Cricket Ireland

Sport	Cricket
Jurisdiction	Ireland  Northern Ireland
Abbreviation	CI
Founded	1923; 103 years ago (1923)
Affiliation	International Cricket Council
Affiliation date	1993; 33 years ago (1993)
Regional affiliation	ICC Europe
Affiliation date	1997; 29 years ago (1997)
Location	Clontarf,Dublin Malahide,Dublin Stormont,Belfast Bready,Derry
President	Donna Armstrong
Chairman	Brian MacNeice
CEO	Ross McCollum (interim)
Men's coach	Heinrich Malan
Women's coach	Lloyd Tennant
Sponsor	ITW Consulting,Certa,Macron, Fáilte Solar,DMG Media,Evoke,Ulster University[1]
Replaced	Previously called Irish Cricket Union
Official website
www.cricketireland.ie

Cricket Ireland (formerly the Irish Cricket Union) is the nationalgoverning body forcricket on the island ofIreland (both theRepublic of Ireland andNorthern Ireland), and oversees the nationalmen's andwomen's cricket teams.^[2] It also organises the men's Inter-Provincial Series (which includes theInter-Provincial Championship,Inter-Provincial Cup andInter-Provincial Trophy), the women's Super Series, and three All-Ireland club competitions:Irish Senior Cup, National Cup and the All-Ireland T20 Cup. It achieved Test status for women in 2000, and for men in 2017 when it was made a Full Member of theICC in June 2017.^[3]

An early forerunner of the Irish Cricket Union was formed in 1890, though its only function was to select the Irish international team.^[4] There is debate about what year should mark the official start of the Irish Cricket Union - in 1923 an embryonic entity was set up, but only two provincial unions (of four) were involved - namely theLeinster Cricket Union and theNorthern Cricket Union. In 1927, all four provincial unions signed on (theMunster Cricket Union and theNorth West Cricket Union^[5] joined to make it four), so that year is considered a more appropriate anniversary. Its powers initially were strictly limited and it was reconstituted in 1933.^[6] Today, there are five provincial unions with theConnacht Cricket Union becoming a recognised provincial union in 2025.

Ireland was accepted as an Associate Member of theInternational Cricket Council on 6 July 1993.

In common with a number of other Ireland sporting governing bodies, the Union represents all ofthe island of Ireland, rather than just theRepublic of Ireland. In common with its counterparts forrugby union andfield hockey, the organisation, therefore, does not use theIrish tricolour, but instead employs its own flag.^[7][8]

Ireland was initially among the teams inDivision 1 ofAssociate Members ofInternational Cricket Council who haveOne Day International andT20 International status.

Ireland's greatest cricketing success to date was to reach theSuper 8 of the 2007 Cricket World Club following victory over Pakistan and a tied game with Zimbabwe in the groups stages. The most significant, and most publicised, success in a one-off match occurred four years later, with a three-wicket victory overEngland in the2011 Cricket World Cup in whichKevin O'Brien scored the World Cup's fastest ever century^[9] and Ireland set a World Cup record with by "chasing" 327 runs. During 2007 World Cup Ireland had major success with their victory by three wickets overPakistan in a2007 Cricket World Cup group match.^[10]

The victory over Pakistan in 2007 was overshadowed by the sudden death of the Pakistan CoachBob Woolmer that night. Ireland also managed to beat theWest Indies in their prime in 1968 at Sion Mills, 25 years before Ireland were accepted as an associate by the ICC.^{[citation needed]}

The Irish Cricket Union was formally dissolved and then formed afresh as alimited company on 3 February 2008, at its annual general meeting.^[11]

After the tremendous success at International stage, Cricket Ireland has applied forFull Membership from theInternational Cricket Council. Ireland have recently won theICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2008 and2009 ICC World Cup Qualifier and qualified for2009 World Twenty20 and2011 Cricket World Cup. Being a full member will allow Ireland to be a permanentOne Day International and eventually granting themTest status.^[12]

In August 2011, Cricket Ireland announced its plans to put in place a first-class structure, which is a major achievement for the nation on their path to gaining Test status.^[13]

In 2012, Cricket Ireland announced that it had found the pathway to Test status for their tremendously successful men's team by 2020. Targets include an increase in the number of people playing the game in Ireland to 50,000, reaching eighth in the world rankings and establishing a domestic first-class structure. A number of commercial deals have been secured, allowing Ireland to unveil their strategic plan to 2015 and target their ultimate ambition of securing Test status.

