CRICKET NEWS:IT IS a competition that has taken a fair share of stick since its inception in 2004, but for Ireland, the Intercontinental Cup is an ongoing love affair.
Last week's innings-and-67-run victory over the Netherlands put Phil Simmons's team into second spot in the table behind Namibia, while a victory over Canada in Malahide next month would put Ireland above the African country approaching the business end of the competition.
A tough double-header away to Namibia and Kenya awaits in October, but Ireland should be able to call on their County-based players as they aim to win the title for the third straight time.
Ireland have lost just one game in the competition in four years, against Scotland in 2004.
Ireland's batsmen have showed their aptitude in the longer form of the game by averaging over 350 in their first innings.
As well as exposing players to first-class cricket, the competition has held restorative properties for Irish cricket over the years.
The nightmare in Aberdeen was quickly wiped away in Rotterdam, with players such as Peter Connell (10 wickets on his first-class debut) and Andrew Poynter (76 not out) grateful for the breathing space the one-day game does not allow.
World Cup coach Adi Birrell and skipper Trent Johnston have put on record how important the victory over the UAE was in the build-up to last year's stunning performances in the Caribbean.
Despite the obvious benefits to Associate nations in regular first-class competition, the naysayers have been calling the competition a waste of money, with no obvious pathway leading from it.
Condemnation of the competition came from unusual sources, the veteran West Indian broadcaster Tony Cozier leading the charge. "Certainly there is no ICC venture more illogical or costly than the one dubbed the Intercontinental Cup," wrote Cozier last November, believing that cricket's ruling body would be better off pumping the money into the likes of West Indian cricket.
Cozier seems to forget the West Indies Cricket Board, despite massive funding, have overseen the demise of a great team and dwindling playing numbers.
The facts are the ICC put around €251,477 into running the Intercontinental Cup, the participants adding €75,443 each.
So for a relatively small amount of money, the Associate cricketing countries get to play meaningful first-class cricket that can only help to develop players.
Although the Intercontinental Cup holds merit as a competition, the one valid point Cozier makes is that it fails to offer a stepping stone to anything further. The ICC could solve that by offering the winner the chance to play a one-off Test against a team such as Bangladesh. Oh, and a nice bundle of cash to go with it.
