Inadvertently Ireland's National Coach Phil Simmons has done more for North-South cricket relations than anyone in our history. It may seem a small contribution to people who look at statistics to evaluate a coach's credentials, but for a small nation of complex diversity, bringing everyone within a fold is a monumental achievement that sits comfortably alongside the nine trophies won under his stewardship.

Like it or not, the centre of Irish cricket has always been seen as Dublin and for generations northern delegates and players paid homage to a hierarchy that was perpetuated by a series of Irish Cricket Union secretaries, the real power base of the old ICU. The creation of Cricket Ireland went a long way towards changing the parochial culture, but it never eliminated it because the headquarters remained in Dublin and for logistical reasons some of the old culture lingered and was perhaps consolidated when Cricket Ireland took over as the controlling body of the sport.

It takes a lot of vision and understanding to move anything remotely political in Ireland so cricket, like many other All-Ireland sports, had had to grapple with a dual identity and for many northerners the recognition of a Dublin hierarchy was something of a paradox.

Down through the years this was particularly felt in player selection and in the allocation of hosting grounds for the top international matches. The latter is still a contentious subject and the failure of the North-West to land a plum fixture for many years has extenuated the feeling of country cousins, even at a time when several of their leading personalities have held premier positions within the Cricket Ireland establishment. But the same cannot be said for player selection and a lot of the credit for that situation should go to the National Coach.

Cricket Ireland has just announced the extension of Simmons's contract for a further two years and that is good news for anyone who has the best interests of Irish cricket at heart. In addition to his cricket achievements in nearly 200 games at the helm of Ireland's highly successful squad, Phil's impartiality and willingness to travel all over Ireland as part of his job has set him apart.

When he took over from the popular Adi Birrell some people were sceptical that he could reach the dizzy heights the South African had taken Ireland to, but a new benchmark has been set by the big Trinidadian and his popularity goes much further than leading the team. Simmons has proved a fine ambassador for Cricket Ireland and inadvertently done more for cricket unity around the island than anyone.

You are just as likely to see the big man at a dinner in Strabane, or a cup final at Comber or a youth tournament in Cork as in Dublin. He has travelled the length and breadth of the island to show his support for the game at any location and in doing it he has flown the Cricket Ireland flag with great aplomb. To some people it may seem an extension of his job, but in the busy life of a National Coach it goes far beyond the call of duty and is to be commended.

Ireland have done well to secure their Coach for another two years as his reputation and standing on the global stage has not gone unnoticed, not least in his native Caribbean where a growing lobby sees him as a West Indies Coach in waiting. Whether that happens or not remains to be seen, but the Ireland Coach's driving ambition and his belief that the current squad has the appetite and focus to go on to greater heights has secured him for another two years in the Emerald isle.

That is good news for Irish cricket and cricket followers all over the island.