Cricket News: After perhaps the most successful year in the history of Irish cricket, 2006 looks like being almost as remarkable with a host of exciting fixtures on the cards.
The most notable of these will take place on Tuesday, June 13th, when Ireland will play the full England side for the first time.
The venue for the full one-day international has not been decided, although Stormont in Belfast is thought to be the most likely ground.
The fixing of this match is the result of long negotiations between the Irish Cricket Union (ICU), the International Cricket Council and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and the official announcement has been broadly welcomed by the ICU.
"A match against England, our nearest Test nation, has long been the desire of everyone associated with cricket in Ireland, and with the success of the current English team the match next June will certainly be an occasion not too be missed," said chief executive Peter Thompson.
It will be Ireland's first game after winning one-day international status following qualification for the World Cup in 2007 at last July's ICC Trophy.
"What also is pleasing is that Ireland's first full ODI will be played at home, and provide our numerous members, supporters and commercial partners with a major sporting event to attend, and long may this continue," he said.
Also announced yesterday were details of Ireland's participation in the new-look Cheltenham and Gloucester Trophy, which will see them play nine matches - four at home, five away - against county opposition in a competition that has heretofore been a knock-out event.
Adrian Birrell's Ireland will play host to Hampshire and Sussex, in Clontarf, and Surrey and Somerset, at Stormont, while they will travel to Gloucestershire, Glamorgan, Essex and Kent, as well as a visit to Lord's to take on Middlesex.
Apart from playing in the so-called home of cricket, the Middlesex match will strike a particular chord with the Irish players as it will more than likely involve playing against former team-mate Ed Joyce, who has now declared for England and is currently part of that country's A squad.
Joyce helped Ireland in qualifying for the 2007 World Cup and this will be the first time he has played against Ireland.
"This is a major boost for Irish cricket both in the context of the team and our supporters," said Thompson.
"It shows how much the Irish team has progressed over the last three years and reward for reaching the ICC Cricket World Cup in 2007 and winning the InterContinental Cup in Namibia last month," he said.
IRELANDMATCHSCHEDULE
C and G Trophy
Sunday, April 23rd: Hampshire (Clontarf).
Sunday, April 30th: Gloucestershire (Bristol).
Monday, May 1st: Glamorgan (Sophia Gardens).
Sunday, May 7th: Essex (Chelmsford).
Sunday, May 14th: Surrey (Stormont).
Sunday, May 28th: Middlesex (Lord's).
Monday, May 29th: Kent (Tunbridge Wells).
Sunday, June 11th: Sussex (Clontarf).
Sunday, June 25th: Somerset (Stormont)..
