THERE’S NO DOUBT John Bracewell would have preferred his initiation period as Ireland head coach to have been a bit smoother but the frustrations of the first few months have made him more determined to achieve what he set out to do.
Over the course of the summer, the realities of the job and the enduring obstacles facing Ireland have been laid bare as a substandard World Twenty20 Qualifying campaign served up a sobering dose of realism.
After sustained success under Phil Simmons, stumbling through a world event on home soil before eventually being dumped out at the semi-final stage certainly wasn’t part of the plan.
If Bracewell wasn’t fully aware of the size of the task that lies ahead, then the honeymoon phase will have highlighted the challenge he faces.
“It’s been frustrating but there’s not a lot I could have done differently,” Bracewell tells The42. “But you’ve got to completely accept criticism. We went into that tournament as justified favourites and we didn’t win it and therefore that’s disappointing.
“It’s easy to say the first job was to qualify but that was one job. The other job was to win the tournament and we didn’t do that.
In the space of three short weeks, Ireland suffered five defeats to Associate opposition in a fashion which raised serious questions marks over the direction they are currently heading.
Although the ultimate goal of qualification for India next year was achieved, the nature of the performances certainly provided substance for anyone who intended to aim fire – and there were plenty primed to voice their opinion.
It may seem harsh to level such criticism towards a side that have enjoyed unparalleled dominance of the Associate ranks but when you’ve tasted the expensive stuff, Prosecco just won’t cut it any more.
But Bracewell has been around the game long enough to appreciate the value of learning curves and certainly the last few outings have proved to be a revealing exercise.
It’s often said a defeat can be more instructive than a victory and perhaps a few home truths were needed.
“We found ourselves perhaps behind other sides in the way they prepared for the tournament and that was ultimately the difference,” he continued.
“If you don’t learn from losing then you’re missing a valuable opportunity and there was a lot of learning to be done.”
A three-game warm-up series against Scotland in Bready served as an indication as what was to come. With the core of the squad tied down by county commitments, those given the opportunity to stake their claim were unable to grasp it and it ultimately set the tone.
Defeats to Papua New Guinea and Hong Kong in the group stages didn’t derail Ireland’s qualification bid but a five-wicket defeat at the hands of Netherlands in-front of a large home crowd in Malahide was symptomatic of their underwhelming tournament.
“We didn’t prepare well enough,” Bracewell says looking back. “Other sides came in knowing this was their made-or-break tournament for the next four years and they planned accordingly.
“We’re not making excuses but joining up two days before the first game isn’t good preparation and as a consequence we weren’t as collective as a unit as we normally are or should be.
“To expect a team to come together in such a short space of time was always going to be difficult. We missed a trick on that.”
Bracewell is keen to learn from the mistakes and move on, starting this week when his squad reconvene for Thursday’s Hanley Energy One-Day International against Australia.
For all of Ireland’s sustained success over the past decade, they have yet to beat a Test nation on home soil and given the paucity of fixtures, the opportunity to flex their muscles against the world champions doesn’t come around too often.
“The marker we set for ourselves is winning,” Bracewell continues. “We’re trying to tip over top teams and we missed that opportunity against England but we have another chance to lay down that marker on front of our home crowd.
“That in itself is a challenge. Of course we want to win but I’ll be looking for commitment, character, playing against the tide of a game, playing with the tide and those sort of characteristics coaches look out for in individuals.
“These big games go a long way to telling you about the character of each individual and whether they’re the right players to take us to the point where we want to be.”
In the week of his appointment back in May, Ireland’s showcase fixture against England at a soldout Malahide was washed out after just 18 overs.
Bracewell couldn’t have drawn too many conclusions from what he did see on that occasion but in the intervening period, he’s been able to assess the resources at his disposal.
Judging by what he’s seen, the 57-year-old insists Ireland are in a healthy position and the concerns surrounding the production line – or lack of talent coming off it – is unfounded.
“I think there is enough depth over here to keep topping up what we have,” he asserts. “But long-term we need to double those numbers but you need 20 players to compete and sustain your position in the top ten in the world in all formats of the game.
“It’s just competitive and you can’t go into games or tournaments with players making up the numbers. In order to do that we certainly need more professional facilities and the Interpro series to go from strength to strength – which I think will happen.”
Ireland’s 14-man squad contains nine survivors from the team that played in their last game against Australia in 2012 but those on the periphery have failed to provide evidence to suggest they’re ready to fill the gaps.
Alex Cusack’s recent retirement follows the decision of Ed Joyce and Tim Murtagh to call time on their Twenty20 careers and several of the ‘golden generation’ are approaching their early-to-mid thirties – they won’t be around forever.
