup during which the balance of power is tilted considerably towards the bat. While the regulations have made it harder for containment, it’s widely acknowledged the best way to keep the run-rate down is to take wickets at regular intervals.
“I think you have to go for wickets because that’s the best way to stop scoring,” Ed Joyce told The42 before the squad departed. “If you can get early wickets, that stunts the batting team’s progress. It’s important that we play positively and play with freedom.
The squad made the five hour flight from Sydney to northern New Zealand on Friday as they finalise their preparations. With no injuries reported, Phil Simmons should have a full panel to choose from but his hugely successful seven-year tenure has been underpinned by consistency in selection.
The conditions in Nelson will play a part but given there has only been two international fixtures played at the venue before this World Cup, it’s difficult to predict how the pitch will play.
The one question mark surrounds the make-up of the lower-order. The top seven are all but set in stone, although Andrew Balbirnie’s fine form could see him promoted, but it seems Alex Cusack, Max Sorensen and Andy McBrine are vying for one place.
Cusack has endured a difficult few weeks with the ball – leaking runs left, right and centre – and could pay the price when the big decisions are made.
Having spent the last week Down Under, in the presence of Australian fast-bowling legend Brett Lee, Ireland have had no shortage of preparation time. The four years of waiting for another shot at gatecrashing the ICC’s World Cup party once again has arrived but there is now little room for slip-ups.
Ireland v West Indies, 10pm Irish time.
You can follow Ireland’s progress throughout the World Cup on The42 here.
The World Cup has started and Ireland are there – here’s everything you need to know
Flashback: The day Ireland became the noisy neighbours by beating England at their own game
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
Cricket Ireland Cricket World Cup 2015 CWC15 Irish Cricket Preview