The return of rain and squally weather can only mean one thing . . . the cricket season has arrived.

Yesterday saw the bravest of souls take to the fields in what is almost certainly the earliest start to the playing season. The cream of the crop are well into their stride of course, with the winter ending early for Phil Simmons' charges who can be happy with their I-Cup win in Abu Dhabi and three competitive ODIs in Bangladesh.

The collateral damage from the Asia tour, however, is that the new ball pairing of Trent Johnston and Dave Langford-Smith will never again pull on the green shirt of their adopted land. 'Lanky', who announced his retirement this weekend, was sad to do so, but the pressures of combining work in his family decorating firm with a 32-game Ireland programme was impossible.

"If I was able to play I'd play till I wasn't able anymore", he said yesterday, "but playing for Ireland needs 100 per cent effort and working so hard means my fitness levels are going down. I won't be able to do both."

Langford-Smith and his wife Maebh also plan to start a family. "I've seen how hard it is on TJ and JB to be away from their kids and I wouldn't want that." He takes with him many happy memories, the best of which was "the lap of honour after beating Pakistan. I'll take that to the grave." Anyone who wants to hear the story of that day and would like their home painted by a man who dismissed Kumar Sangakkara and Chris Gayle should get in touch with Creganna Decor.

Four of the 15 raiders of the Caribbean have now called it a day, while I suspect we won't see Jeremy Bray play again either. It all adds up to lots of chances for the new generation and expect the likes of Paul Stirling, Richard Keaveney, James Hall and Chris Dougherty to make big leaps forward this summer.

This time last year the Irish squad were whiling away the days between Super Eight games in Guyana. That period provided some of the best moments in 'Breaking Boundaries', Paul Davey's brilliant documentary … which made stars of that comical duo Dave Langford-Smith and Roy Torrens … received a couple of TV showings over Easter. The DVD is now available in shops and online from www. irishcricketdoco.com/documentary/dvdsales/. The unmissable film of the year.

The new season will see several talented visitors from recent years return to action. John Anderson, a successful all-rounder with Railway Union, has moved to Merrion. His old club have recruited Sydney 1st Grade player Trent Copeland, an all-rounder with the top St George club.

Copeland and fellow Sydneysider Rod Hokin have had to delay their arrival because both are in action in this weekend's First Grade final. Hokin made a top score 49 for Gordon in last week's semifinal win over Randwick, who featured test batsman Simon Katich. Clontarf coach Hokin took a liking to another test cap, Nathan Hauritz, who he hit for 4,4,4 and 4,6 off successive overs.

Yet another Aussie on the way is Ben Dunk (pictured above), who returns for Trinity's short season and then switches to YMCA. Dunk, a former Australia U19 wicketkeeper, starred in the Queensland Twenty20 final at the Gabba with a whirlwind 38.