Cricket: National coach Adrian Birrell tells James Fitzgerald why the coming tournament is a make-or-break event for the sport in Ireland.
With fluffy white clouds above and the sun bursting through every now and then, spending midsummer's day on The Lawn at Waringstown Cricket Club is a very pleasant experience. Unless, of course, you are used to the idyllic Eastern Cape of South Africa.
He likes the cricket in Ireland, he likes the fishing in Ireland, but national coach Adrian Birrell has never got used to the weather that interferes with both and reminds him how far he is from home.
"How can this be midsummer's day? It's too cold," he says, clearly still not aware that 20 degrees and dry was pretty good for Co Down in June.
After a brief grumble, Birrell is happier when he talks about things that he has managed to influence since he arrived from Port Elizabeth three years ago. In that time
he has overseen the transformation of a team devastated by their failure to qualify for the last World Cup into a group who fully expect to be lining out alongside Australia, India and England in the Caribbean two years from now.
Since he took over from Ken Rutherford as coach, Birrell (44), has introduced several players to the squad, helped to sculpt the survivors from the 2001 fiasco into better performers and taken his "no stone unturned" mantra to almost obsessive lengths.
There is now only one item on the agenda as far as Irish cricket is concerned: finishing in the top five of the ICC Trophy, which starts next week, and thus qualifying for the 2007 World Cup.
Beating Surrey in the C&G Trophy last year was a fine achievement, overcoming Zimbabwe and the West Indies was a great feeling for anyone who witnessed it; but victories over the less impressive likes of United Arab Emirates, US and Uganda in the next couple of weeks will bring far more joy to cricket fans on this island.
"I think it would be huge (to qualify)," he says, "because for the first time we would be seen on the world stage. We are not going to win the World Cup, but if we get there and compete, it raises awareness, raises standards and raises the profile of Irish cricket. It's not all about the World Cup per se. It's bigger than that.
"It gets us into the high-performance countries, it gets us into 'A' side tours possibly coming to Ireland, it gets us more finances from the ICC. It enables us to have the resources to grow the game."
And failing to qualify? "It would be a tragedy. I don't know what would happen to the team, but I'd be gone and I wouldn't expect anything else. The blame would lie at my door. In any job you are employed to reach certain targets. My target is to make it into the World Cup. It's very plain and simple."
Birrell was perhaps always destined to become a coach. Like many sportspeople, his first influence was his father, Harry, who was coach for many years at St Andrew's College, Grahamstown.
"He studied cricket like I've never know anyone else. I was coached from the time I was nought, so right from a young age I was coached cricket at every meal. Between every shot on the golf course, I was lectured to about cricket, so it seemed natural for me to do the same."
Even while he was a player, he was passing on his knowledge. Being fluent in Xhosa, a native language widely spoken in that part of South Africa, he was encouraged from the age of 23 to coach cricket in the townships of Port Elizabeth.
This was the early-1980s, 10 years before the end of the apartheid system. "It wasn't safe and it was challenging. It was a calling," he says.
Although a useful leg spinner, this was the era before Shane Warne made the art fashionable and Birrell feels he was not allowed to reach his full potential as a player, playing just 45 first-class matches. "Not that I'm a Shane Warne, but I don't think I was given a fair go. I think I should have played more for my province," he says with just a hint of bitterness.
Despite once taking eight wickets in an innings, he was, for many years, in and out of the Eastern Province (EP) side, and gradually the coaching overtook the playing. He coached the under-19s at EP, followed by the B side. After a spell as coach of South Africa under-19s, he was appointed head coach at EP before coming to Ireland.
"I don't miss playing because I still have the adrenaline and the nerves of being involved, of being in the dressingroom, of giving team talks and working out strategy," he says, admitting that at times he is a little too nervous watching Ireland play, which he says is one of his weaknesses.
Softly spoken and with no sense of arrogance, it pains him when he has to drop a player. A case in point is John Mooney. The North County bowler is unlucky not to be included in the squad of 14 for the ICC Trophy, and with some players unavailable for the matches against the MCC last week, it hurt Birrell to see Mooney continuing to play so well.
"John was a whisker away," he said while looking out at him in Waringstown on Tuesday. "Someone has to be left out and John was desperately unlucky."
