2011 Cricket World Cup - Ireland

[Sam Lord]

Well the 2011 Cricket World Cup is fast approaching so I thought it appropriate to start a thread. I made it to the last World Cup but alas the Indian sub-continent is a bit of a stretch in these recessionary times so I will be watching this one on TV.

Ireland, as you all know, is one of 14 countries to qualify for the finals. So, well done Ireland for a start.

The 14 teams are split into two groups. The teams in each group play each other in a League and the top 4 teams from each Group progress to the quarter finals. So Ireland is guaranteed 6 games.

The Groups are:

Group A

Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbawe, Canada, Kenya.

Group B

Bangladesh, England, India, South Africa, West Indies, Ireland, Netherlands.

Ireland, imo, ended up in the much tougher Group. To progress to the quarter finals it will be necessary to displace one of England, India, South Africa, or the West Indies. If we do end up ahead of one of these big guns the most likely, imo, is the West Indies.

Irelands Schedule is:

25/2 v. Bangladesh
02/03 v. England
06/03 v. India
11/03 v. West Indies
15/03 v. South Africa
18/03 v. Netherlands

No St. Patricks Day game this time around, unfortunately.

The opening Game is in Bangladesh as far as I can make out while the rest are in India. Two down south in Bangalore, two up in the North East in Kolkata near the Bangladesh border and the final game back in the south in Chennai.

I note that the Irish squad contains Ed Joyce, Irish born and bred but who switched his allegiance to England in 2005. Joyce announced his intention last May to resume playing for Ireland and was last month granted special dispensation to play for Ireland in the World Cup by the International Cricket Council.

This is, I guess, good for Ireland in that Joyce is a fine batsman but I wonder what readers make of all the switching. If it was up to me I would not have him.

[Ah Well]

I note that the Irish squad contains Ed Joyce, Irish born and bred but who switched his allegiance to England in 2005. Joyce announced his intention last May to resume playing for Ireland and was last month granted special dispensation to play for Ireland in the World Cup by the International Cricket Council.

This is, I guess, good for Ireland in that Joyce is a fine batsman but I wonder what readers make of all the switching. If it was up to me I would not have him.

Looking forward to it myself ... not an expert by any means but just possessing a basic knowledge of the game I guess

Been great to see the success story of Irish cricket re results in recent years and it seems to have been reasonably well received ...

My own take on Joyce is if it works to the advantage of Ireland particularly in this World Cup, that might help in achieving success, more exposure and support/interest from the Irish public and that is prob a good thing, whatever about the musical chairs by Joyce ...

[Sam Lord]

My own take on Joyce is if it works to the advantage of Ireland particularly in this World Cup, that might help in achieving success, more exposure and support/interest from the Irish public and that is prob a good thing, whatever about the musical chairs by Joyce ...

Good points.

[Ah Well]

Good points.

Just imagine .... if we managed to beat England in the World Cup and Joyce starred

Ahhhh .... from dreams comes potential reality

[antiestablishmentarian]

There are a couple of potential good results there for Ireland. They could definitely beat the Netherlands and Bangladesh, while SA and the Windies aren't unbeatable by any means.

[Dublin Dilettante]

They got their arses handed to them on a tour of Bangladesh a couple of years ago. Playing them at home very different to doing so in the Caribbean or Ireland. Ireland have a Test scalp in them, though.

I expect the team to be:

Porterfield
Stirling
Niall O'Brien+
Joyce
Kevin O'Brien
White
Mooney
Cusack
Johnston*
Rankin
Dockrell

Not a bad team, but on a bad day the tail begins at 5. Mooney is in the team purely to forestall total collapses, which he does very well. McCallan will be sorely missed, his control and parsimony is capable of tying down even top-class Test batsmen.

[Sam Lord]

They got their arses handed to them on a tour of Bangladesh a couple of years ago. Playing them at home very different to doing so in the Caribbean or Ireland.

Yes. It sucks that we play them in Dhaka.

Ireland have a Test scalp in them, though.

The Windies are capable of choking to anyone these days ..

I expect the team to be:

Porterfield
Stirling
Niall O'Brien+
Joyce
Kevin O'Brien
White
Mooney
Cusack
Johnston*
Rankin
Dockrell

Not a bad team, but on a bad day the tail begins at 5. Mooney is in the team purely to forestall total collapses, which he does very well. McCallan will be sorely missed, his control and parsimony is capable of tying down even top-class Test batsmen.

Squad announced yesterday ...

http://www.rte.ie/sport/cricket/2011/0119/ireland.html

[Captain Con O'Sullivan]

No Tony Cascarino ... damn ... but to the OP this could be a nice thread alright. I think Ireland can beat most of the group on a good day but can't see them handling England or India on present form

The interesting thing is though that both England and India could have a wobbler as they are not the most consistent sides so it could get funky with a surprise win over England.

