Ireland not ready for Test cricket yet declares Trent Johnston
Despite an extraordinary triumph over the masters of the game, England, a leading member of the Irish team thinks that his nation is not yet ready for the longest format of the game, Test match cricket.
The Irish team hunted down a massive target of 328 runs from an improbable position. They were down and out for the count and were teetering on the brink of a dismal defeat when Kevin O’ Brien came into his own, blasting an incredible hundred
to take his team through.
O’ Brien smashed the fastest century in World Cup history, reaching the three figure mark off 50 balls, to guide his team through a difficult chase.
His brutal innings studded with 13 fours and 6 sixes proved that the Irish have the fire power to challenge the very best in the game.
Despite the fantastic result, Irish players think that they are not yet ready for the biggest stage, which is the Test match format.
Johnston, who has been a veteran for the Irish team, stated that there was little point in introducing five day cricket in Ireland unless they have a proper first class foundation in their country.
"I think Test cricket is probably a good while away", Johnston told reporters on the morning after Ireland's win. "We need to get things set up back in Ireland, the infrastructure and first-class setup and that sort of stuff. But one-day
cricket and Twenty20, definitely, I think we proved yesterday that we can mix it with those guys”.
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Ireland-c751 has been one of the best teams amongst the minnows and low ranked teams in international cricket. Time and again they have proved that they have the talent and skill to challenge the best in the business and most of it is due to
their county cricket experience, which runs from a long time.
They have the tradition of playing the game at a good decent level and have indicated their desire to acquire Test status that at the minute is held by only 9 nations from around the world.
Johnston thinks that the lack of exposure outside International Cricket Council (ICC) events is not helping matters for his team, which needs to play consistently against the leading teams in world cricket if they are to challenge them
just the way they did against England and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755.
The Irish have been playing limited cricket at the highest level and have had scarce opportunities in the last one year. They played only two games against fellow minnows, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Bangladesh-c747 in Belfast, followed by games against the World Champions,
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746, and former World Champions, the West Indies.
The Irish team is aiming to make more of an impact in the remaining group matches. They first play http://www.senore.com/Cricket/South-Africa-c757.
They would be fancying their chances against the http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Netherlands-c753, the two teams that they should topple, if they manage that, they would have a good chance of qualifying for the knock out stage of the event.
Tags: