When 18-year-old Cade Carmichael packed his suitcase in Durban, he jetted off to Belfast with the stated aim of playing for Ireland. That is expected to happen next week for the Instonians batsman, named in the Ireland squad to face the West Indies in Dublin.

PAUL STIRLING will lead an under strength Ireland team against West Indies in the first of three one-day internationals at Clontarf today, knowing the odds are not in favour of him adding to his personal successes against the visitors.

Craig Young and Curtis Campher have both been ruled out of the ODI series against West Indies.

Billingham Synthonia Cricket Club has been confirmed as the host of the 2025 North East Cricket Series later in the year.

The tri-series is perhaps best remembered on these shores for the marmalising an experienced Irish bowling lineup took at the hands of John Campbell and Shai Hope, the pair sharing an ODI record 365 run opening stand at Clontarf.

There are some intriguing clashes in the second round National Cup draw with 2014 winners Carrickfergus at home to Fox Lodge in one of the ties of the round.

Holders Phoenix have been drawn away to 2002 winners Malahide in one of three all-Leinster clashes in the last 16 of the Irish Senior Cup.

Cricket Leinster's President XI beat MCC Women by 22 runs in the first of their two games at Merrion.

William Porterfield has been named in the Ireland Over 40's team that will play against their English counterparts at High Wycombe next month.

Bella Armstrong and Rebecca Lowe’s record partnership led the Dragons to a seven wicket win in the Super Series50 interpro at Lisburn.

Tom Mayes is one of three Ireland players hoping for a debut in their ODI series against the West Indies that gets underway in Clontarf on Wednesday.

LORCAN TUCKER knows what he has to do to perform at his best and will be fully focused on the basics this week when Ireland take on the challenge of the West Indies in a three-match one-day international series at Clontarf.

With Glostrup's victory over Svanholm, Ishøj and Glostrup now lead Series 1A after 4 matches, while in Series 1B it is Skanderborg and KB on top.

In the NCU Women’s Premiership, Holywood top the table after they won by 55 runs at North Down in a high scoring game.

RUNS flowed in College Park on Saturday, as Saif Ur Rehman Malik scored an unbeaten 211 for Dublin University 2nd XI against Mullingar 2nd XI in a 40-over Division 10 match.

Hermes’ hopes of securing their first championship since 1946 survived a couple of major scares against VOC as they successfully defended a meagre total of 140.

There will be five teams from both Leinster and the North West, plus two apiece from the NCU, Munster and Connacht, in the last 16 of the National Cup.

Donemana completed the last 16 line-up in the Irish Senior Cup after a late-night thriller at The Lawn, thanks to a record chase in the competition by the North West champions.

Arbroath have emerged as the somewhat surprise early leaders of the Eastern Premier after fashioning a third straight victory of the campaign at the expense of winless Meigle.

It was a day to remember in the Irish Senior Cup as Donemana produced a record run chase to oust six-times winners Waringstown in the game of the day.

It was always going to be a huge ask for Woodvale to win their Irish Cup tie. Malahide at home was as kind a draw as they could have wished for – both teams had won only one match this season - but in the end the absences and injuries were too much to bear.

HOLDERS Lisburn made it two wins from two in the latest round of group matches in the Lagan Valley Steels T20 Cup, beating Muckamore by six wickets at Wallace Park.

Deryck Vincent pays an emotional tribute to his great friend Peter Prendergast who died earlier this week.

Stephen Doheny sent the watching Ireland selectors a message at Stormont yesterday with a match winning century as Munster Reds hammered the Northern Knights by six wickets.

WILLIAM McClintock’s amazing century off 30 balls for Donemana against Killyclooney last night – 10 fours and 9 sixes – could well be the fastest ever scored in Ireland.

It hasn’t been the best of starts to the season for Strabane, but the Red Caps got back on track with a vengeance on Saturday as they overcame the challenge of Donegal side St Johnston.

Raymond Curry continues to prove his quality for Donemana.

While most of the Premiership sides had little trouble accounting for their lower ranked opponents in the Senior Cup, Bready had to dig deep into their fighting reserves to overcome the challenge of near neighbours Fox Lodge in the Tyrone derby clash.

There were wins for Donemana, Eglinton, Coleraine, Bonds Glen, St Johnston, and Fox Lodge, while Newbuildings and Bready tied.

Curtis Campher has been named in the Munster Reds squad for their Interpro clash with Northern Knights at Stormont.

Dublin University made it two wins from two in their quest for the Siggins Cup, beating South Leinster by 20 runs at College Park.

There was sad news on Tuesday with the death of Peter Prendergast. A talented batsman with Clontarf predominantly and latterly Pembroke.

CADE CARMICHAEL’S century for the Northern Knights was in a losing cause as they twice threw away strong positions to lose to defending champions Leinster Lightning by four wickets at Oak Hill.

ANDY BALBIRNIE warmed up for next week’s one-day international series against the West Indies with a century for North-West Warriors in Cork yesterday before the Munster Reds scrambled to a three-wicket win in the InterPro Cup.

