Comparing the FairBreak Invitational and the European Cricket Network.

The sun is getting higher, the cool breeze is easing, just a bit. You can smell the new cut grass. Nights are longer, it all adds up to one thing. The start of a cricket season.

Developing your mental routine.

A look at the latest announcements by the ICC about women's ODI status for associates and the men's T20 World Cup pathway.

The first weekend of the season.

A look at Thailand women's bid for ODI status at the ongoing ICC meetings, and the end of the Kinrara Oval.

It’s time to stop over-thinking and enjoy yourself.

The best thing about team sport is that you have teammates. I often wonder about individual sports people and the lonely life of their chosen pastime. Perhaps it suits them. But it was team sport for me, cricket in the summer, rugby in the winter. What a treat, 10 teammates in the sun and a whopping 14 in the muck and rain.

To Hull and back - The ICC's haphazard qualifier coverage.

India are coming, but where? Andre Previn, Andriy Voronin and keeping the Wolves from the door.

Lewis Patrick (Podge) Hughes is remembered by Deryck Vincent.

Tim David, the IPL and Australia.

The recent players’ survey on the Irish grounds used for international games made for very uncomfortable reading for the clubs concerned. But was it fair?

All cricketers are equal but some are more equal than others. Animal Farm, the axing of Kevin O'Brien, and grounds for concern, as a damning players survey slams the facilities and grounds in Ireland.

Deryck Vincent argues why left-handers are in a league of their own.

There are only three things wrong with this team: they can't bat, they can't bowl and they can't field.

When pace ruled the world.

Did I miss again? A look at just how badly Ireland's predictions were missed in 2021.

With the modern game so favouring batters, is it time ball tampering was allowed to redress the balance argues former Irish international Simon Corlett.

You have heard the argument before, things were better in my day. Like it or not, we have probably all been guilty of making the statement and some definitively so. Maybe they were or perhaps not.

A look back at associate cricket in 2021.

Reading Deryck Vincent’s wonderful recollections of a great game in which we played together in 1986 inspired me to write my appreciation of it, and my experience as an Aussie in Ireland that season.

The trials and tribulations of youth squad selections.

Games you can't forget. Clontarf v YMCA, September 6th 1986.

Reviewing the ICC's streaming service, and a look at Commonwealth Games qualifying.

I thought I'd keep things a little light-hearted this week with a look at various people's experiences around the cricketing tea. From pond swill and turnip sandwiches to incredible feasts.

12th man duties: most team sports allow for substitutes, players who can replace injured players, a tactical rejig or let's face it, just because someone is having a shocker.

Say what you see.

The ICC has failed as a governing body.

The end of the ODI Super League and other ICC announcement plus an international round-up.

Scotland and Namibia in the T20 World Cup, ICC rankings nonsense, players with long careers and a round-up of recent qualifiers.

Looking at the performance of the associate sides in the T20 World Cup and what is to come for Scotland & Namibia. Also a round up of recent regional qualifiers.

Looking ahead to a busy period of international cricket, and back at some recent action.

Qualification in the time of Covid, more on the European women's qualifier and an international round-up.

Issues raised by the ongoing European qualifier for the Women's T20 World Cup, answering a question from last week and an international round-up.

Proper cricket and an international round-up.

Paras Khadka's retirement and news from the USA.

Cricket and the Olympics, thoughts on the Hundred and Sandeep Lamichhane missing out again.

Minor League Cricket, the controversy in Malta and Germany's winning run.

Associate players in franchise cricket, the World Cup Super League, more internationals on the way in Europe and whatever happened to the Global T20?

The Intercontinental Cup, time wasting and a feeling of normality.

World Cup expansion - the good, the bad and the unknown.

Mandatory release, dead rubbers, resources in local languages and rivalries resuming.

Common sense scheduling, Netherlands v Scotland and Major League Cricket.

Possible T20 World Cup expansion and return of the Intercontinental Cup, bamboo bats and looking forward to some international cricket.

Eric Clapton, Finnish snipers, Kawasaki bikes, Divine intervention, age is just a number, generation game, family matters, and it's good to talk, but don't engage.

Covid cancellations - actual and possible - and postponements, but some cricket remains.

Since I no longer play, coach nor administer the game of cricket, I am a bit of a sideline observer these days, an outsider looking in.

Down With This Sort Of Thing. Father Ted marketing ploys, food of the Gods, The Royle Family, fruits of the forbidden tree. My take on the interprovincial at Eglinton.

A deep dive into possible formats for a future 16 team World Cup.

The oldest swinger in town, teaching old dogs new tricks, identity crisis, Mike Gatting and Fifteen-to-one.

The European Super League, how many balls in an over, more on Olympic cricket and the Nepal tri-series.

A bridge too far, battle for hearts and minds, new stadium on the horizon, record year for the website plus good wishes to umpiring guru Paddy O'Hara.

The language of cricket, the Hundred and its American predecessor, and a chance of Olympic cricket.

Cricket Ireland are going to spend, spend spend. Getting more kids to play. Cunning plans, plus how to achieve real inclusion and diversity.

The associate inferiority complex, actual cricket taking place, associates on TV, Canadian season at risk?

Grounds for concern and optimism; senior and youth interpro news; kids' play; disappearance of the lefthanders; women's international prospects.

Giving Test status to a team that doesn't exist, USA franchise league, World Cup expansion and ODIs in Spain.

Lots and lots of government money for Cricket Ireland to spend. Can Cricket Ireland justify all those cars? A new chairman to replace Ross McCollum. Commonwealth Games presents opportunity to promote women's cricket in Northern Ireland.

Associate overseas players in county cricket, covid cancellations and cricket's intersection with baseball.

The Warriors go down a new path, the possibility of Test matches, the new domestic season, competition among the keepers, and the Wolves have been at the door.

Missing the Intercontinental Cup, the Dwayne Leverock catch, UAE player bans and US cricket administration.

The disappointment of the Wolves' performance in Bangladesh, still no matches for Ireland's Women, and St Patrick's Day remembered.

Women's world cup expansion, the Auty Cup and the T10 format.

A new chairman for Cricket Ireland, fixtures for Ireland's women, runs Down Under, the problems at Abbotstown, a new book on Irish cricket, and the approach of the new season.

The spectre of Covid, USA Under-19 championship, Everest Premier League and the return of Switzerland.

The CI awards, ten years on from Bangalore, Ireland's women to play again, a chastening experience for the Wolves, setbacks at Abbotstown.

Interpro movement; the Emerging Interpros; women are still waiting, Cricket Ireland staffing issues, and the absence of progress on a national stadium.

Cricket Ireland's interprovincial proposals mean there will be no equal distribution of talent, with Leinster Lightning keeping their almost exclusively international squad.

Interpro revamp to be unveiled; Irish And National Cups in 2021; Wolves ready to bay.

What we learned from Abu Dhabi; Big Roy; the irish Cup and women's international cricket.

New year, old problems; pastures new; good news; here come the girls; welcome to the world.