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Australian cricketing legend Darren Lehmann has backed Ireland for Test Cricket cricket during his recent visit to Ireland with the touring Australia A squad.
Australia A assistant coach Darren Lehmann has visited Dublin before but has never been here on cricket business until now, and he likes what he sees. “The countryside is beautiful here, it’s one of the best places I’ve ever been to.

“I’ve really enjoyed Belfast. The hospitality from Cricket Ireland in general and the President (Robin Walsh) especially – he’s been keeping us entertained off the field while it’s been raining – has been great. The Irish are a good bunch of lads and it’s a great place to play.”

But it’s not just the scenery and the hospitality that Lehmann has been impressed with. Irish cricket has come on leaps and bounds in the last few years and he’s sure the only way is up for the boys in green.

“They’ve made great strides over the last few years and the last couple of World Cups have been outstanding for them so they should be really proud of where they are going as a cricketing nation.

“I know they want to be a test-playing nation by 2020 and I think that’s well within their grasp with the way they’re playing. If you took back all the players that have represented England, for example, and they came home, you’d have a quality test line-up there.

“It’s also good to see the junior development programme is working really well and the pitches are up to standard so no dramas from my end having Ireland in the test playing nations, and if they can get there by 2020 then they’ve done well.”

One of the highlights of the Australian’s career was winning the 1999 World Cup in Lord’s, England, and though winning on the field is just as important as ever, things off the field have changed somewhat.

“Well, I can’t remember much about after the final!” he admits, “although these days you’re not supposed to say things like that.

“It was an amazing experience and we had some great players and they played really well. Winning the final at Lord’s was special and I think we stayed there most of the night too!”

Darren Lehmann hit the winning runs at the 1999 World Cup final at Lord’s

Ireland are currently in pole position to qualify for the next ICC World Cup which will be held in Australia in 2015 and Lehmann thinks Ireland will adjust well to conditions Down Under.

“I don’t think the Irish boys will have a problem with the pitches,” he insists. “They are very professional how they go about their business and I think they’ll enjoy playing in Australia. There’ll be a bit more bounce for the bowlers so I think they’ll like that. The batters might find it a little more difficult I would think, but having said that, they adapt really quickly.

“What I see happening is once they qualify, which I’m pretty sure they are going to (they’d be very disappointed if they don’t), but once they qualify they’ll come down to Australia as they do with their big fanfare and supporters and give it everything.

“Ireland have some exciting players, they’re passionate about the game and playing for their country and I’m sure they’ll do their country proud.”

Before the qualifiers for that tournament are decided, though, England and Australia will be battling it out for one of the biggest prizes in cricket, The Ashes, and Lehmann says it’s high time the Aussies claimed them back.

“I think it will be a lot closer than people think. We have a really strong bowling attack and our batters are younger but if they get on a roll they can certainly play well and do a job.

“Obviously we need our senior players to do well and bat well, too. England are a quality outfit but having said that, I think the time is right for us to take the Ashes back I think.”

“I’m sick and tired of the English getting stuck into us for the last couple of years so hopefully it’s payback time.”

Lehmann’s attention may well have already turned to The Ashes, but Ireland’s players will be focusing on next month’s Inter-Continental Cup and the all-important World Cricket League fixtures against The Netherlands when the Boys in Green can nail down the first qualifying spot for Australia 2015. Watch this space.

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