Ireland to play Test Cricket in 2018?

Conchir

RTE reporting that Ireland are set to play their first men's Test match some time in 2018, after hopefully earning Test status this year, possibly April.

https://www.rte.ie/sport/cricket/2017/0221/854386-ireland-look-set-for-test/

I've been looking for news of this on the Cricket Ireland website but haven't seen any, but I reckon it's worth a thread.

Big news if accurate, surely a lot will have to happen before then!

Royale with Cheese

I wonder will this be the end of players going off to play for England, what are the rules around representing two countries at test level? Once someone has played a test for Ireland how easy would it be for England to poach them?

Pickpocket

I really hope this happens soon. I've been getting more and more into cricket over the years but the shorter forms don't interest me as much. Test cricket is from another time and place and it's all the better for it. It's the perfect riposte to the modern sports enthusiast's diminishing attention span.

Conchir

Pickpocket wrote: »

I really hope this happens soon. I've been getting more and more into cricket over the years but the shorter forms don't interest me as much. Test cricket is from another time and place and it's all the better for it. It's the perfect riposte to the modern sports enthusiast's diminishing attention span.

I have to say, the thought of sitting in the sun in Malahide or Clontarf watching Ireland play a test match puts a massive smile on my face. If we do get test status in April then that gets a little bit closer to reality.

riffmongous

I saw a report on Cricinfo about it a few weeks ago (cant find it anymore though) where it discussed some proposed changes to test cricket, with a new two tier league system, so Ireland, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe would be bottom tier and mostly play each other but there would be an obligation on the rest of the teams to play at least one game within the time frame of the league (every few years)

Conchir

riffmongous wrote: »

I saw a report on Cricinfo about it a few weeks ago (cant find it anymore though) where it discussed some proposed changes to test cricket, with a new two tier league system, so Ireland, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe would be bottom tier and mostly play each other but there would be an obligation on the rest of the teams to play at least one game within the time frame of the league (every few years)

Interesting. Playing regular, (hopefully) competitive tests against Afghanistan and Zimbabwe would probably be more beneficial in the long run than continually getting whacked by the bigger sides, yet there's still the odd test against those others.

Any obvious cons to that proposal?

An Ciarraioch

Could June 22nd become the biggest date in Irish cricket history? Sadly, the comment that Test status might have arrived a year too late may well be true.

http://www.the42.ie/irish-cricket-test-status-sponsorship-3361384-Apr2017/

Washout

An Ciarraioch wrote: »

Could June 22nd become the biggest date in Irish cricket history? Sadly, the comment that Test status might have arrived a year too late may well be true.

http://www.the42.ie/irish-cricket-test-status-sponsorship-3361384-Apr2017/

It just did....I'm over the moon about his...super news.

Conchir

Ireland will be playing Pakistan in their first Test match in either April or May. No venue yet but hopefully it'll be Malahide. Very exciting!

Pudsy33

Conchir wrote: »

Ireland will be playing Pakistan in their first Test match in either April or May. No venue yet but hopefully it'll be Malahide. Very exciting!

Where are you seeing this?

Conchir

Pudsy33 wrote: »

Where are you seeing this?

https://www.rte.ie/sport/cricket/2017/1011/911552-ireland-set-to-make-test-debut-next-spring/

I've been looking for something from the ICC about it, but haven't seen any so far. Hopefully RTE have it right.

Conchir

There's a bit more info in this article, but it all seems very mysterious and up in the air so far.

http://www.cricket.com.au/news/ireland-set-for-historic-first-test-match-pakistan-dublin-april-may-cold-icc-four-day-test/2017-10-11

Royale with Cheese

On Cricinfo now, to be played next May. Venue tbc.

KevIRL

Conchir wrote: »

Ireland will be playing Pakistan in their first Test match in either April or May. No venue yet but hopefully it'll be Malahide. Very exciting!

I think we can safely predict a draw in this one. Rained off for at least 3 of the days

Tom Mann Centuria

KevIRL wrote: »

I think we can safely predict a draw in this one. Rained off for at least 3 of the days

How can you be so negative?


Agree completely.


Actually, they're bit short sighted going on about four day test, have 5 days, at least there's the possibility of a result.

Conchir

KevIRL wrote: »

I think we can safely predict a draw in this one. Rained off for at least 3 of the days

I very much hope you're wrong about the rain, but obviously I'm worried you'll be right. If we're lucky it will be as late into May as possible.

Royale with Cheese

Does it rain anymore in Dublin than it does in some of the English test venue cities?

A quick look on Wikipedia (because I really have nothing better to be doing) says May in Dublin is actually drier than May in Manchester, Leeds, Cardiff and Birmingham. Slightly wetter than London, Newcastle, Southampton and Nottingham.

bill66

Royale with Cheese wrote: »

Does it rain anymore in Dublin than it does in some of the English test venue cities?

2015 annual rainfall

London 592mm
Birmingham 681mm
Manchester 829mm

Dublin 878mm

Beasty

Manchester has a reputation for rain but having lived for nearly 30 years there and over 10 here, I think the weather in Dublin is typically worse and the quality of wicket required for test cricket is probably quite a bit higher than we are used to in Ireland

Test grounds in England and Wales have invested quite a lot over the past decade or two, and typically have much improved drainage systems meaning they can resume quicker after a rain break. I suspect there is simply not going to be the money to match those standards and we probably will find more and longer interruptions.

