Irish cricket chief: ‘glass ceiling’ preventing Test breakthrough

IRELAND are banging their heads against a “glass ceiling” in their attempts to break into the Test-playing elite above them.

As William Porterfield’s team complete their preparations for the ICC World Twenty20, the stark warning of limitations imposed on them comes from Cricket Ireland’s own chief executive, Warren Deutrom.

He fears no effective route is available for top International Cricket Council associate member countries to progress and therefore rub shoulders regularly with the likes of England, Australia and the remainder of the Test nations. Deutrom, formerly an administrator with both the ICC and England and Wales Cricket Board, is frustrated at the ‘catch 22’ facing Ireland and others.