EMMET RIORDAN ON CRICKET:Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom is determined to push Ireland's case

CRICKET’S FRUSTRATION at the lack of a pathway to the very top of the world game was best summed up by the Reverend Richard Wayne Penniman over half a century ago.

Little Richard, as we know him, sang You keep a-knockin’ but you can’t come in, a tune written about a lover left at the door, as another was being entertained inside.

Ireland keep knockin’ alright, with Monday’s stunning six-wicket victory over Bangladesh ensuring qualification for the Super Eights stage of the World Twenty20, and a 100 per cent success rate at making it past the first round in World Cups.

The problem is the door remains closed and they know exactly what’s going on behind it.

Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom prefers to describe it as a glass ceiling, and it’s one he is determined to smash as soon as possible.

Deutrom used Ireland’s success against Bangladesh to air his opinions again to a world media more than willing to listen. Talking to The Irish Times yesterday, he reiterated his belief that the words are not falling on deaf ears.

“The full-member countries realise that the knocking from beneath is getting louder and that at some stage they will have to act.

“We need to have a serious discussion at International Cricket Council (ICC) level about developing a pathway for the top Associate nations.

“We are at number 11 in the world rankings out of 104 countries, but we could go all the way up to number one and it wouldn’t matter as there is still no defined route.”

As a former ICC employee, Deutrom is well aware that the decision will be made behind closed doors, although crucially he will be inside to add his tuppence worth to the debate as part of the chief executives’ committee.

With the annual conference taking place at Lord’s in two weeks’ time and he is confident that some progress can be made.

Money is not particularly an issue, although the fact Bangladesh, and more pertinently Zimbabwe, receive more that nine times the funding Ireland gets simply does not add up.

Ireland’s success over the last five years has increased funding for the game here from both the ICC and government contributions in both the South and the North.

The international side’s exposure has also helped them tie down a long-term sponsorship deal with RSA at a time when many sports are struggling to attract investment.

Deutrom also knows that Ireland will benefit greatly from the $300 million (€214 million) that the ICC have earmarked for their development programme between now and 2015, money that will help increase professional structures both on and off the pitch.

“We have been able to contract two players on a full-time basis, but the future lies in being able to have all our players on full contracts.

“It gives the coaches greater access to them and the players time to put in the right amount of training, but also having enough rest, to be able to compete to the best of their abilities.

“The other big thing for us is to have greater access to playing against the top teams. It’s only in exposure to top-quality opposition that our players will improve, so the whole issue of the Future Tours Programme must come up for discussion.”

Ireland will come up against current champions India in the Twenty20 game at Trent Bridge this evening, blessed with the freedom of knowing they have already qualified for the Super Eights and that the game is in effect a dead rubber.

Try tell that to the Irish players, who are relishing the prospect of taking on the defending champions and favourites under the lights and in front of a packed house.

It’s what their sporting dreams are made of. Maybe it’s time the ICC dared to dream also.