Time is right for ICU to bat for home game

Cricket: As the sun shone on Civil Service Cricket Club at Stormont last Wednesday, it was difficult to see how cricket ever suffered a decline.

It wasn't the fact Ireland beat the West Indies for the first time in 35 years (anyway, that didn't happen until the following day); it wasn't the fact perhaps the best batsman of a generation, Brian Lara, and his team were performing in front of us.

No, the real reason why it was such a success last Wednesday was because of the fun being enjoyed by the 2,500 or so spectators of all ages.

Genuine cricket enthusiasts were enthralled, intensely scrutinising field placements and marvelling at the technique of these great players (and I don't just mean the West Indians). Dozens of schoolchildren in shirt sleeves, with tennis balls, harrow-sized cricket bats and upturned sports bags for stumps played miniature games, imagining some day that they, too, might face the best bowling in the world.

And small children played on blankets with their parents and a picnic, enjoying a special day out.

The GAA has successfully marketed its sports as something for all the family, something to feel a part of, to be proud of.

But taking a brief look at Irish cricket, it is clear the sport in has a number of great advantages. And it is time we promoted them to the rest of the world.

Firstly, cricket is exclusively a summer sport so, in theory anyway, spectators will not have to huddle for warmth as the winter winds blow sleet and hailstones in their faces, as can happen in Parnell Park during a National League game in February.

Secondly, cricket in Ireland is the sort of sport parents can bring young children without fear of throngs of overexcited fans trampling them.

Thirdly, you can watch some of the finest sportsmen in this country week in, week out, and not have to pay a penny for the privilege (and if you have ever seen Jason Molins hook a rising short ball to the boundary, or Trent Johnston make a mess of someone's stumps with a quicker one, you know what a privilege it can be).

A brief conversation last week with a cricket supporter, who is in the marketing game, made me realise just what the Irish Cricket Union could achieve on the back of recent successes within the game and its potential for further growth.

Victories over Zimbabwe, Surrey and the West Indies have brought the national team some extra exposure and qualification for the 2007 World Cup at next year's ICC Trophy would surely continue that trend.

But more than jumping on the back of that particular bandwagon, the ICU needs to market the game, not only to businesses, who will hopefully help keep it on a strong financial footing at the upper levels, but also to families who may not know that this alternative source of entertainment is available.

While cricket is concentrated in and around the urban centres of Dublin, Belfast, Derry and, to a lesser extent, Cork, nearly every county in Ireland has at least one cricket club, so nobody has to travel far to see a game.

Through the various clubs, the ICU should attempt to attract families, who may not have an interest in the game to come down to their local club and find out for themselves what an enjoyable day out it can be.

Then, when those children grow up and they have developed a love for this great game, maybe they will be the ones hooking short balls to the boundary at Stormont.

Sixteen-year-old Lisburn leg-spinner Greg Thompson will become the youngest cricketer at 16 to play for Ireland when he takes the field against the MCC for a three-day game in Limavady next week. Sixteen-year-old Thompson is just younger than North County's Eoin Morgan was last year when he made his international debut.

With nine players unavailable or unfit for this game, including skipper Jason Molins who has business commitments, the selectors have also brought in veteran Rush all-rounder Naseer Shaukat and young Waringstown left-arm spinner Gary Kidd to make their debuts.

There is also a recall for Merrion's Dom Joyce and former North West wicket-keeper Stephen Ogilby, now playing in the Cheshire League.

IRELAND (v MCC, June 29th- July 1st): Kyle McCallan (Cliftonville, captain), Jeremy Bray (Phoenix), Dominick Joyce (Dublin University/Merrion), Andre Botha (North County), Peter Gillespie (Strabane), Trent Johnston (Clontarf), John Mooney (North County), Naseer Shaukat (Rush), Stephen Ogilby (Cheshire League, WK), Gary Kidd (Waringstown), Greg Thompson (Lisburn).