They say a mind once stretched on new possibilities never returns to its original dimensions. I have to confess that that is exactly how I feel about the Ireland International cricket team. The exploits of the side during the course of 2007 has rekindled a fire for many Irish cricket fans. Yet it is the future for Irish cricket that is now so exciting.

Many years ago I was interested in the Ireland cricket team but for purely selfish reasons on the grounds that I might have half a sniff of playing for them. But watching them lose badly against full time pros wasn't my cup of tea. For most cricketers playing for your country would be the pinnacle of your career. For so many Ireland cricketers that was indeed the case. They had reached the top of the cricket community in Ireland and pulled on the famous green shamrock. But the point was they were still useless on a global level. Routinely thrashed by county teams they picked up the odd win against the MCC and the Duchess of Norfolk's eleven and only really had the annual 3 day game with Scotland to assess how we stood on a like for like basis. Ireland were amateur and amateurish. How things have changed.

First and foremost you have got to hand so much credit to this group of players. You see they didn't want to just reach the standard of playing for Ireland but they wanted to be a good player at that level. There's a world of difference. If enough players in the team make the commitment to making themselves better the team gets better. And when the team gets better reaching the standard to get into it gets harder thus raising the goalposts for the next wave of players striving for the top.

The ICU took the bold step many years ago now with the appointment of Mike Hendricks, a professional coach for an increasingly professional team. That has been the way forward ever since. Ireland struck gold with Adrian Birrell.

Secondly the structures at youth level are now in place. Talent is identified now from an early age and there is room for people to break into those teams. Children do not drift away after 15 now as previously. There are underage teams to keep them involved in the set up right through to U23 level. The success of discovering talent young enough allows them to grow into the level quickly. First Greg Thompson and then Eoin Morgan became the youngest players to play for Ireland. Watching them star in the ICC Intercontinental Trophy recently you forget how incredibly young they still are and yet they are almost veterans in terms of their experience.

Thirdly you have to give credit to the ICC Development program. The World Cricket League and the ICC Intercontinental Trophy gives the next tier of developing nations a truely competitive structure to improve and progress. Yes the ICC could do more and I believe they want to, but you only have to look at the idiotic ranting of Tony Cozier to see the difficulties they have. Cricket is the second biggest team sport in the world after Soccer. If the ICC want to see the game develop globally they have to do more.

Ireland have progressed beyond the wildest imagination of even its most fervant supporters. They brought colour and carnival to an appallingly mismanaged World Cup. The ICU is run on a much more professional basis. They have a well paid Chief Executive and Professional coach. The players are a credit to the country not just for their performances but the way they have conducted themselves both on and off the pitch. They are true professionals in every single way but one. They are expected to give that extraordinary committment for free. That can't continue.