News

Cricket Ireland President Robin Walsh gives his latest update from Bangladesh before flying home from Sylhet.
MONDAY MARCH 31:

Just arrived at the Sylhet International Stadium before the start of the women’s last group game against Pakistan. Sad little coach trip from the hotel: the last time the blazer travels to a match with an Ireland team before being consigned to the wardrobe at the end of the presidency in a couple of weeks’ time. Heigh ho; all good things…….

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Most pleasant last evening as I hosted dinner for the squad. Words not too difficult to find even after three defeats at the hands of New Zealand (tournament favourites), Australia (defending champions) and a very strong South Africa side. Yes, the team was disappointed, but that was good. It showed an expectation. And for many parts of the three games the players had matched talent with talent. They had come a long way in recent timesand shouldn’t forget that Ireland was the only non-Test playing country to have teams in both the men’s and women’s World T20 finals. Reason to be proud.

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Grand fun after dinner as indiscretions – minor, to be sure -were agreed and five dollar fines levied. One in particular tickled my fancy, rightly doled out to the player who suggested she might bring a memo home with her. We never did find out what memento she had in mind. I suggested her fine should be doubled. Thought it harsh that one player was fined for flirting when the team met up with the Australian men’s side in Dhaka. I was duly fined five dollars for protesting.

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Vice-captain Mary Waldron represented the team at the post match news conference after her fine innings of 33 off 31 against South Africa which I enjoyed in the company of her parents Rhoda and Seamus. The journalistic curiosity was less about the match and more about the headgear Mary wears behind the stumps and the fact that she had played international soccer for Ireland It gave rise to a feature in the Dhaka Daily Star detailing the baseball mask with its steel visor attached by strapping to the back of the head. Mary explained the usual helmet was uncomfortably heavy for diving about so she combed the internet for something more suitable. However, she did don the traditional headgear for her splendid knock.

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Home tomorrow before the last game in the play off stages. Duty calls at my last engagement at the Leinster Club dinner on Friday evening. Victory over Pakistan over the next few hours would put Ireland in the top eight. I did suggest over dinner it would be a delightful farewell present.

Robin Walsh
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Connaught