[Ah Well]

Good Article by Joyce

http://www.rte.ie/sport/cricket/2011/0218/joycee.html

[Slim Buddha]

Well the 2011 Cricket World Cup is fast approaching so I thought it appropriate to start a thread. I made it to the last World Cup but alas the Indian sub-continent is a bit of a stretch in these recessionary times so I will be watching this one on TV.

Ireland, as you all know, is one of 14 countries to qualify for the finals. So, well done Ireland for a start.

The 14 teams are split into two groups. The teams in each group play each other in a League and the top 4 teams from each Group progress to the quarter finals. So Ireland is guaranteed 6 games.

The Groups are:

Group A

Australia, New Zealand, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Zimbawe, Canada, Kenya.

Group B

Bangladesh, England, India, South Africa, West Indies, Ireland, Netherlands.

Ireland, imo, ended up in the much tougher Group. To progress to the quarter finals it will be necessary to displace one of England, India, South Africa, or the West Indies. If we do end up ahead of one of these big guns the most likely, imo, is the West Indies.

Irelands Schedule is:

25/2 v. Bangladesh
02/03 v. England
06/03 v. India
11/03 v. West Indies
15/03 v. South Africa
18/03 v. Netherlands

No St. Patricks Day game this time around, unfortunately.

The opening Game is in Bangladesh as far as I can make out while the rest are in India. Two down south in Bangalore, two up in the North East in Kolkata near the Bangladesh border and the final game back in the south in Chennai.

I note that the Irish squad contains Ed Joyce, Irish born and bred but who switched his allegiance to England in 2005. Joyce announced his intention last May to resume playing for Ireland and was last month granted special dispensation to play for Ireland in the World Cup by the International Cricket Council.

This is, I guess, good for Ireland in that Joyce is a fine batsman but I wonder what readers make of all the switching. If it was up to me I would not have him.

I think that, since this is not a sport where we have a long history of achievement, Joyce's decision to play for Ireland should be welcomed. It obviously means something to him to play for his country. Before 2007, most people in Ireland probably didn't know we had an international cricket team. Joyce's decision in 2005 was most likely prompted by the logical actions of a top sportsman seeking the best opportunity to play at the highest level. The International Cricket Council probably saw Joyce's return to Ireland as a way to popularise the sport in Ireland. I haven't heard anything negative about his return from the others in the Irish squad.

So, as far as I can see, we are not in a "Stephen Ireland situation" with this. I think, Sam, that in this situation, everybody wins.

[moss]

I'm a bit put out by the Joyce saga.

Yeah I know how international cricket works with plenty of imports for other teams, and this isn't even an anti english rant or that he chose to be a traitor with those scum (i jest)

I just feel that if he has previously declared for england that he should stick to that. If he's not good enough for them now then tough.

He is depriving another player the chance to represent Ireland at the world cup and that is my only gripe really.
It's not as if his new found patriotism will help Ireland win the thing. We've no chance.
It's pure self interest.

Looking forward to the world cup though.

[Sam Lord]

First game: India made a huge score. Bangladesh not without spirit in reply ... bouyed on by a hugely enthusiastic home crowd. Does not bode well for Ireland v. Bangladesh.

Current Score

India 370/4 (50 ov)

Bangladesh 264/6 (45.0 ov)

Bangladesh require another 107 runs with 4 wickets and 30 balls remaining
Bangladesh RR 5.86
Batting PP 19/2 (3.0) RR 6.33
Last 5 ovs 28/2 RR 5.60
Required RR 21.40
India RR 7.40

[Ah Well]

First game: India made a huge score. Bangladesh not without spirit in reply ... bouyed on by a hugely enthusiastic home crowd. Does not bode well for Ireland v. Bangladesh.

Current Score

India 370/4 (50 ov)

Bangladesh 264/6 (45.0 ov)

Bangladesh require another 107 runs with 4 wickets and 30 balls remaining
Bangladesh RR 5.86
Batting PP 19/2 (3.0) RR 6.33
Last 5 ovs 28/2 RR 5.60
Required RR 21.40
India RR 7.40

Think you're right ... massive score by India and the effort by Bangladesh is decent too ...

[Sam Lord]

I phoned my television company yesterday and bought the package for all the games for $200 ... forgetting entirely about the time difference between here and the Indian sub continent.

Today's game started at 3.00 a.m. here.

Not sure how much value I will be getting from that purchase.

[Sam Lord]

Canada plays Sri Lanka tonight ... lol. Go Canada !

I think the last time they met in the World Cup Canada scored something like 38.