Five-match series looks an exciting concept

Munster's victory over North in Cork last Sunday notwithstanding, the format and future of the interprovincial series must be a cause for revised thinking, if not actually for concern. While saluting Munster's success, even the most partisan of southern supporters must be aware that it was achieved against an NCU team which was short several first-choice players, among them Kyle McCallan, Derek Heasley and Ryan Eagleson, while Ted Williamson, Jamie Carnegie and Mark Barriscale, all attached to Dublin clubs, were Munster's three top scorers.

To balance the books, as it were, let it be said that the same day Leinster defeated a North West side which had had to travel through the previous night, arriving at 1 a.m. on Sunday morning and which was obliged to be at the Malahide ground at 9 a.m. on match day. Hardly the best preparation for a representative engagement, on the day when the Ireland squads for the forthcoming NatWest Trophy match against Leicestershire and the Triple Crown series would be selected.

In the 33 years in which the interprovincial series has been running, in one form or another, southern teams (meaning North or South Leinster) have won it just nine times, while North Leinster shared the title with North West in 1985. Last year, the competition was almost farcical, with just three teams - North, South and the Development X1 involved; North's match against the Development side was rained off, so they won the title by virtue of their defeat of the South at Cliftonville.

It is interesting to note that Williamson, with 76, was the South's top scorer that day and perhaps that is a portent of the shape of things to come. For beyond question, the interprovincial series has badly lost its way, and needs to be revitalised, sooner, rather than later.

Some sources indicate that a five-match series between the North and South is being considered. This is an exciting suggestion indeed; given natural rivalry, and the battle for places on the Ireland team which already exists between players from the two political jurisdictions, a hard-fought and keenly competitive series would be virtually guaranteed.

And a great many more supporters surely would want to identify with such teams than is the case in the present set-up. A club side from the North West - like Strabane or Limavady, for instance - normally has the backing of a goodly number of travelling followers when playing matches in the Royal Liver Irish Senior Cup in the south.

That certainly was not the case at Malahide last Sunday. Only a handful of northern visitors were present, probably relatives of the players, indicating that the followers of the game in this stronghold of Irish cricket do not identify closely with their so-called `provincial' side.

An annual five-match North v South series would be of enormous assistance to the national selectors and to the national coach, Mike Hendrick. And above all it would give our top representative players the opportunity to fine-hone their skills at a plateau just one step below international level.

Such a series could also be used to promote cricket in Ireland and to bring the game to an ever-expanding audience. Just consider what a World Cup-like series, the players dressed in colourful clobber, "SIX" and "FOUR" cards for the fans to wave, TV exposure, a real carnival atmosphere and a sense of gala occasion could do for domestic cricket on this island.

And if - or rather, let's say when - Ireland achieves one-day international status, Irish cricket will have truly arrived on the global sporting stage. Recent experience has shown that this country can produce under-age cricketers well able to hold their own with the best there is; the next step up to the higher level has been the problem, and the North-South series should help to bridge that critical gap.

Admittedly, as the chairman of the national selectors Ronnie Lawlor says, such a new scenario would call for a "total seachange", with the existing "provinces" ceasing to exist, except as administrative bodies. Lawlor, who learned (and still plays) his cricket in Limerick, says that Munster's strategy would have to be re-thought, and there could be problems, though hopefully, not insurmountable ones.

Cork County, once an invitation side, has been competing in the Lewis Traub-sponsored Leinster Senior League for the past several years, the idea being that stiffer competition would help to bring on the club's up-and-coming players.

But what if Cork County were to revert to being an invitation team, one which could compete in All-Leinster competitions? Presumably, the Leinster Cricket Union would not be unsympathetic to such a development, which in effect would mean that a representative team from Munster would be competing at a reasonably high level, week-in, week-out, with its players in the shop window for places in the South X1.

The five-match North-South idea is an interesting and exciting concept.