At this stage of Ireland’s cricketing development, the need to breed a greater calibre of player on a consistent basis cannot be sealed. At the moment, the signs aren’t particularly encouraging.
Yet Bracewell isn’t exactly enamoured by the idea of looking beyond these shores for reinforcements.
“We need to go down the sustainable route,” he continued. “If a player commits they need to commit long term because when you’re in, you’re in. Players can’t use Ireland as a step to get somewhere else.
“You could learn from the Dutch. They were quite prepared to buy themselves a route to the tournament [World T20]. That’s interesting but it’s not the path we want to go down.
“We want to be a sustainable programme, not a one-off programme. That’s important.”
That said, one of Bracewell’s first tasks as Ireland coach was to sit down with Boyd Rankin and discuss his international the future. The fast-bowler declared for England in 2012 but after making his Test debut in Sydney, he’s been consigned to the international wilderness since.
It’s no secret that Rankin still harbours hopes of renewing his England career but Bracewell has told him the door remains open for him to return to Ireland.
“I’ve had a discussion with Boyd and as I’ve said before, Boyd to a certain extent has unfinished business. No one wants to win just one Test cap, so let’s see how those cards when they fall.
“He knows the door is open and he’s very welcome back but he knows also when he makes the decision, it’s his last decision. He either closes the door on England and re-opens the door on Ireland but he doesn’t go back the other way.
“He’s not going to make it from any pressure of me, it has to be his decision.”
The players he does currently have at his disposal gathered in Belfast this afternoon as preparations started for the visit of the world champions.
The England washout aside, it will be Ireland’s first ODI since their imposing performance at the World Cup where they narrowly missed out on a quarter-final berth on net run-rate.
Australia went onto win that tournament but a lot has changed for the visitors since then. Coming off the back of an Ashes defeat in England, this is something of a new beginning for Darren Lehmann’s side following the retirement of Michael Clarke.
A capacity crowd is expected at Stormont on Thursday with Setanta Sports broadcasting the game around the world. It’s another invaluable opportunity for Ireland to stick out their chest and reinforce their credentials as a nation with serious cricketing pedigree.
You can tell Bracewell and the players are still hurting from what happened last month but a first victory against a Test country on home soil this week would go along way to making up for it.
I don’t often support nordies, but this one would be an exception…..
@Jumperoo: They’re welcome to you.
@Jumperoo: Jealous?
@Jumperoo: Shock horror: Non Dublin supporter would like to see Dublin lose
@Jumperoo: bitter much
@Jumperoo: As a Nordie il be in the Dublin camp!
@Denis McGrath: Awww sore loser Denis?
Dublin for Sam
@Bruce Lee: very brainey,,
@Bruce Lee: not this year. Kildare put it up to ye on Sunday broke through yer defence too easy. Only for the too giveaway goals it could have went the other way.
@Finbarr Lucey: Your command of the English language is something to behold. Your teacher should be shot.
@Finbarr Lucey: dream on, Dublin had another gear and only used when they had to
@Finbarr Lucey: have a soft spot for Kildare hope they get a semi final out of the all Ireland this year but watching the game on Sunday, Dublin never came out of 1st gear, there was another level in them, once they went 9points ahead after 11 or so mins they just cruised, never felt they were going to lose. Can’t see past them again this year.
@Finbarr Lucey: come on now Finbarr that wasn’t even our best team
While I admire what Dublin have done and how they play the game their fans have being insufferable these past few years. You would swear no other team has ever won anything. I think the gap has also closed this year.
Tyrone VS Kerry final
@phil: Poor Phil
@phil: I see just as many bitter, mean spirited and jealous comments about us from fans of other counties as I do cocky remarks from our own fans…they’re all as bad as each other, if you ask me. We spent a lot of years watching Dublin come up short, so you can’t begrudge us enjoying seeing our county setting the standard for others. Good luck with your final prediction, but I’m not sure that Tyrone can stop them.
@Alan Morrissey: Best of luck Alan. I spent my childhood in Co. Cavan, surrounded by Dublin blow ins who sagged us off for playing GAA. Now the very same people are “Dublin die hard, life long fans”. I suspect it is them who are the biggest group insufferable Dubs.
@phil: listening to the pundits too you would also think no one else has either. Creating the dublin vs the rest if the country attitude on both sides.
Thinking too far ahead, a lot can happen in between.
@Frainc Ó Broin: The sport is unfortunately very predictable and the qualifiers on that side of the draw aren’t playing well.
@Rochelle: I think both Monaghan and Kildare would stand a good chance against Tyrone.
