Why Not Let Teams Touring England Play First-Class Matches Against Ireland?

During Thursday’s one-day international between Ireland and Australia, former England player Steve Harmison raised a point worth pondering. In order to help cricket in Ireland grow, why not let the teams touring England play Ireland in a first-class match or an unofficial Test?

This is a brilliant idea. Considering teams will in all likelihood play some sort of warm-up matches anyway, probably against a weakened county second XI, there is definitely room in the schedule. This is a small change that could have an immense impact for Irish cricket. Not only will it offer some of the young players incentive and a taste of the longest format of the game, but it could also help with a small revenue boost.

With a little bit of help, these matches could be broadcast and the money that Ireland earn from these broadcasts could help them grow the game at all levels. It can also offer a small financial incentive for players who stick with the programme. While it’s still not comparable to the lucrative money on offer from some of the world’s big teams, it will be a small step in the right direction.

There is a saying that goes: You only get smarter by playing the smarter opponent. As Ireland proved in the one-day game against Australia, they are by no means a team to be taken lightly. Although their inexperience let them down toward the end, they were by no means a walkover. Test cricket and one-day cricket are two very different things, of course, but the more Ireland play, the better they will get. It certainly cannot be worse than the one-sided Ashes series that England and Australia have just completed.

Cricket is one of the fastest growing sports in Ireland, and to ignore the potential the game has in the country would be an insult to the people of Ireland. The game cannot afford to live such an insular existence.

Test cricket has, for too long, been something that is reserved for an elite few. The pathway to becoming a Test-playing side seems virtually non-existent. It might remain that way for some time yet, but in order to help other countries grow, you have to work with what you’ve got.

Ireland have lost some of their talented players to England because those players wanted a better career opportunity and the opportunity to play Test cricket. While playing a few so-called “warm-up fixtures” isn’t exactly Test cricket yet, it does offer some sort of incentive for players to challenge themselves. Add to that the value of the broadcast and you have a formula that could have a massive impact on the game.

Sure, the weather will be a problem, but that’s not stopped cricket being played in Ireland before, has it? If the weather is the primary concern, allow Ireland to play in England, where the weather might be marginally better.

For those who want to grow the game, the options are endless. In reality, though, very few actually want to grow the sport, and the chances of Ireland getting a boost by playing incoming international teams will remain slim until the current stranglehold on power eases.