Ireland Aiming For Test Status By 2020

Ireland Aiming For Test Status By 2020

Ireland are aiming to be playing Test cricket by 2020

©REUTERS / Action Images

Cricket Ireland have revealed a strategic plan outlining their ambition to be playing Test cricket by 2020 and put into a place a number of new initiatives.

Over the next three years, they aim to increase participation levels, rise to at least eighth in the One-Day International rankings and set up a first-class domestic structure.

The lack of a domestic first-class structure would currently prohibit Ireland playing Test cricket and Cricket Ireland is bidding to make cricket the fourth major team sport in Ireland. It currently lies behind Gaelic football, soccer, rugby and hurling.

"We have set ourselves a very clear long-term ambition - to become a full Test Nation by 2020, nothing less," Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom said.

"This is not a dreamy aspiration but a real ambition founded on the playing talent being developed on this island, the growing passion and profile of the game here, a sustained and proven track record of achievement on and off the field, and a clear roadmap set out by us for how to get there."

Additionally, coach Phil Simmons has been awarded a two-year contract extension which will see him continue in his role until at least the end of the 2015 World Cup qualification period in 2013.

"I have enjoyed every minute of my involvement with the Irish set up since I came on board in 2007. We have achieved great things so far but there is far more to come," Simmons said.

Furthermore, Ireland have offered central contracts to a record 23 players with 12 players earning Grade A or B contracts and 11 on Grade C contracts.

Simmons added: "A key part of our success to date has been the move to professionalism. With so many players on full or part time contracts we now have a structure supporting the Senior squad as well as our succession planning to make sure we can maintain our competitiveness on the International stage."

As they bid to increase participation to a level of 50,000 active cricketers by 2015, Cricket Ireland is introducing a number of grass roots initiatives, to encourage people to take up the sport and support club cricket in the country, including national awards, a National Cup, a 'Get Into Cricket' scheme and the establishment of Regional Academies to develop players between the ages of 15 and 19.

"Our commitment to the game at the Grass Roots level will hopefully make a real difference on the ground," Deutrom added.

"We wanted to increase our support to give as much attention to the domestic game as we have to the International teams in the last four years."
 
Cricket Ireland Performance Director Richard Holdsworth commented: "Our strategic plan has set out a strong focus on strengthening the game from the bottom up. We have seen what we have achieved with the International team – we now hope to deliver equally impressive results with the growth of the game locally."

Cricket Ireland centrally contracted players

Grade A: Trent Johnston, Alex Cusack, Kevin O'Brien, John Mooney

Grade B: William Porterfield, Niall O'Brien, Paul Stirling, George Dockrell, Gary Wilson, Boyd Rankin, Ed Joyce, Andrew White

Grade C: Albert van der Merwe, Nigel Jones, Max Sorensen, Shane Getkate, James Shannon, Stuart Thompson, Andrew Poynter, Andrew Balbirnie, Tom Fisher, Peter Connell, Rory McCann

© Cricket World 2012