A number of regular names missing this week, as some players return to the Northern Hemisphere, but still plenty of players in action this week down under.

James Shannon may not know who he will be playing his club cricket for next year but there is no doubt what his main objective is for 2019 - a regular place in the Ireland team across all three formats.

It was an excellent 48 hours for Kevin O'Brien as he powered his Kathmandu Kings side to back-to-back wins in the Everest Nepal T20 tournament.

Hampshire Cricket have announced former Ireland Coach Adi Birrell as First Team Manager.

Cricket Ireland has endorsed recommendations and funding for the development of a new strategy for girl’s and women’s cricket in Ireland and an increase in white-ball fixtures in the Inter-Provincial Series in 2019.

Afghanistan are said to be pushing for a change in the date for their Test match against Ireland next year to the start of the tour rather than the end.

Former Irish international Reinhardt Strydom has called time on his cricket career after 18 seasons in Ireland.

Performance of the week must surely belong to Nathan Smith, who took a 7-26 in the first innings of Northern Districts 1st Grade game against Blacktown.

Cricket Ireland chiefs are to consider a proposal to host as many as three T20 interpro festivals next year as part of their plans to attempt to improve Irish rankings in the format.

West Indies will take part in a one-day international tri-series with Ireland and Bangladesh, as part of a major international men’s schedule that will see 16 international fixtures being played around Ireland in 2019.

CricketEurope statistician John Boomer has just published our latest statszone featuring all 57 T20 internationals played by Ireland Women since 2008.

Cricket Ireland has announced the national Under-15s Boys winter training squad.

Sunday Independent editor Cormac Bourke presented the Aengus Fanning International Emerging Player of the Year award to Una Raymond-Hoey on Friday night.

The Ireland annual awards show is scheduled for Dublin this Friday and the women's international winner will be one of Laura Delany, Cecelia Joyce and Gaby Lewis.

Clare Shillington and Ciara Metcalfe are both included in the top twenty of the ICC T20 rankings announced this morning.

Four overseas development scholarships have been awarded which will see Laura Delany, Kim Garth, Rebecca Stokell and Una Raymond-Hoey heading to Australia after the T20 World Cup tournament in November.

A superb 138 from Lorcan Tucker has kept Ireland A in control of their match against Gloucestershire Seconds.

Cricket Ireland has announced a strong 12-man Ireland Wolves squad for a four-day match against Gloucestershire 2nd XI to be played at Bristol Cricket Club next week.

JJ Garth and Gareth Delany took a combined seven wickets as Ireland Academy beat their Scottish counterparts by seven wickets.

The Irish Academy won the T20 series against their Scottish counterparts and a Future Stars XI thanks primarily to a series of powerful batting displays.

Gareth Delany's flying start at the top of the order propelled Ireland Wolves to a 51-run win (DLS) over Bangladesh A at Malahide to level the series and set up a decider at Malahide on Friday.

Ireland U17 skipper Neil Rock hit a brilliant 77 to lead his team to victory in the last match of the Celtic Cup series at Ayr.

Ireland U17s emulated the Under 15 side as they beat Scotland by 15 runs in Ayr to clinch the Celtic Cup.

Half centuries from Tim Tector and Nathan McGuire led Ireland U15s to a series clinching win against Scotland at Oak Hill.

Eleven players from the Leinster Cricket Union, alongside six each from the Northern Cricket Union and the North West Cricket Union, make up the selection under new coach Callum Atkinson.

t was semi-final day in the U19 CWC Division 2 - in Bangkok and four teams had the chance not only to reach the final but also to qualify for Division 1- Asia and move a step closer to playing in the next U19 World Cup.

The final day of the group stages in the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup Division Two – Asia Qualifier was a dramatic one as the last three semi-final places were decided.

The fifth day of the Asia Under 19 qualifier saw Saudi Arabia facing Qatar knowing that victory would guarantee them a place in the semi-finals from Group A.

