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Cricket Ireland President Robin Walsh pens the very latest from the camp in the Caribbean as the preparations for three big games against the West Indies this week are nearly complete.
MID AIR: FEB 16, 2014:

On the “red-eye” to Kingston from Port of Spain, the excitement of three games against the West Indies in Jamaica ahead of us, the disappointment of below par performances in Trinidad behind us. A reminder of the latter is to be found on this first leg of the flight to Barbados on which the triumphant Bajan side – Fidel Edwards, Sulieman Benn et al – are carrying home the Nagico Super 50 Trophy.

Ireland may have lost two of their three group games in the tournament and one of their two practice games against a Trinidad & Tobago XI yet the experience has been invaluable. When Ed Joyce meets up in Kingston in a few hours time, the entire 15-strong playing squad bound for the T20 World Cup in Bangladesh next month will be together. The two T20s and one ODI at Sabina Park will be huge preparation.

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It’s been a rare privilege to enjoy Trinidad in the company of one of its favourite sons, Phil Simmons, and there must be a tinge of sadness as he now flies away from the island on the way to Kingston.

It’s been two years since the Ireland national coach was last home when he received a special award as one of the island’s top 50 cricketers of all time, an occasion that marked the 50th anniversary of the country’s independence. Bit like the return of the prodigal, greeted warmly wherever he goes and not least at the Queen’s Park Oval where he honed his skills as an all-rounder of international repute. There’s no escaping it, even on this flight ……. Jeffrey Dujon who kept wicket to him and has been commentating on the ESPN television coverage of the Super 50 gives him the warmest of greetings, Courtney Walsh has just hopped on the plane at Antigua bound for his native Jamaica and does likewise.

Phil’s two brothers and sister may have emigrated to Canada, but mum continues to draw her children back to the island. Mrs Simmons senior is a widow now in her 91st year and follows the fortunes of the Ireland team as fervently as anyone.

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But one member of the Simmons’ family will not be sharing hopes of Ireland success over the next seven days. Phil’s cousin Lendl Simmons is in the West Indies squad for the two T20s (Wednesday and Friday) and Sunday’s ODI and he was a member of the Trinidad & Tobago side which lost to Barbados in the Super 50 final For once Phil will be hoping not to see too much of him in the middle.

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Not too long to Kingston now and memories being revived for many of us of Ireland’s heroics at Sabina Park in the World Cup of 2007: the tie against Zimbabwe and the historic win over Pakistan which took Ireland to the last eight. Niall O’Brien remembers the Pakistan game every time he pulls on his Ireland shirt. His number 72 was the score he posted to win the match. And there will be special memories for the coach. It was his introduction to Irish cricket as he shadowed the retiring coach of the day, Adrian Birrell, now the assistant coach to his native South African side. People said it would be impossible to follow “Adi“ but, as we all now know, .Mr Simmons has a habit of proving folk wrong.

Niall O’Brien looks right at home in the Caribbean © WICB

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The garden of Dr. Ramesh P Mathura’s spacious home in Port of Spain is ideal for entertaining given its well stocked bar, swimming pool and the exotic sounds of a Caribbean night. And considering the background of one of the leading physician/surgeons in Trinidad it was inevitable that most of a delightful evening was spent chatting about all things Irish – particularly cricket.

Ramesh just happens to have played for the two oldest clubs in Ireland. He joined Phoenix when he was qualifying from the Royal College of Surgeons in Dublin and remembers well Stan Mitchell and Mike Halliday; later it was rubbing shoulders with the likes of Cecil Walker and the late Dermott Monteith in Lisburn when he was at the Royal Victoria and City hospitals in Belfast. In between it was Brigade in Derry/Londonderry during a stint at Altnagelvin Hospital and a friendship with Ireland manager Roy Torrens which has now been renewed in his expansive garden.

To say that Ramesh has fond memories of Ireland would be something of an understatement. He’s been back home in Trinidad for many years now but his reflections of a professional and social life both north and south spoke of a huge regard for the country and the folk he befriended within medical and cricketing circles. Little wonder his middle name is Patrick. Honest.

Cricket Ireland
Paul Stirling has hit form in the warm ups © WICB
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