Game here has new grounds for optimism

ON CRICKET:A SHINING new jewel and a polished up old gem played host to Ireland's cricketers over the last few days in the build-up to a key part of the season for the national side.

Peter Savill's spectacular new Oak Hill ground in Co Wicklow opened to high acclaim from players and spectators alike last Sunday when an Ireland XI took on Lashings in two Twenty20 clashes.

Some observers questioned the relevance and worth of the games as Phil Simmons prepares his side for the Twenty20 World Cup qualifiers in Belfast at the start of August. Lashings may put fun high on their agenda but they also take the game seriously, and they weren't best pleased to lose the opening game against a young Irish selection with an average age of 23.

The West Indian fast bowler Tino "Mind the Windows" Best was fired up second time around and, backed by a 25mph tailwind, gave Ireland's batsmen a severe going over.

Bowling to players of the class of Dinesh Mongia, Rashid Latif, and indeed Simmons himself, proved a steep learning curve as the former Test stars showed how to move the ball around and keep the scoreboard ticking in the shortest form of the game.

The good news for Irish cricket is that Savill has bigger plans for the ground than just staging jamboree matches in his back garden. The ground is good enough to host Ireland fixtures in the future, and would suit an Intercontinental Cup tie or a domestic Cup final.

Savill's main intention though is to see the ground and pavilion used to develop cricket at youth levels. To start with, four Leinster Under-11 sides will take on their counterparts from Savill's old alma mater Ampleforth College over the coming days. It's the tip of the iceberg in Savill's mind.

"What I very much want to do is replicate what happens at the Bunbury Festival over in England," said Savill. "It's a week where all the top under-16 cricketers in England come for a week and play matches against each other.

"In the off time between the matches they are coached by international cricketers who are brought in for the week.

"Half of the present England team played at the Bunbury Festival at some stage. I see that as an opportunity to highlight and showcase talent."

If Sunday represented the future, the last few days have seen top-class cricket return to one of its spiritual homes with Ireland A playing Bangladesh A at College Park.

Given the ground has hosted 300 Test cricketers from WG Grace to Gary Sobers, it's amazing to think this game was the first men's international to be played there since 1992, when Stephen Warke and the former Trinity student Michael Rea set a record Ireland first-wicket stand of 224 against Wales in a three-day game.

College Park provides a beautiful oasis in the middle of the city, with those passing through stopping for five or 10 minutes, many oblivious to who is playing but captivated nonetheless to see sport played right in the centre of town.

Ireland's players must have thought they were playing in Dhaka and not Dublin over the last few days, as the large ex-pat community of Bangladeshis added a raucous edge to the tranquillity of the surroundings.

Now the 16-year gap has been bridged, a return of the full senior team must be on the cards. And not a moment too soon.

Irish cricket loses magnificent servant

IRISH CRICKET has lost one of its greatest ambassadors with the passing of former president and secretary John Wright after a short illness, writes Emmet Riordan.

The 65-year-old was a lifelong member of Malahide Cricket Club and was also strongly involved with St Sylvester's GAA club in the North Dublin village.

After serving as president of the Irish Cricket Union in 1997, he went on to become secretary from 1997 before stepping down following the agm earlier this year.

Wright made significant contributions to the growth of the game in Ireland, and in the broader international field and was rewarded at Lord's last month when he received an International Cricket Council Global Lifetime Service Award for his service to worldwide cricket development.

ICC President Ray Mali led to tributes to Wright last night, saying: "This is a sad loss for cricket. John's influence and hard work benefited the game beyond Ireland's shores and he is going to be greatly missed.

"John leaves behind a great legacy - the work he was involved in has helped to put Irish cricket at the forefront of the Associate game and his contribution as a member of ICC committees made sure that his expertise had a global effect".

Cricket Ireland president John Caldwell said: "The cricket world in Ireland and further afield will be in mourning with the passing of John Wright. It is difficult to see how the Irish game could have attracted its present status without John's commitment and foresight."

Wright is survived by his brother, the former Fianna Fail TD GV Wright, and by his sisters Mary, Joan and Pauline.

Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam uasal.