Saturday 24th March
Clarence Hiles reports from the Caribbean...
Ireland's heavy defeat at the hands of hosts West Indies yesterday was almost predictable given the obvious gap in the quality of the two teams and the huge expectation expected from Brian Lara and his unpredictable squad.
However, on this occasion they all came to play, and although the Irish players and their supporters have captured the hearts of many Jamaicans on this trip, when the chips were down the locals hailed their heroes home with unashamed passion.
Such is the culture of West Indies cricket when their team is winning!
When all is said and done it has been a tremendous performance by Adi Birrell and his squad to reach this stage with one win, one tie and one defeat when three defeats was the expectation of all and sundry. That's the measure of Ireland's playing performance to date, and with the world now taking our cricket a little more seriously, the Super Eight matches are the icing on the cake and a learning experience second to none.
Talk of Ireland rising to test status is premature, but the jibes from the English commentators are hard to take. To question Ireland for playing Aussie-qualified players when Ed Joyce opens their batting is absurd, and if one looks back at the past 20 years there are plenty of examples of international recruits to prop up ailing England teams. Have they forgotten Amiss, Greig, Lamb and Hick to mention but four?
Some of the condescending English commentators make you puke and if Ireland could pull off the 'impossible' and beat the mighty England then we will have every reason to celebrate in style.
'Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda....