@Rochelle: Tell that to Roscommon
If and when they do meet( no disrespect to the other counties), I’d fancy Tyrone to suffocate that excellent Dublin attack. Can they convert at the other end though ? We’ll have to wait and see. My money’s on Tyrone..
@Harry Corry: I will have some of that with you, happy to take your money. Let’s go big.
@Harry Corry: That’s the big question. Or will they go into safe mode in the last 10-15 mins like they did in the league game?
@Harry Corry: I fancy the Dubs to take them. Jim Gavin has freshened up his team this year and I think they’re in a better position than last year when they looked jaded by August
@Brendan Farrell: they played Kerry in August last year, that game showed they were any but jaded. Fantastic game of football
Tyrone aren’t at the Dublin level, even if they suffocate the attack they don’t have enough to outscore them. Kerry are the big danger for them. Dublin winning 3 in a row is unacceptable in their world and they are gunning for them. There’ll still be some decent games getting there but it’ll be a thunderous all Ireland final.
Sam is staying put. Simples. Nobody is good enough to stop us. Fact.
@The Jacket: Kerry were good enough to beat them in the league!
@Sean Murnin: Hup the kingdom! Also if Dublin and Tyrone do meet, it will be a bloodbath, I’m one of those sadistic types that enjoys watching them batter each other up and down the pitch. Kerry for Sam though
@Sean Murnin: That wasn’t Sam though, Dublin have had Kerry’s number in the championship for the last 6 years…..we waited long enough for that to happen, mind.
@Sean Murnin: Because league form dictates how the championship is going to play out right?
@Ciara Baines: Well it has for Dublin from 2013 – 2016
I wouldn’t rule Kildare out against Tyrone if they meet. A couple of things didn’t go their way yesterday and I think they could cause an upset yet. Tyrone have the duvet to frustrate Dublin but this Dublin attack only needs a foot or two of space to cause damage. It would be some semi and could take it out of the winner ahead of a final.
It’s a mouth watering prospect. I reckon it’s set up for Kerry, safely on the other side of the draw.
There’s a reason why 3 in a row is so difficult to do. Dublin’s strength in depth could see them do it but I reckon the favourites would be Kerry, Dublin and Tyrone in that order.
@Cian Nolan: how could Kerry be possibly favourites.
@Phil Moran: well Dublin failed to beat Kerry in two attempts already this year. Kerry have won 3 minor ALL Ireland’s back to back and Kerry have the “easier” route to the final. So I can see why some people would favour them.
@TheSecretAnorak: the easier route can work against you. Kerry could be going into an all Ireland final without a real test against a battle hardened team
Hang on there, Tyrone beat Down, seriously when was the last time Down were competetive? Tyrone blew it against Mayo last year. They had 4 golden chances to level the game vs Mayo and missed each 1. So what suggests they can be serious challengers? I would like to see them challenge but the media are going into overdrive about them without any substance. 2 Ulsters titles on the bounce means nothing if you can’t make it past August.
Kildare could rattle.tyrone yet
Going by the headline neither team have to play a quarter final
Tyrone could certainly beat Dublin but they would need to be at their best to do it. I have nothing but respect for the Dubs. A great team but the gap has closed and i’m sure Tyrone would relish a match against them. Tyrone have it in them to beat this Dublin team.
Come on Tyrone
@billy Dorney: bitter rebel
I missed the quarter finals….I should have got sky and eir!
STUPID ARTICLE AND VERY DISRESPECTFUL TO THE 4 OTHER COUNTIES.
@Declan Brady: No need to shout!
@Ciara Baines: LOUD NOISES!!!!
@Thomas McGilly: No its not the other 4 counties don’t have a chance
@phil: It is, doesn’t matter if you would bet the house on em. A news article shouldn’t look past the next hurdle. It’s ok for us joe soaps on the bar stool to make assumptions.
@Declan Brady: dead right. Par for the course for this “journalist” I’m afraid.
The draw is nicely set up for Kerry to get through for another handy one
@John Brennan: yeah though they will be beaten in the final dublin has the edge better players in every position
C’mon T’rone!!!!
I’m a true believer in getting what u deserve dublin have the strength in depth to bet Tyrone but dublin have to up there game show that they want the 3 in a row and make history up the dubs
A tight game no doubt, tyrone will make it a dour affair and they will fancy their chances.
One game of top class hurling is better than a whole championship of this adulterated garbage. The biggest laugh of all is calling it football, there isn’t one half decent footballer amongst the lot of em.
@Leonard Barry: you were a serious footballer yourself I believe Len!
@Leonard Barry: until the injury got you!!