Irish Cricket 2023

This is not going well at all, for all his hype has Josh Little ever actually won a game for Ireland? Today would be a good time to change that!

The most frustrating thing about Irish cricket is, if Oman win today, and they are crusiing to it, nothing, absolutely nothing will change about the team. Balbirnie could go 50 innings without crossing double figures and he'd still play. Ireland have regressed massively under his watch. Little could go wicketless until 2030 and still play every game he wants to play. If Ireland bomb out of this qualifier 9/10 of the team will play the the next ODI. They'll fiddle around with a spinner here or there, but the spine stays the same regardless of form.

Look at the way the sport is run. I keep saying it but cricket is the worst run sport in Ireland. Look at the selectors and coaching staff, all ex Irish players. Jobs for the boys, where's the fresh faces. They bring in Hauritz as a spin coach and don't bring him on any tours. You hire Ford, Malan etc as coaches but don't let them bring in their own coaching staff how does that work? There's never any innovation. Eagleson and Jones must have had 8/9 different positions between them at this stage. Any chance they can change that up a bit, maybe a few fresh faces. Once Stirling retires he'll be the batting coach a week later.

This team are not used to winning. They don't know how to. Where's the innovation there? When was the last tri series in Ireland against an associate? Probably five years ago. It doesn't matter who you beat winning is habit. Get Scotland and Holland over every summer for a tri series. They're desperate for games to. Win some games, the interpros are pointless, the reason the likes of Ben White get smashed in games is because no one knows how good they are and they get found out on the big stage. There's no breeding ground for young players, they're constantly thrown in at the dee end to sink or swim. Unfortunately most will sink. Will Holdsworth change and invest here, no not a chance he will. He'll chnage nothing and just blindly hope a miracle happens and we magically get good.

Ireland are a full member acting like an associate. They're being outclassed by Oman, this isn't luck Oman are better than them. Based on today I think there's a very good chance they lose every game in this qualifier. Will anything change if they do?

Massive mistake picking Ben White, and it proves my earlier point. They don't know how good he is because CI haven't organised enough games to see him play. Now on his ODI debut he's being picked apart! He had to sink or swim today and under pressure he has sunk unfortunately.

I really can't see how Balbirnie recovers from this, this is as humiliating a performance as Ireland have ever put in. Whatever about getting beaten by Oman in a low scorer, on a slow dusty middle east track, they've just cruised past a a 280 total without any trouble. Ireland have been completely outplayed in every aspect of the game.

Go read cricinfo and see how many Irish wickets were soft shots caught in the deep, look at how often these shots were at crucial times. What the hell does the batting coach do?

That bowling attack wouldn't defend 600. Bowling coach obviously earns his money.........

As for the captaincy......... Why did Delaney play? White and McBrine were getting smashed and he doesn't bowl a single delivery. There's no innovation in the field, no leadership, he's the worst captain I've ever seen at international level. Maybe if he gives up the captaincy he can work more on his batting which has fallen off a cliff. Wait for his customary, 'we're a bit disappointed but we've plenty to learn and work on' interview after the this.

If he doesn't go after this debacle CI have no interest in being a competitive team. But I fully expect him to be captaining from no in Sept against England. In fact nine of todays team will play.

Test playing by default not ability