Ireland For Test Status?

[Furball]

Only in rugby union and cricket am I aware of any team perporting to represent the in-reality-non-existent "country" that is Ireland.

Most sports pre-partition were run from Dublin, and the status quo has remained post partition.

Football is the most notable exception, as the Irish Football Association, which ran the game in Ireland pre-partition, was based in Belfast. Post-partition, the FAI was formed in Dublin, and those teams who played south of the border resigned from the IFA and re-aligned themselves with the FAI.

I'm fairly certain most sports in Ireland are run on a national level as an "all-Ireland" entity.

 

[GIMH]

They also compete as Ireland in Hurling, Golf, Baseball, Gaelic Football & Hockey.

After reading up it really does seem like there's only football where the North-South divide comes into play. So cricket would be breaking from the norm if it were to absorb Ireland into the England team.

 

[BoyBrumby]

They also compete as Ireland in Hurling, Golf, Baseball, Gaelic Football & Hockey.

After reading up it really does seem like there's only football where the North-South divide comes into play. So cricket would be breaking from the norm if it were to absorb Ireland into the England team.

Do they? Guys like Clarke & McIlroy are usually listed as being from Northern Ireland in tournaments.

 

[GIMH]

Ah I dunno, it was from Wiki so I'll trust someone who actually watches golf

 

[BoyBrumby]

Ah I dunno, it was from Wiki so I'll trust someone who actually watches golf

Slander!

Majors & Ryder only and only v few holes then.

You could be right tho, after looking up Clarke on Wiki it turns out he's played for "Ireland" in the world cup of golf.

 

[GIMH]

Another thing I've read on this subject is that the legal name of what we generally call the ROI is actually Ireland. So there actually is a country called Ireland anyhow. The Irish Supreme Court actually rejected an extradition warrant in 1989 because it used the name "Republic of Ireland".

 

[GIMH]

Slander!

Majors & Ryder only and only v few holes then.

You could be right tho, after looking up Clarke on Wiki it turns out he's played for "Ireland" in the world cup of golf.

I would guess that in the WC and team events they play as Ireland but when playing individually they represent NI/ROI, don't the Brits represent England/Scotland/Wales?

 

[BoyBrumby]

I would guess that in the WC and team events they play as Ireland but when playing individually they represent NI/ROI, don't the Brits represent England/Scotland/Wales?

Looks like we play as England, Scotland & Wales.

 

[GIMH]

fair one. Gotta say, I've seen some threads go off-topic, but to go from whether Ireland deserve test status to the WC of golf is some going

 

[Richard]

They also compete as Ireland in Hurling, Golf, Baseball, Gaelic Football & Hockey.

After reading up it really does seem like there's only football where the North-South divide comes into play. So cricket would be breaking from the norm if it were to absorb Ireland into the England team.

I'd always thought Irish golfers also competed as NI\ROI too TBH. And hurling and gaelic football are, well... Irish sports in themselves. Fair point about the hockey though, I'd never actually taken note of that. As for baseball, well... does anyone really care who competes as what in that? I'd always thought it was an American sport that virtually nowhere other than the US had serious numbers playing it.

 

[fredfertang]

I'd always thought Irish golfers also competed as NI\ROI too TBH. And hurling and gaelic football are, well... Irish sports in themselves. Fair point about the hockey though, I'd never actually taken note of that. As for baseball, well... does anyone really care who competes as what in that? I'd always thought it was an American sport that virtually nowhere other than the US had serious numbers playing it.

The Ryder Cup was originally between the US and "GB & Ireland", as in all Ireland, but I'm pretty sure there have been separate NI/ROI teams in other golf events

 

[Kweek]

given the more(say what?! MUCH MORE) improved infrastructure and not being a 3rd world country, if it happend(test status), I think everyone would make sure it would not be another Bangladesh.

 

[BoyBrumby]

given the more(say what?! MUCH MORE) improved infrastructure and not being a 3rd world country, if it happend(test status), I think everyone would make sure it would not be another Bangladesh.

