Ponting: Ireland can challenge Test big boys
Ireland’s status in one-day cricket has steadily improved over the last decade, and they can lay claim to being the best Associate nation in the world after winning the last three Intercontinental Cups.
Ireland have built upon their breakout performance in the 2007 World Cup, where they beat Pakistan in Jamaica and progressed to the Super Eights. Last month, William Porterfield’s men came close to beating eventual winners England in the Twenty20 World Cup in Guyana, only for rain to intervene in their group stage encounter.
Talking exclusively to the Irish Examiner ahead of the RSA Challenge One-Day International between the teams at Clontarf on Thursday, Ponting said that he wanted Ireland one day to get a seat at the top table, and progress to the Test arena.
“I hope that Ireland go on to play Test cricket. That is what it is all about,” he said.
“The International Cricket Council have invested time and money in the smaller countries around the world, with the hope that all of those nations progress to become Test playing nations.”
However, the two top Irish players of the last decade, Ed Joyce and Eoin Morgan, have both opted to qualify for the England cricket team in order to play Test cricket.
Joyce played one-day internationals for his adopted country, and for England in the 2007 World Cup, but failed in his quest to wear the Three Lions in the five-day game.
Morgan made his Test debut in the recent two-match series with Bangladesh after helping England to the World Twenty20 title in the West Indies.
Ponting accepts that the talent drain will continue if Ireland are limited to the short-form of the game, and suggested that Ireland players see Test cricket as the ultimate career goal.
“I am sure that in their hearts, all the Ireland players want to play Test cricket one day,” he continued.
“The only way that will happen is that they keep on improving, at a good and steady rate. First-class domestic cricket in Ireland also needs to keep on improving, but if that happens, we will keep our fingers crossed for them.”
Cricket Ireland hope in future to build a 10,000 capacity international cricket ground near Malahide Castle in North County Dublin, and Ponting believes that such a development can only help the sport in Ireland.
“The need to build the infrastructure in domestic cricket,” he continued.
“That is the crucial thing, and why Australia have been so strong over the years. Our training and playing facilities are as good as any around the world. That is what Ireland must aspire to, so that things are in place to allow the progression of good players.”
Ireland captain William Porterfield agreed that Test status was the ultimate goal for his team, but cautioned that the squad needs to garner more experience before being granted Test status.
“We are on an upward spiral, and we have proved that in our performances against the bigger nations in the big tournaments,” he said.
“Test cricket is being talked about, but it may be a way off yet. We need to get on the Future Tours programme, keep playing one-dayers and Twenty20’s against the bigger nations. We then need to get more fixtures in three and four day cricket, and those steps are being taken.”
* THE RSA Challenge One-Day International between Ireland and Australia takes place on Thursday, at Clontarf Cricket Club (10.45am start) and will be televised Live on Setanta Ireland.
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