Oman became the first team to reach the semi-finals as they just managed to overcome Saudi Arabia, but Bahrain missed out on qualification as they were beaten by Hong Kong.

Netherlands and New Zealand A all-rounder Logan Van Beek has been signed by Derbyshire as an overseas player for the 2019 season.

Scotland International Stuart Whittingham has signed for Gloucestershire on a three-year deal from Sussex.

The KNCB have joined Oman and Scotland in confirming their participation in a Quadrangular tournament alongside Ireland next February.

Somerset all-rounder Josh Davey has signed a contract extension which will see the Scotland International remain at the club until at least September 2020.

The Cricket Ireland board gave the go-ahead this week for an extra round of one-day (50-over) games and, if required, a Twenty20 festival in September, although that will not be confirmed until February.

The draws for the Irish Senior and National Cups have delivered some mouth watering clashes for Leinster sides.

Cricket Leinster Youth (CLY) were delighted to see current and recent alumni members receive forty-five selections in the Cricket Ireland (CI) squads unveiled last week.

Waringstown are one of five sides given automatic entry into the second round of the Irish Cup.

NCU Premier League champions CIYMS will have familiar opposition in the first round of the Irish Senior Cup next year.

The NW sides face some daunting tasks if they are to end their barren run in Ireland's Premier Cup competition.

In Irish Senior Cup holders Waringstown and runners up Merrion have byes into the second round.

An exciting opportunity exists with one of the NCU’s established Premier League Clubs for the 2019 season.

However, despite the loss of Irish international Simi Singh, and seam bowler, Jarred Barnes, Tector believes 2019 could be the prime season for YMCA to fulfil the potential that has been lurking within the club for a while.

Tim Simmonite to coach NCU Women squad in 2019.

Holders Brigade will start their defence of the NW Senior Cup with a home tie against Championship side Burndennett.

The draw for the 2019 NW Senior Cup will take place on Thursday morning at 08:30am on BBC Radio Foyle.

The curtain came down on the Munster Cricket season on Sunday with Tipperary County 2 capturing the one outstanding Division 2 title.

THE class rose to the surface on the final day of Ireland’s cricketing summer as Leinster Lightning retained the inter-provincial Cup.

Leinster Lightning skipper George Dockrell cut a proud figure as he posed with another interpro trophy at his home patch of Rathmines.

Skipper Cian Rock led by example as he took four wickets as Rush beat Eglinton to claim the All-Ireland U15 crown.

The Dragons have completed a series victory for the second time in three years despite the final match of the Super 3s being abandoned after the first innings at Clontarf.

The Super 3 series draws to a conclusion at Clontarf when champions Dragons meet the Scorchers in a 50-over clash at Castle Avenue.

Lara Maritz starred with the ball as the Dragons beat the Typhoons in a match which had a distinctly end of season feel about it.

Cork Harlequins tightened their grip on 2nd place in the MCU Premier Division as both Limerick and Co Kerry lose ground.

The NCU levelled their Under 11 interpro series against Leinster when they won a thrilling encounter in Ringcommons.

While Limerick Cricket Club's involvement in the Irish National Cup spans a mere three years, their involvement in the competition reflects the trials and tribulations of their 50 year history.

The NCU clinched their Under 13 interpro series after beating Leinster by 63 runs at Ringcommons on Friday.

Half centuries from Sam Topping and Rory Ellerby helped NCU U13s beat Leinster in their interpro match at Stormont.

Jerseys longstanding scorer, Gina Kearns, is now a certified Level 3 scorer.

Charley Webster has been selected for the Warwickshire Under 14 County age group winter programme.

Josh Lawrenson has been selected for the 2019 Hampshire Academy intake.

Dean Morrison has been appointed Match Manager for the MCC tour to Thailand, beginning on 20 November.

Three Jersey senior squad players are currently developing their cricketing skills overseas.