Ponting calls on ICC to halt Ireland exodus

[ZodiaC]

Ahead of Australia's tour opener in Dublin, Ricky Ponting has called on the ICC to ensure that Ireland, as a developing cricket nation, cease to suffer by having promising players lured away from Irish cricket by lucrative contracts and the promise of better opportunities to play international cricket overseas. "I'm very sympathetic to countries like Ireland that potentially could keep losing their better players. It's something that shouldn't happen I feel," Ponting said. "I think the ICC should be worried about that as far as trying to develop countries like Ireland and having some of their best young players poached, even in county cricket." As a leading Associate nation, Ireland's player drain has received exposure in recent times after Eoin Morgan and Ed Joyce's move to England. Though Joyce has since made clear his intention to return to Ireland once more ahead of the 2011 World Cup, Morgan has cemented a spot in England's middle order in limited-overs cricket and made a start to his Test career with a debut against Bangladesh at Lord's last month. England also appear to have an eye on Boyd Rankin, who plays county cricket for Warwickshire and was included in the ECB's enhanced England Performance Programme, and 17-year-old spinner George Dockrell's promising performances at the World Twenty20 will also surely have registered him on England's radar. "If the ICC look at that and are fair dinkum about Ireland continuing to grow as a nation and maybe one day being a Test-playing nation they can't afford to have their better players going off at a young age. The counties are jumping on 17, 18-year-old kids who have maybe had a good tournament or a few good games here or there. They offer them some decent money and away they go." Ireland have attempted to stem the player drain by professionalising their structures, and in January six players were given full-time central contracts while county-based players were offered additional financial support. They have also made their ambition to play Test cricket clear, but there are fears that unless Full Member status is granted soon, talented players will continue to drift away from Irish cricket. "You can understand that as far as the players are concerned, but I think the ICC have to step in and do their best to ensure the young Irish kids that are coming along get a chance to play for their country first and foremost," Ponting added.

http://www.cricinfo.com/ireland/content/current/story/463398.html Says who? First stop playing Dirk Nannes in your side Punters.. Scared of Eoin Morgan already? :hysterical:

[99.94]

http://www.cricinfo.com/ireland/content/current/story/463398.html Says who? First stop playing Dirk Nannes in your side Punters.. Scared of Eoin Morgan already? :hysterical:

Dirk Nannes Born 16 May 1976 (1976-05-16) (age 34) Mount Waverley, Victoria, Australia Nannes was eventually called up to the Victorian Bushrangers side in early 2006, where he made his first-class and List A debuts.

[mastana]

Ponting has a point.

[hari504504]

Where is the Irish pride ??...why they would play for England is beyond me.. If you talk money-wise then they can make decent dough playing in domestic English clubs ..but representing the country is a different kettle of fish altogether.. If ICC aid the Irish board financially to organize tours etc..I don't think the Irish players will leave

[ZodiaC]

Dirk Nannes Born 16 May 1976 (1976-05-16) (age 34) Mount Waverley, Victoria, Australia Nannes was eventually called up to the Victorian Bushrangers side in early 2006, where he made his first-class and List A debuts.

But he debuted for the Dutch didn't he? If Punter's so sympathetic to teams like Ireland he should've let Nannes continue in Netherlands itself.

[achilles]

This is the first time Ricky has actually said something good about minnows. :punter:

[Serani]

But Nannes isnt Dutch.

[ZodiaC]

But Nannes isnt Dutch.

Is Symonds an Aussie, then?

[Herculus]

give Nannes back to Holland then give lecture

[Serani]

Is Symonds an Aussie' date=' then?[/quote'] Yes...

[mastana]

But he debuted for the Dutch didn't he? If Punter's so sympathetic to teams like Ireland he should've let Nannes continue in Netherlands itself.

I don't think its in Ponting's hand to decide who should play for Aus or any other country. He is just giving his opinion.

[Desi Cartman]

They should just change the team name to UK from England :dontknow: Thats the simplest way to deal with the issue although it wont stop south africans from moving to Eng

[mastana]

They should just change the team name to UK from England :dontknow: Thats the simplest way to deal with the issue although it wont stop south africans from moving to Eng

United Kabootars :dontknow:

[Serani]

They should just change the team name to UK from England :dontknow: Thats the simplest way to deal with the issue although it wont stop south africans from moving to Eng

Ireland isnt in the UK. Well the republic isnt, and I think thats where most of the players like Morgan are from.

[Desi Cartman]

^ thats true but its better than just Eng which can still have Scottish, Irisih & welsh players :dontknow:

[Fair Game]

I can't see what the difference is between england using players from scotland, wales and ireland compared to the west indies using players from their different countries.

[Gunner_Mania]

I can't see what the difference is between england using players from scotland' date=' wales and ireland compared to the west indies using players from their different countries.[/quote'] West Indies is made up of the different islands. There is no conutry called West Indies. England is a separate country. Scotland, Wales, N. Ireland along with England form the United Kingdom. the West Indies and United Kingdom are simlar in comparison not West Indies and England.

[Fair Game]

West indies is made up of countries, the fact that they are islands doesn't matter. Jamaica, trinidad and tobago and st kitts and nevis are all countries they all compete seperately at the olympics.

[Gunner_Mania]

West indies is made up of countries' date=' the fact that they are islands doesn't matter. Jamaica, trinidad and tobago and st kitts and nevis are all countries they all compete seperately at the olympics.[/quote'] I never said anything about them being different because they are islands. I clearly explained that West Indies is not a country - butan entity which is made up of a group of countries. England is a country in its own right. West Indies & England cannot be compared.

[Mamu]

http://www.cricinfo.com/ireland/content/current/story/463398.html Says who? First stop playing Dirk Nannes in your side Punters.. Scared of Eoin Morgan already? :hysterical:

I never agree with what :punter::punter::punter: says But in this case he is spot on !