As if to underline the point, just as Birrell said that Mooney pulled off a spectacular, one-handed catch, diving full length to his right, to dismiss MCC captain Darren Bicknell. Birrell went silent and then, with a sigh, quietly pointed out that it was the third such catch Mooney had made lately.
Despite the cool, wet summers, Birrell has pledged his medium-term future to Ireland. This week, the sale came through on a house for his family in Malahide, Co Dublin.
"My roots are Eastern Cape and I am an Eastern Cape product and always will be. It's very, very close to my heart. But I have enjoyed my coaching time with Ireland and I have no other ambition except to take Ireland as far as they can go. I have no ambition to coach any other country, including South Africa. This is where my ambitions lie."
He pauses, then adds: "And they all could come unstuck in the next two weeks if we don't qualify."
Another pause, then a smile: "But I don't think they will."
The ICC Trophy: At a Glance
Section A
Ireland - The bookmakers' favourites to win the trophy, Ireland have the obvious added advantage of playing at home. With Ed Joyce in the team, the leading batsman playing in England at present, and a generally strong squad, they should take one of the five qualifying spots in the 2007 World Cup.
UAE - The United Arab Emirates are a bit of an unknown quantity, but always manage to put up a good side of Pakistan-born players for this tournament. ICC Trophy winners in 1994, they will have a strong spin attack and an experienced campaigner in captain and all-rounder Khuram Khan.
US - The US Cricket Association has had its funding suspended by the ICC amid allegations of dodgy elections and are no longer welcome at ICC meetings. They have picked an aging but still talented side of ex-pat West Indians, such as Clayton Lambert and Hamish Anthony. They might struggle with depth in bowling.
Uganda - Uganda is an up-and-coming nation in the world of cricket. They have plenty of talent in this team, particularly with a couple of excellent fast bowlers. They lack experience and may still be a little naïve tactically. They are not expected to make it through to the semi-finals.
Denmark - Danish cricket has been in somewhat of a decline since they beat Ireland in this tournament four years ago. Ireland crushed them in the European Championships last summer in Utrecht and they will be looking at Bobby Chawla and Frederick Klokker to perform miracles.
Bermuda - The outsiders from this group, Bermuda will be expected to struggle. Captain Clay Smith and middle order batsman Charlie Marshall have done well at this level before, and they also boast a Trinity College Dublin graduate among their ranks in team physio Danny Morgan.
Section B
Scotland - One of the favourites, Scotland have been playing regularly against full-time opposition in the Totesport League in England. Although hit by the loss of their most consistent bowler, Asim Butt, through a drugs ban, they still possess plenty of potential match-winners in Dougie Brown, Craig Wright, Gavin Hamilton and Fraser Watts.
Netherlands - The Dutch are reigning champions of this competition and have plenty of players left from four years ago. Luuk van Troost and Tim de Leede are seasoned campaigners, while Edgar Schiferli showed at the European Championships last summer that he is a quality all-rounder. Should make the semi-finals at least.
Namibia - Namibia were narrowly beaten by the Dutch in the 2001 final and will fancy their chances of appearing in their second World Cup on the trot. They have a cricketing dynasty in the Berger family, with four of them in the squad of 14, but this is probably the more difficult group and they will have to fight to make to the last four.
Canada - The host nation from the last ICC Trophy, Canada made it through to the 2003 World Cup beating Scotland in the play-off. They still have their hard-hitting Australian-born batsman John Davison, who will captain the side, but they could struggle in this tough section.
Oman - Leaving 48 degrees, the Omanis have struggled a little with the weather here since arriving a couple of weeks ago, to the point that they even sent ICU secretary John Wright out to get thermal underwear for them. Having come through the qualifiers to get here, they have nothing to lose.
Papua New Guinea - Rank outsiders in this group having traditionally struggled against the better ICC Associate countries such as Scotland and the Netherlands. They did beat the US in the last ICC Trophy though.
What is the ICC Trophy? Above all, this is the qualifying tournament for the 2007 World Cup. It is a chance for the associate members of the International Cricket Council to win the opportunity to play against the big boys such as Pakistan, Australia and South Africa in the Caribbean two years from now.
This is the eighth time it has been held and the first time in Ireland. The event will be staged at 26 venues - the most ever used in an ICC Trophy - around Belfast, Derry and Dublin, with the group stages being held in the North and northwest while the knock-out matches all take place in Leinster.
