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Cricket Ireland President Robin Walsh gives us his latest update following his arrival back to Ireland after a memorable tour of the Caribbean with the Ireland squad.
CRAWFORDSBURN: FEBRUARY 27:

Back to porridge and cold at that: home to the last of a North Down winter, the heat of Jamaica and Trinidad but one of a host of pleasant memories.

I had ended my last diary just before setting off to Sabina Park in Kingston, hoping for a decent performance in the ODI to supplement the 1-1 T20 series. At various stages it looked a forlorn hope with a below par batting display (all out 202) and a West Indian opening stand of 100. But six wickets before the end brought respectability and the overall feeling that Ireland’s international reputation had suffered no damage.

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My overriding memory will be of excellent relations between the two countries both on and off the field. Shortly after the finale both sides were in the West Indies’ dressing room, sharing a beer and experiences. It was the sort of sportsmanship also evident out in the middle over all three games: if a fielder said he ball had carried, the batsman walked. I never cease to admire the bonding that exists within the Ireland squad and yet another example was to be found as the players relaxed on their return to the hotel. They spent the last night of their month long sojourn as a group, watching Premier League soccer on the television and generally enjoying each other’s company. It’s a team spirit they carry on to the field.

As it should be… Good weeks cricket at Sabina Park pic.twitter.com/YkuFWGQvjB

— Gary Wilson (@gwilson14) February 23, 2014

Gary Wilson’s tweet shows the two teams sharing a beer after the final match in Jamaica.

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I spent most of the day flitting between the West Indies Board box at the Courtney Walsh end the Jamaica Board box at the Michael Holding end. Lots of interesting people, none more so than the President of the Jamaica Olympic Association, Michael Fennell, just back from the Winter Olympics in Sochi Fascinating chat about why Jamaica has bred so many world sprint champions from Herb McKenley back in the 1940s through to Usain Bolt in London 2012. He suggested the adoption during colonial days of the old English school system of putting sport firmly on the curriculum was one reason; ironically a system now watered down in England. We didn’t linger as long on the subject of the Jamaican bobsleigh team!

Pictured with Courtney Walsh, Dave Cameron and West Indies ODI Captain, Dwayne Bravo

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Public words of thanks in both boxes. To the Jamaica Board and their President Wilford “Billy” Heaven I talked of their Sabina Park being Ireland’s second home: tied with Zimbabwe and defeated Pakistan in the 2007 World Cup; now the West Indies in 2014! Good fun. The same story at the West Indies box, hosted by their shrewd young President, Wycliffe “Dave” Cameron. During the three matches he had serious discussions on future fixtures with the chairman of Cricket Ireland, Ross McCollum, and Performance Director, Richard Holdsworth. In presenting a Cricket Ireland pen to President Cameron, I suggested he might use it when it comes to signing any future West Indies v Ireland contracts!

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Farewells at the Pegasus Hotel and pictures of the squad with Cork-born manager Peter Hilary and Stephen Haughey, the Belfast-born former chairman of the law firm A&L Goodbody and Cricket Ireland’s newest executive member.

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More farewells at Gatwick as the squad went their separate ways to Dublin, Belfast and various parts of England. But not for long: the 15 players and five backroom staff will meet again in a few days’ time to fly to Dubai for intensive training en route to the World T20 in Bangladesh. The first game against Zimbabwe on St Patrick’s Day will be one of the most important Ireland will play given the recent ICC deliberations on future structures. Rarely will a team be better prepared.

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Home and for much longer than the players. Will hope to be in Bangladesh on the eve of the first match with duration of stay dependent on whether Ireland qualify for the final stages. Hence the importance of Zimbabwe and the other two qualifiers against UAE and The Netherlands. It will be the last time the blazer sees the team in action.

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Meantime, two pleasant duties to perform in Dublin. Firstly, I have been asked to take a session on media awareness for the women’s team before they embark on their T20 World Cup adventure to Bangladesh. One of my most vivid memories of the summer was their final qualification victory over Holland at YMCA. I look forward to seeing the squad again – as I do in Bangladesh. Secondly, the blazer has been invited to what my diary tells me will be its last dinner before the year in office ends in April. It’s the YM bash at Wanderers next weekend. The miracle is that the blazer still fits.

Robin Walsh
There was great camaraderie on and off the pitch between the two teams
Yes
Connaught