VIEWPOINT – Time to get our World Cup back

With the utterly callous decision of reducing the number of teams to just ten in the 2019 World Cup finalised, it is now or never for the Associate nations to show what they are capable of. It is time for them to give a performance so strong that it mortifies the ICC and sparks […]

SPECIALS – Top five World Cup performances by Irish batsmen

Ireland took the cricket world by storm with their giant-killing feats in the 2007 and 2011 World Cups. Victories over Test nations such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and England made the plucky Irishmen household names in the cricketing fraternity. As the 2015 edition beckons, there are similar expectations from the leading Associate nation to make […]

IN FOCUS – Scotland look to impress on World Cup return

After two winless tournaments in 1999 and 2007, a much-improved Scotland have their best chance to register a maiden win in the World Cup in the 2015 edition. Here is a look at the World Cup history and prospects of the current third-best Associate nation in the upcoming World Cup. World Cup history […]

VIEWPOINT – Ireland can pack a serious punch Down Under

Ireland have named their 15-man squad for the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup to be held in Australia and New Zealand next month. The squad will be the same as the one which is currently in the United Arab Emirates for a triangular series with Afghanistan and Scotland. A look at the squad […]

REVIEW – Barramundis announce themselves on the ODI scene

Papua New Guinea’s spirited cricketers created history in Townsville as they became the first team to win their first two One-Day International matches. The Barramundis, as they are known, beat Hong Kong 2-0 in their maiden ODI series at the Tony Ireland Stadium, Australia’s newest international venue. Hong Kong and Papua New Guinea […]

IN FOCUS – Finally some international cricket for Ireland

It is a quite a shame that Ireland’s upcoming three home one-day internationals against Scotland at Malahide (Dublin) are their only ones scheduled before the World Cup, which is still five months away. Ireland’s most recent ODI was back in May, and before that, in February. The matches are set to be played […]

Specials – Northern Ireland’s Commonwealth moment

Cricket has been part of the Commonwealth Games only once, i.e in 1998 in Kuala Lampur, the Malaysian capital. Sixteen countries took part in the event, consisting of 50-over-a-side List A matches. Among the teams was Northern Ireland, who qualified by virtue of being a Commonwealth nation. The Ireland cricket team has always been […]

VIEWPOINT – Which is the best World Cup format?

The ongoing football World Cup in Brazil has caught the attention of the world, and the excitement among fanatics of the game will only increase as the semi-final round beckons. The tournament has been a big success and people from countries with barely any football culture are also hooked on to the games. […]

Viewpoint – The Munster question

My friends know I have a fridge magnet at home, bearing the legend, ‘ Everyone is entitled to my opinion.’ So when Rustom invited me to do a piece on Irish cricket… I didn’t take a great deal of persuading. You need a few bits of background about me to get the drift […]

Specials – Netherlands’ best T20 wins

The Associate participation in the 2014 World Twenty20 ended three days ago after the Netherlands played their last game, defeating England by 45 runs in what has to be the Oranje’s most convincing international win over a full member. The only Associate in the Super 10 stage, the Netherlands had a roller-coaster of a […]