Ireland's George Dockrell ponders declaring for England

[satyam1729]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/cricket/9409679.stm Another one bites the dust. Surely Ireland with Morgan, Joyce, Rankin, Dockrell and O'Brien are better than Bangladesh.

[daryl1985]

If we have another Irishman playing for us i will start to support England less and less. It is an absolute disgrace that Irish players are allowed to play for England, it is not even part of the UK. What makes it even worse is the fact that 99% of Irishman hate England when it comes to sport and want us to lose. I don't blame the player because they have to make a living but deep down they must surely feel that they are letting their country (Ireland) down. If Ireland had Morgan playing for them the other day they would have won. It is also unfair that England can hinder the development of Irish cricket by cherry picking their best players.

[Rajma Chawal]

If we have another Irishman playing for us i will start to support England less and less. It is an absolute disgrace that Irish players are allowed to play for England' date=' it is not even part of the UK. What makes it even worse is the fact that 99% of Irishman hate England when it comes to sport and want us to lose. I don't blame the player because they have to make a living but deep down they must surely feel that they are letting their country (Ireland) down. If Ireland had Morgan playing for them the other day they would have won. It is also unfair that England can hinder the development of Irish cricket by cherry picking their best players.[/quote'] I'm not trying to be rude, but then you surely have a problem with Pietersen, Trott, Prior and Strauss playing as well?

[Ultimate_Game]

I am fine with players from Test playing nations (such as SA, Aus etc.) going to a different nation (e.g., Eng) and qualifying for the said team, but ICC surely has to step in poaching from ICC Associate nations else how will Associate nations get stronger? I recall Gavin Hamilton from Scotland played for Eng soon after he played really well in 99 world cup, we saw plenty of Irish talent moving to Eng and turning their backs on Ireland so that they could play county cricket as domestic players and not count as foreign players, and we have seen one of the Dutch players in this tourney who wants to qualify for England (I think Alexei Kervezee). If these players move to a Test playing nation, how will ICC nations ever improve? As one of the posters has pointed out that Ireland with all their first choice players would be a better team than Bangladesh and could even give windies a real run for their money.

[daryl1985]

I'm not trying to be rude' date=' but then you surely have a problem with Pietersen, Trott, Prior and Strauss playing as well?[/quote'] Pietersen - He has an English mum so although i am not totally comfortable with it i can accept it. Trott - Don't like him playing for England at all as he qualifies through 1 grandparent. He also went out celebrating after the Saffers beat us in a test series a couple of years ago. Strauss and Prior - I think it is ridiculous that their name is brought up because they moved over to England when they were young children. Also don't like the idea that Kieswetter plays for England as he qualifies through his SCOTTISH mother. As a result, i heavily favour India when the 2 sides play each other.