*Official*Ireland tour to Afghanistan Feb-Mar 2024

[mackembhoy]

Amazing stuff!

Congratulations to Ireland

 

[BoyBrumby]

Yeah, fair play to the Micks. Got there a lot quicker than NZ, anyway!

 

[Ashes81]

Excellent knock from the skipper to see Ireland home.

Really big win and well deserved.

 

[Red_Ink_Squid]

'Grats Ireland!

 

[Bijed]

Brilliant from Ireland!

And Balbirnie too - he's been pretty underwhelming in tests, but this was not only a good innings but the most important individual innings for Ireland in tests so far

 

[Aidan11]

Well done Ireland. First test win.

 

[Aidan11]

 

[honestbharani]

Wish they could play a 3 test series. Maybe even 4 day tests.

 

[mackembhoy]

Wish they could play a 3 test series. Maybe even 4 day tests.

Costs too much for everyone outside the big 3 to put on tests. Hence the 2 match series galore we see.

Big 3 the only nations that play more than 3 tests and generally sides only play 3 tests when playing the big 3.

 

[Ashes81]

View attachment 39452

Always knew NZ were shite

 

[ataraxia]

Always knew NZ were ****e

Indeed, we were shite.

(I'm actually shocked India and Bangladesh were almost as bad. To not record a test win for 26 years, even despite that genuinely good Donnelly/Cowie side, is faintly incredible.)

 

[Immenso]

Indeed, we were ****e.

(I'm actually shocked India and Bangladesh were almost as bad. To not record a test win for 26 years, even despite that genuinely good Donnelly/Cowie side, is faintly incredible.)

In terms of the Donnelly/Cowie sides. NZ didn't play anyone other than England (plus 1 v Aus) for their first 22 tests and first 21 years except for 2 tests v South Africa. Including an 8 years gap of zero tests around WW2.

Took us 22 years to first start playing our peers (those given test status about the same time as us, Windies and India).

But, yeah we were shite.

Edit. Actually. just looking at that a bit deeper. Only lost 7 of those first 22 tests, and drew 15.
It was actually by the 1950s when NZ should have built on that 'OKish' start from the 30s and 40s that things got really bad.

Anyway. Congrats to Ireland. Watched a fair bit of the match on youtube stream. Was a surprisingly fun UAE pitch. I thought Ireland were going to get the wobbles in tat chase at one point.

 

[Aidan11]

ODI match abandoned without a ball bowled. Presumably due to the weather. BBC website doesn't give a reason.

 

[Aidan11]

This is terrible from Ireland.

 

[Aidan11]

And it got even worse.

Last 9 wickets falling for 42 runs.

 

[Aidan11]

Cant see Ireland getting a win today.

 

[Aidan11]

And they don't. 98 all out.