Having previously won three test matches on the bounce in their first ten, Ireland of course went onto lose their first test against Bangladesh last week by an innings and 47 runs. But there were certainly a few updates during the match that will keep Irish spirits up.
That was particularly the case with news that Ireland, Afghanistan and Zimbabwe could be included in the 2027-29 cycle of the World Test Championship. Many details remain unclear at this stage such as funding for these new entrants into the competition as well as scheduling.
However the return of the ODI Super League for Ireland could maybe be the bigger story from last week. Ireland Men had played in the only ever edition of the Super League from 2020 to 2023 which provided set ODI fixtures in the schedule that had wider context and a clear pathway to automatic qualification for an ODI World Cup.
A possible return of the Super League, much like missing details with the WTC news, brings questions of whether the competition will still work as it had done in its first cycle with clear qualification a possibility and then the road through to a qualifier event.
Ireland Men just missed out on direct qualification for the 2023 ODI World Cup after crucial losses during that cycle to the Netherlands and Bangladesh. But the scheduling of future Super League ODIs could give extra meaning to Irish fixtures, particularly at home, when the sport currently has to compete against football, rugby, Gaelic football, hurling and camogie for attention across the island.
Additionally there was news regarding the granting of final planning permission for the development of the first phase of the National Cricket Centre on the Sport Ireland Campus.
This approval allows work to proceed on developing the main stadium which includes: the field of play, 4,240 spectator seats, a high-performance centre, a player and match official building as well as supporting infrastructure and parking facilities.
The stadium has been in planning as part of Ireland’s duties co-hosting the 2030 Men’s T20 World Cup with England and Scotland. However the addition of the facility would greatly reduce the cost of hosting games which currently require infrastructure to be built at club grounds.
Now it was unlikely to see major difficulties to this development approval on Irish government land, considering the mood music from government so far with this particular project. However restrictions around floodlights on such a project could provide issues.
Before last week’s Sylhet Test match, questions seemed to hang around whether a centrally-funded two-division WTC could be agreed at ICC level and Heinrich Malan did make sure to put forward his support for the proposal. However that question now seems to be out of play with a 12-team WTC potentially on the cards.
Lisburn left-arm-spinner Matthew Humphreys in particular shone in the opening Test match of the tour taking five wickets to go with his matching-winning seven wicket haul in his previous test at Bulawayo earlier this year.
Now with the news last week, the 23-year-old may get the opportunity to impress in a World Test Championship and an ODI Super League in front of Irish fans at Cricket Ireland’s new cricket stadium in Abbotstown.
For coverage of the test series between Ireland and Bangladesh, check out Dave Sihra’s Substack Dave Meets Ball.
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