How does it work? There are 12 teams split into two sections. Each country plays the others in their group once and then the top two get through to the semi-finals. With five places in the World Cup up for grabs, those semi-finalists have all qualified. The two third-placed teams then play-off for the last remaining ticket to the West Indies. All the knock-out results are important for future ICC seedings, and the final will take place on July 13th in Castle Avenue, Dublin.
So who's going to win? Well, the bookies say Ireland. Paddy Power have the host team as 9 to 4 favourites with reigning champions the Netherlands second favourites along with Scotland at 7 to 2. Other countries with a realistic chance are the United Arab Emirates, Namibia and possibly the US.
The number one priority for all these nations, however, will just be to get into the top five. Paddy Power are confident that Ireland will manage to do that, quoting 1 to 4 that Ireland will be taking part for the first time in a World Cup finals.
How have Ireland done in previous ICC Trophies? Generally, not well. They came very close in Malaysia in 1997, but were beaten in a play-off by Scotland. Four years ago in Toronto, they under-performed and only came eighth. It is interesting to note that of the five teams that have won the ICC Trophy, three - Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka - are now playing Test cricket. Winning can give an enormous boost to cricket in that country.
How can I see it? There was talk that Sky Sports would be broadcasting the semi-finals and final live, but TV coverage will now be confined to a highlights package after the event. It won't break the bank to go to the games though. For the Ireland matches, tickets cost 8/£10, with under-16 and members of the Irish Cricket Union getting in free. Admission to the final will be 10 (€5 for ICU members and free for under-16).
All the other games are free to all. For tickets contact the ICU at Sport HQ, Joyce Way, Parkwest, Dublin 12, (01) 6251170.
How can I find out more? There is an excellent website at www.cricketireland.org that has a large section devoted to the ICC Trophy. Or contact the Irish Cricket Union direct on (01) 6251170.
Match Schedule
Friday, July 1st - Ireland v Bermuda (Stormont), Denmark v Uganda (Muckamore), United Arab Emirates v US (Downpatrick), Netherlands v Papua New Guinea (Osborne Park), Scotland v Oman (Shaw's Bridge), Namibia v Canada (Woodvale).
Saturday, July 2nd - Ireland v Uganda (Comber), Denmark v US (Armagh), United Arab Emirates v Bermuda (Lisburn), Netherlands v Oman (Carrickfergus), Scotland v Canada (Bangor), Namibia v Papua New Guinea (Newforge).
Sunday, July 3rd - Reserve Day
Monday, July 4th - Ireland v United Arab Emirates (Stormont), Denmark v Bermuda (Cliftonville), Uganda v US (Lurgan), Netherlands v Namibia (Osborne Park), Scotland v Papua New Guinea (Shaw's Bridge), Oman v Canada (Muckamore).
Tuesday, July 5th - Ireland v US (Waringstown), Denmark v United Arab Emirates (Bangor), Uganda v Bermuda (Comber), Netherlands v Canada (Eglinton), Scotland v Namibia (Limavady), Oman v Papua New Guinea (Drummond).
Wednesday, July 6th - Reserve Day.
Thursday, July 7th - Ireland v Denmark (Bangor), Uganda v United Arab Emirates (Lurgan), US v Bermuda (Waringstown), Netherlands v Scotland (Stormont), Oman v Namibia (Comber), Canada v Papua New Guinea (Downpatrick).
Saturday, July 9th - Semi-Final 1: 1st A v 2nd B (Castle Avenue); Semi-Final 2: 2nd A v 1st B (Milverton); Semi-Final 3: 3rd A v 4th B (Malahide); Semi-Final 4: 4th A v 3rd B (Inch) Semi-Final 5: 5th A v 6th B (Rathmines) Semi-Final 6: 6th A v 5th B (Anglesea Road)
Sunday, July 10th - Reserve Day.
Monday, July 11th - 3rd-4th Place: Loser SF1 v Loser SF2 (Malahide) 5th-6th Place: Winner SF3 v Winner SF4 (Castle Avenue) 7th-8th Place: Loser SF3 v Loser SF4 (Milverton) 9th-10th Place: Winner SF 5 v Winner SF6 (Inch) 11th-12th Place: Loser SF5 v Loser SF6 (Rathmines).
Tuesday, July 12th - Reserve Day.
Wednesday, July 13th - Final: Winner SF1 v Winner SF2 (Castle Avenue).
Thursday, July 14th - Reserve Day.