If the ECB took the broader view for once and gave Ireland an FC spot I reckon they could be holding their own in a decade or so.

Not without precedent either; Rhodesia played in the old Currie Cup and New Zealand teams play in both the NRL & A-League.

 

[Goughy]

If the ECB took the broader view for once and gave Ireland an FC spot I reckon they could be holding their own in a decade or so.

Not without precedent either; Rhodesia played in the old Currie Cup and New Zealand teams play in both the NRL & A-League.

The probelm with that is that FC cricket loses money. The ECB may give Ireland an opportunity but it cant give it a 1/19th share of revenue in order to stay afloat. Unfair on other counties.

Also, the Ireland FC team would see money leached away with kolpaks (if allowed still), EU passport holders and overseas players. Basically FC cricket would lose money and the money spent would be heavy on imports.

FC would take money out of the Irish game and hinder development. Money would be in short supply and it would be leaving the Irish game when previously it would have been spent internally.

The Intercontinental is a good option for FC cricket for a team made of all Irish players.

Maybe a T20 offer.

 

[Kweek]

not sure if Ireland is willing..it would make Irish players draft into the test squad of the English haha

 

[four_or_six]

There would be quite a lot of imports in the team. Hamish Marshall is playing for Glos on an Irish passport at the moment for example...

 

[Prince EWS]

There would be quite a lot of imports in the team. Hamish Marshall is playing for Glos on an Irish passport at the moment for example...

He'll probably turn out for Ireland in the next World Cup then.

 

[BoyBrumby]

The probelm with that is that FC cricket loses money. The ECB may give Ireland an opportunity but it cant give it a 1/19th share of revenue in order to stay afloat. Unfair on other counties.

Also, the Ireland FC team would see money leached away with kolpaks (if allowed still), EU passport holders and overseas players. Basically FC cricket would lose money and the money spent would be heavy on imports.

FC would take money out of the Irish game and hinder development. Money would be in short supply and it would be leaving the Irish game when previously it would have been spent internally.

The Intercontinental is a good option for FC cricket for a team made of all Irish players.

Maybe a T20 offer.

Fair points.

Have to be honest tho, counties like Leicestershire & Northants are jam packed with Kolpaks and EU-passport holders and if they aren't turning a profit they're also leaching money out of the English game. Including Ireland might not be fair on them, but if they're a net drain anyway should it matter all that much? Plus, of course, there's the age-old argument that we have too many counties. I think 15, including an Irish county, would be plenty.

What I meant by taking the broader view is that if the ECB supported Ireland (rather than nicking their best players) they would have a ready-made voting ally in the test arena were the Irish to gain test status a few years down the line. Short-term financial loss for potential longer term gain.

 

[GIMH]

All through the thread I've thought, "Brumby's 1/16 Irishness is really showing through here" (I guessed the figure btw!) then I get to end and realise it's all party of a cynical plan to dfeat the Asian bloc in ICC votes!

 

[superkingdave]

Yeah, the ICC could part fund an Ireland FC team as well.

Say if England were to introduce a policy of not picking Irish players, they would still be paying incentive payments to counties for playing the Irish players as they are 'england qualified'.

There also keeps being an argument that the counties should release the Irish players for things like the intercontinental cup etc, but if the ICC makes a ruling, it would probably result in less chance for Irish players to get county contracts.

Am in favour of a Irish team in the CC, they can replace Yorkshi*e

No seriously, One of, Gloucestershire, Northants, Leicestershire, Worcestershire, Somerset or Derbyshire to go (perhaps 3 or 4 itbt)

Maybe end up with 3 or 4 Northern (Yorks, Lancs, Durham possibly Derbyshire), 5 or 6 Midlands (Notts, Warks, Glamorgan & 2/3 others), 2 London & 4 Southern (Essex, Kent, Sussex, Hampshire) & Ireland

16 teams, two divs but have a final as well. Bring back a proper knock out cup, one 50 over league and twenty20's