News

DUBLIN – A 12-match set of fixtures featuring players from the Shapoorji Pallonji Cricket Ireland Academy and Provincial Union Development programmes gets underway today, and will see more than 80 of Ireland’s most talented youngsters competing against each other as part of the Cricket Ireland Talent Identification programme.
The Academy and Provincial Development Series has been organised by Cricket Ireland, in partnership with the Provincial Unions, the fixtures will be played at five different venues across Ireland. The purpose of the series is, in lieu of a youth international programme in 2020, to provide Academy players and young talented players from across Ireland, a chance to play in high-standard fixtures that will link in with the Cricket Ireland Talent Identification Programme, and provide opportunities for players to push for provincial representative teams.

The series will also feature national and provincial coaching staff, as well as elite and development panel umpires.

Pete Johnston, Cricket Ireland Academy and Performance Pathway Manager, said:

“All of our Shapoorji Pallonji Cricket Ireland Academy players will be taking part in the games, along with senior international Shane Getkate, who narrowly missed out on the fixtures with England. The intrasquad teams will then be complemented with a range of provincial players and emerging talent from across Ireland. All matches will be supported by COVID-19 Safety Officers, and playing the games in various venues will reduce the travel commitments of participants.”

“These fixtures are important from both a talent ID perspective and to ensure that our next best players are getting consistent challenging cricket – particularly in the absence of any international underage fixtures in 2020. From a selection point of view, there is an opportunity for players to stake a claim for their Provincial sides and potential further development games that may take place in coming months.”

“This series of fixtures has been organised collaboratively with the Provincial Unions, the Irish Association of Cricket Umpires and Scorers (IACUS) and the venues, who have all pulled together to make these matches possible. We also welcome the involvement of umpires from Ireland’s Elite and Development Panels.”

“Cricket Ireland has provided funding and support staff for the series, while COVID-19 safety officers from each provincial union will help ensure the matches are conducted in safe conditions for all participants.”

Fixtures

All fixtures will be T20 format. Players will wear their club kit, and games will be played under strict COVID-19 safety protocols. Due to current government restrictions no spectators are permitted at the grounds in Northern Ireland. In the Republic, all spectators must report to the COVID-19 Safety Officer onsite and maintain social distancing at all times.

20/07/20 Academy Intersquad NCU – Instonians 1pm
21/07/20 Academy Intersquad CL – YMCA 2.30pm
21/07/20 Academy Intersquad NW – Eglinton 2pm
23/07/20 Academy Intersquad CL – Oak Hill 12pm
23/07/20 Academy Intersquad NW – Eglinton 2pm
24/07/20 Academy Intersquad NCU – Instonians 11am
27/07/20 Academy Intersquad NCU – Lisburn 11am
28/07/20 Academy Intersquad CL – YMCA 2.30pm
28/07/20 Academy Intersquad NW – Eglinton 2pm
30/07/20 Academy Intersquad CL – Oak Hill 12pm
30/07/20 Academy Intersquad NW – Eglinton 2pm
31/07/20 Academy Intersquad NCU – Lisburn 11am

Craig Easdown
Shane Getkate directing the fielders
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Connaught