Yeah, the three main young hopes are Dockrell, Stirling and McCarter. McCarter is 19, a medium pacer. Has played a couple of games for Gloucs but really on the fringes of their team and they are Division 2. Stirling is batting at three for Middlesex in their 40 over games, can’t get into the Championship team by the looks of it. Dockrell is really impressing though, in conditions that have been more suited to quick bowlers early in the English season too.
Beat Afghanistan in a low scorer in Clontarf today after the first match was rained out. Joyce top scored with an unbeaten 67 as we were bowled out for 163. The last two wickets put on 57 runs. This proved to be the difference as Afghanistan were bowled out for 104. Johnston and Cusack, well backed up by the spin of Dockrell and Stirling, did most of the damage. Poor enough showing from Murtagh on debut by the looks of it. Went at nearly five an over and took no wickets, very bad return given it was a low scoring game. Joyce and Kevin O’Brien the only batsmen to really contribute too.
Still, qualification for the next World Cup looking very likely now. We have six more games in this league, all taking place next year. We’ll have a better idea of where exactly we stand in a couple of weeks time when UAE and Scotland have played their next games. They look like our biggest threats.
Playing Afghanistan again in a four day game starting on Monday. Fairly irritating that none of these games were on at the weekend actually. Probably would have headed out if they were.
A brilliant effort to defend that fairly low total today. We really have a great bunch of lads playing for us. 
Good work from our lads today. The first two and a bit days of our four-day game with Afghanistan were rained out. We won the toss and decided to field and bowled them out for 84. We are 126/2 in reply. Getting the first innings lead means we have six points in the bag. We won’t lose, so are pretty much guaranteed another seven. I’d fancy us to win if there is no more rain tomorrow, though that is probably unlikely. Either way, we look to be in a very strong position to reach the final of this and give ourselves a chance of reclaiming our crown.
Boyd Rankin announced his intention to retire from Ireland at the end of the year in the hopes of playing Test cricket for England. Hugely disappointing news. He’s 28 and has bollocks all chance of getting into their Test team. Hopefully he doesn’t get near their ODI team either, and returns to the Irish fold in time for the next World Cup. He will play the World T20 for us though.
What an orange bastard.
[quote=“Bandage, post: 31476”]
What an orange bastard.[/quote]
Not sure what the relevance of his hair colour is here.
Get to fuck. That prick should never wear the green RSA top again :mad:
We can’t afford to be turning our noses up at players of his quality. If he wants to come back, I’d welcome him as quickly as I did Ed Joyce.
[quote=“thedancingbaby, post: 31478”]
Get to fuck. That prick should never wear the green RSA top again [/quote]
Well said.
South Africa ‘A’ ended their Irish tour prematurely yesterday because of the bad weather. Simply told Cricket Ireland they were going home as they weren’t getting enough game time. Cunts. :lol:
We named our T20 World Cup squad recently:
[size=3][font=arial]William Porterfield (captain), Alex Cusack, George Dockrell, Trent Johnston, Nigel Jones, Ed Joyce, Tim Murtagh, Kevin O’Brien, Niall O’Brien, Boyd Rankin, Max Sorensen, Paul Stirling, Stuart Thompson, Andrew White, Gary Wilson.[/font][/size]
[size=4][font=Tahoma][size=3][font=arial]John Mooney misses out with injury.[/font][/size] 
[/font][/size]
Our bhoys set off for the T20 World Cup today after a farewell ceremony attended by Minister Varadkar.
We have also appointed Australian legend Craig McDermott as fast bowling coach and bowling consultant. What a coup for Irish cricket.
Just got my tickets for the two games against Pakistan at Clontarf in May. On Thursday 23rd and Sunday 26th. Two game package currently available for €35. Had shitty weather for the last three matches I went to, so hoping for better luck this time.
Excellent first day in Sharjah in the Intercontinental Cup. 272/2 at stumps against UAE, with Joyce unbeaten on 99 overnight. Big scores from Porterfield and Stirling too. Should be a case of a declaration some time tomorrow with the aim of bowling them out twice in the last two and a bit days then. Dockrell will be key you’d have thought. Win this, and regaining the trophy will be close.
We declared on 589/7 today, our highest ever score apparently. Centuries for Joyce and Niall O’Brien. Murtagh got a wicket before stumps, they are 56/1. Two days to take 19 wickets.
Ireland bowled UAE out for 165 earlier in an important CWC 2015 qualifying match. We’re 27/1 after 4 overs in reply.
come on UAE
4 down now and we were wobbling…
…Kev O’Brien and Gary Wilson are at the crease and getting us back on track (hopefully).
They should be alright from here. 21 from 12 overs with five wickets in hand. I wonder if this is the same track that the four day game was played on? That was an absolute road by all accounts. Surprised to see such a low scoring game here.
72* from Wilson saw us home.