Svanholm and Ishøj both had comfortable victories in the weekend's Elitedivision matches.

There were convincing wins in the Women's Premiership for Fox Lodge and Bready, while Strabane collected the points after Coleraine forfeited.

The draws have been made for the quarter-finals of both the North West Senior and Sammy Jeffrey Cups.

The Northern Knights are hoping Paul Stirling is back in the squad for this week's clashes with Leinster Lightning and Munster Reds.

Harlequins had just enough in the batting tank to beat fierce rivals Cork County in their Munster Premier League match at Farmers Cross.

Cricket Ireland are receiving more money than ever, yet this summer is the most barren for senior internationals in a generation. Last week's dreadful interpro stream was the latest cutback. Where are they spending their money? Nathan Johns delves in.

Gaby Lewis was in the runs yet again making 137 as the Scorchers easily beat the Typhoons at Oak Hill in the Super Series.

Brian Gilmore remembers Anton Weir who sadly died recently. He was part of the Malahide Irish Senior Cup winning side of 2002.

The records continue to tumble at Shaw’s Bridge this season. Just two weeks after Neil Rock hit the highest 20-over score in the NCU, Instonians scored 458, the highest ever total in the Premier League.

There were victories on Sunday for Waringstown, Holywood and CSNI.

Carrick and Laurevale top Section One of the NCU after both won again.

A round up of the weekend's league and Scottish Cup action which saw two matches end with the scores level.

Instonians make the highest total while CIYMS duo break third wicket partnership record in a run-filled day in the NCU Premiership.

Wins in the Leinster Senior Cup for The Hills, Balbriggan, North County, Trinity, Railway Union, Pembroke, Clontarf and Phoenix.

The two senior ireland internationals added 212 for Lightning’s third wicket, with Tucker hitting five sixes in his 121, while Tector clearing the ropes three times making 120 from only 107 balls.

Lloyd Tennant will take up the Head Coach role for Ireland Women from June 1st, replacing Ed Joyce.

Irish cricket now has five affiliated Provincial Unions after Connacht Cricket Union (CCU) was endorsed at the Cricket Ireland Annual General Meeting.

Bryan O'Donnell will succeed Donna Armstrong as Cricket Ireland President, taking office in 2026.

Former Irish international Donna Armstrong has been formally appointed the Cricket Ireland President for the next 12 months, succeeding Stella Downes at a handover ceremony as part of the Cricket Ireland annual General Meeting.

Associate Ireland spent years crying out for Full Member fixtures but since their promotion to the top table they've become what they used to hate.

The World Cup Qualifier has demonstrated that women's cricket has outgrown an eight - or even ten - team World Cup.

Surrey has confirmed the signing of Irish international Amy Hunter.

Laura Delany scampered a leg-bye off the final ball of a thriller against Scotland in Lahore last night to give Ed Joyce a winning send off at the end of his six years as Ireland head coach.

Leah Paul hammered 67 not out from 40 balls, and Gaby Lewis and Amy Hunter both scored half-centuries in Lahore yesterday as Ireland worked off some of their World Cup qualifying frustrations with a 46-run victory over Thailand.

Ireland managed to beat Thailand by 46 runs to get their first win of the qualifiers but it was too little, too late.

Ireland threw away a winning position for the third time in five days in Lahore last night and their hopes of qualifying for the 50-overs World Cup are over after another heartbreaking loss to Bangladesh by two wickets.

Ireland Under 19s finished their Zimbabwe tour on a high and denied the hosts a clean sweep in the five-match YODI series in Harare.

There may have been a change of venue but it was a familiar tale of woe for Ireland Under 19's as they lost again to Zimbabwe in the fourth match of their youth ODI series.

Pembroke's Dan Murray led a spirited Irish fightback but it was in vain as Zimbabwe edged the third youth ODI by two wickets to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.

Zimbabwe Under 19s took a 2-0 lead in the five-match series against Ireland U19 with a ultimately comfortable 12 runs victory.

The countdown to next year’s Under 19 World Cup started for Ireland in one of the two host countries with a four wickets defeat by Zimbabwe at the Harare Sports Club.

Cricket Ireland grows as a company while outside funding increases. Yet more cricket is not being played. What is going on?

There was sad news this week with the death of former international Pat Dineen. By way of tribute we reproduce Edward Liddle's biography of the Munster legend.

Fixtures for the 2025 season of the Super Series have been released – this year the T20 Trophy competition will include three two-day festivals to provide a solid lead-in to the T20 World Cup European Qualifier in August. 

Pembroke's Olly Riley will captain a 14-player squad that has been selected for an upcoming tour of Zimbabwe in what will also be a first tour for the side in the southern African country.   

Mark Adair and Orla Prendergast crowned successful years in international cricket with the premier prizes at the 13th Business Plus Irish Cricket Awards.

Mark Adair and Orla Prendergast were the big winners at the 13th Irish Cricket Awards held in Dublin, as they were respectively named Men’s and Women’s International Player of the Year for 2024.