THE death of John Wright, ICU honorary secretary from 1997 until February this year, robs Irish cricket of a brilliant mind and engaging personality who was highly rated in the world game. Although he had retired from his post, he retained great influence and his contacts at home and abroad were vital to the sport. There was an enormous turn out at his funeral in Malahide on Friday one current Taoiseach and two former ones and a widespread consensus that the new national stadium nearby ought to be named in his honour. Whether it gets built in the coming hard times is, of course, debatable, but if it were to happen then Wright Park would be a fitting name.
John Wright was at the helm during Irish cricket's greatest period of perestroika, if not glasnost. His understated style and political acumen helped Ireland make rapid progress and his jovial nature made him an extremely popular figure in the game.
When he took over as Hon Sec, the ICU was a small, unambitious organisation content to play a fixture list heavy with friendlies against the likes of MCC and the Duchess of Norfolk's XI. When he stepped down ten years later, CricketIreland was a professional body whose flagship team had reached the SuperEight Stage of the World Cup and were ranked ahead of Zimbabwe.
He made many friends beyond Irish shores, and delighted in telling how West Indies captain Brian Lara came to buy him a drink at the World Cup last year. Wright was sitting alone in the pavilion in Barbados after Ireland's heavy defeat to Australia when Lara walked over. "He said to me I understand it's one of those days you want to go and have breakfast again and pretend that hasn't happened'!"
"There is no doubt that it was John's skill in the committee rooms at Lord's and at ICC that has Irish cricket in the healthy place in which he left it," one colleague said this week. "He steered us from rank amateurism into a semi-professional era." Ireland's captain Trent Johnston also paid tribute: 'He was a great servant of Irish cricket he always put the game first and himself second. Our success was largely down to the him and his behind the scenes work.'
He was presented with an ICC Global Award on his retirement, when ICC chief executive Malcolm Speed told him "There is no doubt that your efforts over many years have formed a significant part of the successes that Ireland has enjoyed in recent years." ICC President-Elect David Morgan said: 'John played a significant part in the development of cricket in Ireland. The recent success of the team owes much to his unique contribution.'
Deutrom will attend the meeting but does not have a vote on the major issues. He will be strongly pushing Ireland's case for more ODIs against the top nations. 'The Future Tours Programme is up for negotiation and I will stress the need for more fixtures for associates. Ireland have one day status and need to play eight ODIs in two years to stay on the table, but there is no mechanism to ensure that happens. This is so important for our future if our players aren't playing against the best they won't improve, and if we have nothing to sell to television or sponsors we won't develop commercially.'
Ireland play New Zealand next week, England next summer and Australia in 2009, but more games against the rest of the cricket world are top of Deutrom's agenda.
CricketIreland officials were full of praise for the two Leinster grounds, although less positive about Oak Hill's suitability for full internationals. Savill promises to be generous with his facility, and this week hosts Ampleforth school in a series of fixtures against Dublin clubs. "I want to use the facilities that we have got here to help develop interest in the game amongst young cricketers,' Savill explained, 'I would love to play a part in helping young cricketers emerge and interest emerging amongst young players in Ireland.'
College Park caused genuine excitement among spectators, with many of the problems of the venue addressed in recent years and a resurgent club under president John Glynn providing more than enough members for chores duty. A senior CricketIreland figure was radiant and said the ground could be certain of adding to the 50 internationals it hosted prior to 1992.