The future of Irish cricket starts in Leicester next week, with two Youth ODIs against England. It's all part of the build up to the Under 19 World Cup which takes place in Queensland, Australia from August 4-26.
Ireland face Australia, England and Nepal in a tournament that has previously featured star performances by the likes of Kevin O'Brien, Ed Joyce and Eoin Morgan. Ireland are captained by George Dockrell, who has already more than 70 full Ireland caps, and include Gloucestershire's promising seamer Graeme McCarter who is also a full international.
Most eyebrows were raised by the selection of Zimbabwean Robin Kelly, who holds an Irish passport. Kelly joined Pembroke at the start of the season and although he scored 219 in Rush, has only hit 144 in eight other league and cup innings. Kelly is reported to be a part-time keeper and will stand in for Patrick Tice if necessary, which squeezed out Clontarf's Bobo Forrest.
Coach Ryan Eagleson had the tough job of letting down the dozen players who didn't make the trip.
"There's a great depth of talent now in Irish cricket, and it's obviously heartbreaking for the guys who have missed out. My message to those players who have missed out this time is not to feel that it's the end of the international road for them. With Ireland playing so many formats of the game now, including the expanded A team programme, and plans for the introduction of a first-class structure at an advanced stage, there have never been so many potential opportunities.
"While it might feel like the end of the world for those who haven't been selected, they should take heart from the fact that both Kyle McCallan and Paul Mooney both missed out at Under 19 level - Kyle went on to become Ireland's most capped player, while Paul played 84 times and played in the 2007 World Cup."
Ireland's preparations have been hit by having five of six warm-ups washed out, but after next week's games in Leicester they depart for Australia on July 25th for a training camp.
That means Pembroke's duo of Barry McCarthy and Robin Kelly will miss the club's first Leinster Senior Cup final since 1999.
The grim summer has reduced fixtures secretaries to gibbering wrecks. But perhaps even worse is the number of one-offs that have been lost to rain, including last weekend's Cricket4Cancer charity match in Dublin. Happily now the game has been refixed for Civil Service CC on Friday 10th August. Organised in memory of Frank O'Farrell, a Dublin firefighter and cricketer, the game pits the Dublin Fire Brigade against the Garda Cricket Club in a T20 game with plenty of other activities from 4pm. More details from the Cricket4Cancer Facebook page.
THE new range of CricketIreland kit made by O'Neill's has drawn plenty of approval since it was unveiled over the winter. But a northern supporter was heard to snort when he saw this hooped polo shirt on sale for £29/€40. Between the unprintable words Inside Edge managed to decipher that he wouldn't be buying a ‘Glasgow Celtic shirt'….
Tweet of the week: (@tjmurtagh) "Great to be part of a win yesterday for @Irelandcricket. Classy from Joycey as always and a serious effort in the field. Loved every minute"
Performance of the week: Andrew Poynter's had a rough season but he reminded Ireland's T20 selectors of his class with innings of 31 and 62* plus 3-18 and 2-20 as Clontarf won through to the Alan Murray Cup finals day.