The new edition of Wisden carries its usual definitive reflection on the year in cricket. In between its many words and numbers is a table which is a rare bit of bad news for the Irish authorities. The 'ECB pitches table of merit' shows Ireland adrift at the bottom with a rating of 4.25, marginally "above average". The rating is compiled by the umpires who stood in Friends Provident games at both Stormont and Clontarf.
Cricket Ireland CEO Warren Deutrom was disappointed by the ratings, but pleaded mitigation because Ireland's games took place in April and May, while the counties were assessed from April to September. Scotland are similarly assessed but managed a ranking ahead of six English counties.
"That said, bottom of the table is hardly something of which to be proud," said Deutrom.
"Chris Woods, ECB's Pitches Consultant, has visited Clontarf during the close season to provide advice while the NCU has been proactive in getting pitches consultant Tom Flintoff to work with Phil McCormick on preparation of wickets for the April games in?Stormont and looking forward to the England game in August."
CricketIreland is keen to spread international fixtures about, particularly to the fanatical North West. "It's great that Eglinton will be hosting a Friends Provident match this Sunday, while all will be aware of Bready's excellent facilities and hosting of the senior squad for winter training," said Deutrom. "We have managed to secure an exemption for Bready to adhere to the new ICC ground regulations regarding size (because ground works had commenced before the new regulation came into force), so the next step is to take Bready towards satisfying ODI criteria, which will give us more options for our fixture list."
While the economic downturn is likely to put the Malahide stadium on the longest of fingers, Deutrom is keen to keep the plan alive. "Discussions are taking place to keep the new international venue a reality. At the base of everything is our push to be professional in all areas of our game, on the pitch and off it, and nothing is more important than getting the green stuff right."
"I told the captain I'd keep playing as long as my batting average was greater than my age." So says 43-year-old Alan Lewis, who scored the 22nd senior hundred of his illustrious career against Cork County last Saturday. The YMCA veteran is in his 30th year of senior cricket and still enjoys it as much as his first, although his running between the wickets has started to draw comment. His 13,287 senior runs is the third highest, behind only Brendan O'Brien's 21,765 and the late David Pigot's 14,423.
Ireland play twice on Saturdays in Dublin this summer. The first day of the four-day game against Namibia in Malahide on 1 August is unlikely to trouble the turnstile men, but next Saturday's FPT game against Nottinghamshire, Ryan Sidebottom et al, is a very attractive fixture. So why, then, are there four Leinster senior DGM games fixed for that day, while just one is played the next day? It's a hard enough job convincing the public to come out to support Ireland without shutting off a large chunk of your potential audience.
Another top fixture this week is the Lord's Taverners' dinner in Clontarf Castle on Wednesday evening. The Lord's Taverners do great work supporting cricket in disadvantaged areas, and the Irish branch will pay tribute to the Irish side who bowled out the West Indies for 25, 40 long years ago. All the surviving members of the Irish side have been invited and it promises to be a memorable night, with tributes to Roy Torrens and Kyle McCallan. Further details from Derek Brennan at thebrennans@ ireland.com.