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Cricket Ireland President Robin Walsh gives us his latest update from the pen of the president, this time his diary describes the thrilling an unforgettable couple of weeks in Dublin at the Women’s World Twenty 20 Qualifiers.
If there’s a limit to the stress that can be endured watching cricket at a certain age then I have had my quota, thank you very much.

The senior men’s ties against Pakistan and The Netherlands – an incredible two in the space of four games – were not for the faint-hearted.

Yet the women’s TWO-run win over The Netherlands at YMCA was of a different order.

For a start it was all or nothing for Isobel Joyce’s side in their quest to qualify for next spring’s T20 World Cup finals in Bangladesh. Pakistan and Sri Lanka had already qualified; now the third and final place remained.

It looked plain sailing as Ireland posted 136-5 in their 20 overs, with the skipper leading from the front with a “player of the match” knock of 72 not out in 64 balls.. But the Dutch fought back, such that it was 12 required off the last over and, finally, four of the last ball.

The last over had fallen to Laura Delany and the pressure on her was indescribable. It was bad enough watching. Yet she held her nerve, a single was the result and Ireland were through to the glittering prize.

I have rarely been happier for a cricket team. They had subjected themselves to intense pressure throughout the tournament, always in their mind the prospect of joining their male counterparts when both sets of finals are played simultaneously in the sub continent. Or not.

I was invited to the team meeting on the eve of the big game to wish them luck. I suggested they RELAX– and ENJOY the game.

I doubt they did either although they certainly did so at our post-match celebration.

One of the delights of the tournament was the company of one of the grand characters of international cricket, Ian – aka Gunner – Gould: full of life and worth listening to when it comes to cricket, as you would expect of a man who has played, coached and umpired at the highest level.

He was officially listed as a “mentor” to the six cosmopolitan umpires at the tournament – including Northern Ireland’s Richard Smith – but in truth he was something of the ICC’s eyes and ears on many aspects of the two weeks.

He has an interesting take on the women’s game. As he puts it: “it’s still a natural game.”

By way of explanation he pointed to the Thailand team. They may not have been the strongest of the eight teams, but they respected the game in the way it deserves, unlike the shenanigans found at times in the men’s variety.

Gould told of the Thai batter who got the faintest of “feathers”, unlike some of the broad bats we’ve seen in The Ashes. She didn’t wait for the finger of fate; according to Gould she ran off the pitch.

Such willingness to embrace the spirit of cricket is one of the delights of the women’s game, as is the clear evidence that skills are developing at a hugely encouraging pace.

The luck of the draw took the blazer to YMCA more often than the other seven grounds which hosted either tournament or warm-up games. Collectively, they did Cricket Ireland proud – not just my subjective view, but, more importantly, that of the ICC officials in charge of the tournament.
One of Cricket Ireland’s strategic objectives in its continued advancement on the world stage is the hosting of high profile tournaments. Another box has been ticked.

On a personal note, my thanks to the clubs which made the blazer most welcome during the tournament.

It was nothing short of a pleasure to see Kamal Merchant tirelessly at work in the nets – even in the rain – with the younger breed at YMCA.

It’s a seven days a week job with his fellow coaches under the organisation of the co-ordinator of all youth cricket, Aideen Rice. Little wonder the club boasts The Cats (4-8 years of age), three U11 teams, three U13, two U15 and one at U17 and 19 as well as girls at U11, 13, 15.

Finally, my thanks to Jeremy Bray, Nigel Pyne and all the players for making me part the squad. Here’s to Bangladesh.

Robin Walsh
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