Testing times for Irish cricket as anticipation turns to foreboding

When Cricket South Africa announced last November that they had invited Ireland to play two one-day internationals in Benoni ahead of their series against Australia in September 2016, there was some quiet jubilation in Irish cricketing circles.

This is what Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom and head coach John Bracewell had been agitating for, privately in board meetings and publicly in media interviews: An opportunity to take on the major nations outside of World Cups, a chance to test themselves against the best more than once every four years.

Nine months later, the anticipation has been replaced by foreboding.