Ireland Come Up Stumps To Make Cricket World Cup
By Aidan Begley

Ed Joyce, Middlesex batting sensation and will be the star man for Ireland in the forthcoming World Cup

How do you fancy spending St. Patrick’s Day 2007 in Jamaica?
Granted it isn’t a pint in Digbeth, but if you do fancy strolling along a sun-kissed beach, drinking rum while watching the sunset, then you need to start following the fortunes of the Ireland cricket team right now.
For the first time ever, Ireland has qualified for the Cricket World Cup and will now head to the Caribbean in March 2007, with the slimmest, practically non-existent hopes of upsetting the odds and capturing the trophy.
Qualification was secured alongside Scotland, Bermuda and Canada, during the 2005 ICC Trophy, which was held in Ireland. The tournament sees newcomers and the weaker cricket teams play each other for a chance to see to will make it through to the World Cup.
Ireland secured qualification by finishing in the top two places in their group. The boys in green managed to make their way through to the actual ICC Trophy final where Scotland eventually defeated them by 47 runs in Clontarf.
The reward for Ireland in reaching the finals is to be placed in Group D alongside three power-houses of world Cricket; Pakistan, West Indies and Zimbabwe.
On an international level, Ireland have made a few ripples of excitement in the cricketing world.
Their most notable victory was when they defeated the West Indies by six wickets at Stormont last June, while the previous month, Ireland defeated Surrey in the C & G Cup – the cricket equivalent of the FA Cup.
These results, along with qualification to the 2007 World Cup, has shown that cricket in Ireland is on the up, even though it is still very much a minority sport.
Ireland coach Adrian Birrell described qualification for the World Cup as the highlight of his coaching career since the South African took over in 2002.
"This has been the total focus for me over the last three and a half years since I came to Ireland," said Birrell. "It is fantastic getting over the line at last. The players have given 100% and I am proud of them and I’m very proud to be the coach of the Irish cricket team as we embark on an adventure."
The star-man for Ireland is Ed Joyce. Born in Dublin, batsman Joyce plays for Middlesex and is currently the top run scorer in English cricket with over 1200 runs to his name, meaning he averages 80 runs for his team every time he pulls on his pads and comes out to bat.
His run-scoring ability has been noticed by the England cricket selectors, and there has been approaches made to Joyce for him to turn out for England internationally, which he has so far declined.
So if the Irish soccer team don’t make it through to the World Cup next year, then save your money and head to the Caribbean to follow Ireland in the cricket.
Mine’s a rum and coke if you’re offering!