Ireland's chances

[Loony BoB]

Thing is, Ireland is part of The British Isles.

Would a Jamaican refuse to play for West Indies because of national pride?

That makes no sense whatsoever, considering The British Isles do not have a cricket team - as others have mentioned.

So again, my point is still left alone. What if Joyce decided to stay with Ireland? How much would Ireland benefit? Would it not make much of a difference, or, if Irish players stuck with their original side, would Ireland have a better chance of improving over the years? Or will Ireland benefit more for players going to England, showing their youth they have an opportunity if they want to play for the 'other side'?

 

[Beleg]

I guess Ireland will cop a real hiding in all of their remaining games; their batting just isn't good enough.

 

[Richard]

I wonder if you'd dare go to Southern Ireland and say similar things?

That's just geographical fact. Republic Of Ireland IS part of the British Isles. The British Isles, however, is a geographical, not political, term.

And it's also mildly patronising to Irish to suggest there's such vehement hate of UK countries. Ireland is not a different universe.

 

[Richard]

That makes no sense whatsoever, considering The British Isles do not have a cricket team - as others have mentioned.

They do, and always have. It's just a historical misnomer that it's called "England".

So again, my point is still left alone. What if Joyce decided to stay with Ireland? How much would Ireland benefit? Would it not make much of a difference, or, if Irish players stuck with their original side, would Ireland have a better chance of improving over the years? Or will Ireland benefit more for players going to England, showing their youth they have an opportunity if they want to play for the 'other side'?

It would never happen - most Irishmen who're good enough tend to want to play a high level of cricket, so they play in county cricket.

 

[Loony BoB]

And again you avoid the actual question by saying it wouldn't happen! Bah.

And I don't care what anyone says, Ireland is most certainly not a part of England.

 

[Richard]

No, it's not, but it is a part of The British Isles.

 

[Loony BoB]

Rephrase time.

I don't care what anyone says, being part of the British Isles does not mean being a part of England.

 

[Richard]

So? What does that matter? No-one said it was.

 

[Loony BoB]

You said the English team was actually the British Isles team. I disagree, and believe that if an Irishman is born in Ireland, has ancestry 100% tied to Ireland and lives his life in Ireland, he is unable to play for England. That might be rare, but it shows that England is not the team of the British Isles. There is no misnomer.

And back to the original point - again!

What if Joyce decided to stay with Ireland? How much would Ireland benefit? Would it not make much of a difference, or, if Irish players stuck with their original side, would Ireland have a better chance of improving over the years? Or will Ireland benefit more for players going to England, showing their youth they have an opportunity if they want to play for the 'other side'?

Forget England exists for once and stop trying to be difficult.

 

[Richard]

You said the English team was actually the British Isles team. I disagree, and believe that if an Irishman is born in Ireland, has ancestry 100% tied to Ireland and lives his life in Ireland, he is unable to play for England. That might be rare, but it shows that England is not the team of the British Isles. There is no misnomer.

The England team isn't the British Isles team - the team being called "England" is nothing more than a historical misnomer. Throughout cricket history, people from all over The UK and Ireland have played in and for the team known as "England". Heck, I've never had any qualm calling the England team my own, yet who do I support in the rugby, etc.? Wales! Because I'm 3\4 Welsh and 1\4 English. But for me, being British is all that really matters. I don't like the defense of separatism - it seems to me to be rooted in the past. I'm a Euro-enthusiast, personally.

And back to the original point - again!

What if Joyce decided to stay with Ireland? How much would Ireland benefit? Would it not make much of a difference, or, if Irish players stuck with their original side, would Ireland have a better chance of improving over the years? Or will Ireland benefit more for players going to England, showing their youth they have an opportunity if they want to play for the 'other side'?

Forget England exists for once and stop trying to be difficult.

Ireland won't benefit. Irish players will benefit by playing for a county. That do you?

 

[Loony BoB]

Irish players do not qualify for England until they have permanent residency and/or citizenship in the UK. You have to live in the UK for four years to obtain permanent residency - I should know, I've done it. Ed Joyce played for Ireland until July 2005 when he completed his residency. Look at his Cricinfo profile or Wikipedia to back that up.

 

[Richard]

That's only since Ireland were made an Associate. Before then, Irishmen qualified for The British Isles automatically.

 

[Prince EWS]

That's only since Ireland were made an Associate. Before then, Irishmen qualified for The British Isles automatically.

They probably still do.




What a shame the British Isles don't have a cricket team.

 

[Richard]

I$C$C have indeed put a stop to such a thing.

Let's hope it's only temporary.