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Robin Walsh is the Cricket Ireland President for the year 2013. Robin will pen a diary on being the Cricket Ireland President and he will keep us up to date throughout the year.
One of the many delights of wearing Cricket Ireland’s Presidential blazer is that it allows entry to hitherto no-go areas: like the players’ dressing room immediately after the two pulsating RSA Insurance One Day Internationals against Pakistan at the Clontarf ground in Dublin.

But it was a sombre place despite Ireland coming within an ace of registering a historic 2-0 series victory. There was sharp disappointment after the rare event of a tie against the world’s sixth ranked ODI country – it was even sharper after the narrow two-wicket defeat three days later. The silence on both occasions spoke volumes on just how far Ireland’s cricketers have travelled. Victory against frontline countries is now expected by National Coach Phil Simmons and his players – and the opposition know it.

It is why more and more games at the highest level are imperative if Ireland is to achieve its stated aim of Test match status by 2020. Outside the four year cycle of World Cups, they are few and far between in the 50-over format and the hope now is that the derring-do in Dublin may change attitudes within the world game.

Ireland’s loss on Sunday versus Pakistan was heart-breaking

It certainly has done the trick with Pakistani Embassy and team officials. They were keen to extend invitations to play in Pakistan which, of course, has been bereft of international cricket since the terrorist attack on the Sri Lankan players in Lahore in 2009. In normal circumstances – and financial considerations permitting – it would be an invitation gratefully accepted but in the current climate the matter will not be entirely in Ireland’s hands.

The next major test will be against England at the new look, expanded Malahide ground outside Dublin on September 3. It may be able to accommodate upwards of 10,000 spectators, but the advice is to buy tickets early. Thousands have already been sold and the two Pakistan games have led to a flood of requests.

And let’s hope for a buoyant dressing room.

The day after the Pakistan series, it was off to Durham and the Ireland Women’s latest encounter in the ECB County Championship.

Things have been going well for the women under the guidance of coach and former international Jeremy Bray and the captaincy of Isobel Joyce, witness promotion in the last two seasons to Division 2 of the championship. But not so in Durham as they were bundled out for just 99 to lose by 19 runs – and how different family fortunes can be. While brother Ed scored a century against Pakistan the previous day, Isobel departed for a duck.

It was little consolation to the side that it was only their second defeat from their first six matches in their new division. Like the men, they’ve got used to winning.

This article first appeared in the Sunday Life

At the launch of the RSA Inter-Provincial Series with RSA CEO Mr. Philip Smith

Robin Walsh – Sunday Life
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