A professional solution to an amateur game

Warren Deutrom: 'There's a golden chance for us capitalise' © Martin Williamson

Irish cricket is at a crossroads. Their trouncing of Canada in the Intercontinental Cup final brings the curtain down on the most successful period of international cricket in the country's history. In the last three months they have beaten two Test nations and tied with another at the World Cup and retained the Associate four-day crown. But the hard work starts now.

The Irish Cricket Union certainly can't be accused of a lack of ambition. It realises that if the game is to grow and become a serious contender in the country - and the national side to become a consistent performer on the world stage - it has to grab this opportunity. The initial post-World Cup excitement has already started to dissipate and the challenge is to keep cricket in the headlines.

Since returning from the Caribbean there have been indications of the difficulties which lie ahead. Three of the leading players - Eoin Morgan, Boyd Rankin and Niall O'Brien - have county contracts and haven't been available for Friends Provident Trophy matches, although Morgan was released for the Intercontinental final. Another, Ed Joyce, was lost to England last year. Currently there is no way for a player to earn a living by playing cricket in Ireland. However, plans are being developed to bring a professional structure to the game, soon enough for the country's current generation of leading players to be enticed back to their homeland.

"There's a golden chance for us to capitalise and make sure the team continues to perform at the highest level," Warren Deutrom, the ICU's chief executive, told Cricinfo during the Intercontinental Cup final. "The best way to do that is by making sure we have some form of keeping them loyal to us. We need to look at whether the plan is to have a great team per se or are we aiming at the World Cup in 2011 which means we need to target the qualifiers in 2009."

If we believe central contracts are the best way forward, which I believe most people in Irish cricket do, then we need to work out how we'll pay for it and the best model to use

"If those are our objectives what are the best ways to achieve that. If we believe central contracts are the best way forward, which I believe most people in Irish cricket do, then we need to work out how we'll pay for it and the best model to use. What may be right for Boyd Rankin, Niall O'Brien and Eoin Morgan who have country contracts may not be right for the other players who won't have other careers to look forward to."

For a country like Ireland to move from amateur to professional cricket is a massive undertaking and Deutrom is aware decisions can't be made lightly. "What we don't want to do is rush into it, get it wrong and waste money that has been provided to us by commercial outlets, the ICC or Irish Sports Council," he said. "But conversely we can't take too long over it because it's a World Cup year, and what better time to take advantage. Also, the likes of Boyd, Eoin and Niall won't be making decisions about their contracts in March or April but in the middle of this year."

Sadly for the ICU money doesn't grow on trees, so the major challenge will be find funding. This is one of the main reasons behind the decision to host the India-South Africa series in June, which has upset the ECB and means Ireland are likely to discontinue their participation in the Friends Provident Trophy. The three-match series, however, will provide vital revenue and allow the national team ODIs against both teams. In July they will also play West Indies during a quadrangular event including Netherlands and Scotland .

Somehow Ireland need to keep hold of the likes of Boyd Rankin © Getty Images

"As a full member of ICC we have the right to raise our own revenues and this is way we can see it in the short term," Deutrom said on the decision to stage the ODIs. "We have brought on board a professional TV sales person to help sell the rights on our behalf and are keen for some sort of broadcast into the UK and Ireland . But we are also keen to make as much money as possible, not just for the sake of it, but to invest in the players. There hasn't been any formal notice from ECB as yet but from the ICU point of view we would need a lengthy discussion about whether we'd want to continue in the FP Trophy in any event."

This is a clear sign that the health of Ireland's future lies in playing international and top-level Associate cricket. Already this year they have played 23 ODIs, but it is vital that they can continue playing a high volume of matches outside of World Cup years.

"The key thing is, if we were to have a professional structure, would there be enough cricket for them [the players]?" said Deutrom. "We'd be looking to move into an arena where we could participate in overseas tours to other Full Member countries. Whether we play their A teams or the full side for a couple of full ODIs is yet to be seen. Then there's the domestic programme. We want to have as many ODIs as possible and a situation where we continue to play as many of the top Associates as possible."

Deutrom concedes that he has a tough task ahead of him to enable Ireland to build on their recent success. "At the moment the Irish Sports Council, who are an enormously generous supporter of the game, are our biggest source of funding and commercial revenues very small. We need to reverse that trend and it is one of my key jobs to enable us to stand on our own two feet through sponsorship and broadcasting."

Given what has been achieved in the last few months you wouldn't say it's beyond Ireland, but the next challenge is greater than anything before.

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