Cricket Ireland has offered a record 23 professional contracts to players, in three categories, for 2012, a developmentPhil Simmons says is vital for their continued improvement.Simmons, the Ireland coach, has also agreed a two-year extension to his contract which will take him through to at least the end of Ireland's World Cup qualifying campaign late next year.

Initiatives to swell participation numbers to 50,000 will include the establishment of regional academies; a Get into Cricket scheme which will seek to attract six to 12-year-olds to take up the game in clubs and schools; a Better Clubs Initiative, which will encourage clubs to improve their facilities; and the Cricket Ireland national awards which will recognise contributions ranging from players to volunteers.^[14] In another sign of the growing popularity of cricket in Ireland, the Irish provided a record 23 national contracts for the 2012 season, which also included not only the senior and regular members of the squad, but also fringe players. The contracts, for the first time, were divided into sections: Category A, Category B, and Category C (for fringe players).^[15]

In June 2017, the ICC awarded Full Membership to Ireland and Afghanistan, allowing them the opportunity to play Test matches.^[3]

• Leinster Cricket Union
• Munster Cricket Union
• Northern Cricket Union
• North West Cricket Union
• Connacht Cricket Union

Vision to 2020 - Ireland a Test nation

• To set out a series of stretching goals including increasing the number of participants in the game to 50,000
• Reaching 8th in the world ODI rankings by 2015
• Establishing a domestic first-class structure
• Reinforcing cricket as the 4th-most major sport in Ireland^[15]

Reflecting the rising popularity of the game in Ireland, Cricket Ireland committed to developing the grass roots of the sport over the next four years. New plans were unveiled to provide a significant boost to the domestic game with a series of initiatives designed to strengthen the game on the island and help achieve the ambitious target of 50,000 participants by 2015.

The initiatives include:-

• The 'Get into Cricket Scheme' - a major new programme targeting schools and clubs encouraging 6-to-12-year-olds to take up the game for the first time.
• The National Cup – a new domestic national club competition for clubs not already competing in the Bob KerrIrish Senior Cup. This provides 32 new clubs with the chance to compete for an All Ireland title and the opportunity to play cricket outside of their local area.
• The 'Better Clubs Initiative' – an innovative programme supporting local clubs across the country to improve their facilities. This programme is a volunteering initiative aimed at encouraging local cricket supporters, their friend and families to undertake work to improve the facilities at their local club houses and grounds.
• The Cricket Ireland National Awards – a major awards event recognising players, coaches, volunteers, groundsmen, officials and clubs for the contribution they make to the game in Ireland. This will be an annual event starting in 2012.
• The establishment ofRegional Academies to develop and foster the young talent from the ages of 15 to 19 and ensure a pipeline of players for International teams.
• The re-launch of theInter-Provincial Championship as a precursor to setting up a first-class domestic playing infrastructure in Ireland.

Source: Official Website^{[15][non-primary source needed]}

• Cricket in Ireland
• Irish Cricket Awards
• Sport in Ireland
• List of Irish cricketers

• Official website
• Cricket Ireland's channel onYouTube
• Cricket Europe Ireland Page
• Cricinfo Ireland

• Cricket governing bodies in Ireland
• Cricket administration in Ireland
• All-island sports governing bodies in Ireland
• 1923 establishments in Ireland
• Sports organizations established in 1923

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