Conchir

RTE reporting that Malahide will host the test from the 11th to the 15th May.

TrueDub

Bought tickets this morning for the first 3 days.

Now to negotiate time away from home - good behaviour essential!

Conchir

Ticketmaster says they're unavailable due to technical issues with Cricket Ireland. I wonder if that's true, or if it's that they've sold out.

TrueDub

Conchir wrote: »

Ticketmaster says they're unavailable due to technical issues with Cricket Ireland. I wonder if that's true, or if it's that they've sold out.

There was a post on Facebook saying tech difficulties, and they'd be back up soon. They also said tickets that had already been bought were unaffected.

I'd be flabbergasted if any day other than Day 1 comes even close to selling out.

riffmongous

Fair play to Pakistan, they always seem open to playing us

Richard Hillman

Ticket purchased. Pimms and sunscreen ordered.

Conchir

Yep, problems with ticketmaster were momentary. Tickets purchased! Can't wait.

Skid X

It felt quite exciting buying tickets for an Ireland Test Match.

I never really thought it would happen, now it's very real!

StringerBell

Trying not to get too excited yet cause its so far away but this is really going to be one of those "I was there" moments for me. Cannot wait

Conchir

I thought of this earlier today when I found this from the last match I was at. I hope that, as it's an historic match, the tickets aren't just standard ticketmaster-style things. Something with a bit of style and unique artwork would be really nice to have afterwards. Obviously this is a pretty small thing in the wider context of the match, but I just think it's a good opportunity to go with something interesting.




Having said all that, I'll be happy when my tickets arrive regardless of what they look like. I'll be going to see Ireland play test cricket for feck sake

Inquitus

Aye I'll defo have to take the family to watch Day 1 or 2 of this in May, hope the weather decides to favour cricket.

s3rtvdbwfj81ch

Picked up two Day 2 Tickets, woohoo.

but1er

Picked up the family ticket, its not noted kids ticket or adult ticket, it just says GA tickets, works out at €18 a ticket. happy days.

Heisenburg81

TrueDub wrote: »

Bought tickets this morning for the first 3 days.

Now to negotiate time away from home - good behaviour essential!

Got one too but never received them.
Are they not sent via e mail?

Heisenburg81

Any idea if Sky will show it?
EIR sport coverage wouldnt be up to the same standard (IMO).

Conchir

Heisenburg81 wrote: »

Got one too but never received them.
Are they not sent via e mail?

When I purchased there was no email option, and match tickets are usually only posted out much closer to the event (in my experience).

Heisenburg81

Cant wait though.
Rain the main worry.
Must be over 50% of May ODIs rained off in this country.

Conchir

My tickets arrived in the post the other week. Getting closer!

maximoose

Hoping this weather holds out

I've never been to Malahide CC, will there be a bar?

TrueDub

maximoose wrote: »

Hoping this weather holds out

I've never been to Malahide CC, will there be a bar?

Definitely - and probably more than one.

Conchir

The ground is starting to shape up nicely: https://twitter.com/EVENTSinFingal/status/990500487203041280

Royale with Cheese

Are the leaving those stands up until after the T20 games?

Conchir

Another photo posted by Cricket Ireland today.

TrueDub

Some handy info for people attending:

http://www.cricketireland.ie/news/article/attending-the-test-match-here-are-the-faqs-you-should-read

Beasty

TrueDub wrote: »

Some handy info for people attending:

At least they are allowing rain gear in.....

Current forecast suggests afternoon showers on the first couple of days, but hopefully they will quickly blow over with gusts of getting on for 50 km/h forecast. Hopefully the forecast will improve over the next few days

Mysterypunter

Squad: William Porterfield (capt), Andy Balbirnie, Ed Joyce, Tyrone Kane, Andy McBrine, Tim Murtagh, Kevin O'Brien, Niall O'Brien (wk), Boyd Rankin, Nathan Smith, Paul Stirling, James Shannon, Stuart Thompson, Gary Wilson

Derco

Mysterypunter wrote: »

Squad: William Porterfield (capt), Andy Balbirnie, Ed Joyce, Tyrone Kane, Andy McBrine, Tim Murtagh, Kevin O'Brien, Niall O'Brien (wk), Boyd Rankin, Nathan Smith, Paul Stirling, James Shannon, Stuart Thompson, Gary Wilson

Surprised that Barry McCarthy didn't make the cut. Dockrell not so much

MeathOrient

TrueDub wrote: »

Some handy info for people attending:

http://www.cricketireland.ie/news/article/attending-the-test-match-here-are-the-faqs-you-should-read

Thanks for that, very useful.

No mention of whether umbrellas / golf umbrellas are permitted. I've just eMailed Cricket Ireland to for clarification.

Beasty

MeathOrient wrote: »

Thanks for that, very useful.

No mention of whether umbrellas / golf umbrellas are permitted. I've just eMailed Cricket Ireland to for clarification.

I would be surprised if not given they are a regular feature of test cricket in E&W

They should not obstruct anyone's view as if it's raining enough to need them there's unlikely to be any play going on

Anyway I've talked enough about rain - I'm expecting a glorious sunny day on Friday...

Royale with Cheese

Would have been a great weekend for a test match...

Heisenburg81

Royale with Cheese wrote: »

Would have been a great weekend for a test match...

Looking at forecast for Friday - Not good. What a balls of a country for weather

ollie103

Not a great forecast but we should get some play. Hopefully most of the rain comes overnight...