Handle with care

Dave Sihra (Substack - Dave Meets Ball)

For Irish Cricket anyways, 2026 begins proper with the kids as Ireland Under-19s Men soon begin their campaign in Windhoek, Namibia for the upcoming ICC Under-19 World Cup.

There’s a lot going on in the Irish Cricket space at the moment besides the action in Southern Africa. Ireland Senior Women are about to begin their crucial Global Qualifier for the Women’s T20 World Cup in England this summer.

Ireland Senior Men meanwhile brace themselves for three T20Is against a hungry Italy side just before the Men’s T20 World Cup next month in India and Sri Lanka.

However in many ways Under-19 World Cups can give you a really good idea of where your cricket ecosystem is at. Who is coming through. How is your pathway system looking etc etc.

By contrast, senior World Cups might not tell you a whole lot. You could get unlucky with a toss on a tricky wicket (or maybe get very lucky). You could be the victim of poor logistics (see New York, 2024). Illness may play a role and there’s always the weather.

Ireland Under-19 Women suffered a difficult campaign this time last year at their World Cup in Malaysia. They lost to the USA by nine wickets in a group game, then beat Pakistan in an incredible comeback to dramatically grab a spot in the Super Sixes.

In the next stage Ireland suffered defeats to both South Africa (who eventually made the final) but also Nigeria which was definitely a big blow to captain Niamh MacNulty and the playing group.

For context, it’s important to note that the side were missing Amy Hunter through injury as well as Aimee Maguire because her bowling action had been reported just weeks before in India during an ODI.

Freya Sargent, who has since stepped away from Ireland’s Senior set-up, performed well during the tournament as one of the leaders in the group but struggled with a shoulder injury immediately after. Lara McBride and Kia McCartney have progressed from that team to senior level, while Jenny Jackson’s left arm pace is also worth keeping track of.

That tournament journey probably didn’t pan out the way head coach Glen Querl and his players had hoped. But what would be the expectations of Pete Johnston’s Ireland Under-19 Men’s team as they get ready for action in Group A?

With the top three progressing, Ireland would hope to reach the next round care of a win against Japan. However the odd thunderstorm or afternoon shower could scupper that exact plan.

If Ireland were to go through as the third-best team in the group they would then most likely face South Africa and the West Indies, but if we were to somehow secure the second spot in Group A then it would likely be us facing Afghanistan or either of South Africa and West Indies - depending on who got top spots in Group D.

Suffice to to say, you’ll probably be playing either Afghanistan, South Africa or the West Indies. Not much of a muchness.

Perhaps Ireland on a very good day could get a result against Sri Lanka to take second place in Group A, but the real disaster for these players would be Japan finishing in third.

Could Ireland potentially get a result against Australia? Possible, but perhaps unlikely. Their captain Oliver Peake recently hit a last ball six for Melbourne Renegades to beat Perth Scorchers in the Big Bash League and has ten first class games under his belt.

This is of course a pathway event so results shouldn’t be the deciding factor in determining how this group of players are progressing. But hopes will be high after beating New Zealand in the last edition of this tournament and finishing 8th.

Ireland have also secured automatic qualification for the previous two World Cups by virtue of where they finished. They need to finish in the top ten again to maintain this.

Confidence however is high, and a possible semi-final berth has been in the conversation during the cycle of this team. That’s of course incredibly ambitious but that’s the position head coach Pete Johnston, his players and the other coaching staff feel they’re at.

There are obviously quite a few talented players in this group, but here are a handful to watch out for:

Captain Oliver Riley who is playing his second U-19 World Cup is obviously very experienced having featured in 2024’s Emerging Ireland’s List A series against West Indies Academy. Last year Riley also played for Munster Reds and acquitted himself quite well. Plus he has definitely built up some additional strength to go with his height. Riley hits a beautiful length but also keep an eye out for his batting - he played a jaw-dropping on drive while batting for the Reds during last year’s IP20 Festival in Pembroke off David Delany.

Well Reuben Wilson is definitely experienced. The vice-captain is playing his third U-19 World Cup. Been there, done it, has the kits. Wilson has also featured quite a bit for the current Leinster Lightning playing group which have been so dominant. Whereas Riley hits the surface, Wilson glides in and can get the ball to kiss the pitch. Expect some absolutely glorious deliveries with the new ball and for Wilson to possibly stand in as captain if management feel the need to rotate the seamers and rest Riley.

On the squad list it’s very hard to look past Rob O’Brien. There’s that surname. Uncle Kevin O’Brien who is also his head coach with Railway Union has already noted in interviews the similarities to Niall (also uncle) with all those left-handed pulls and cuts. There’s been his performances which have been solid. Rob, 17, was also brought into the Under-19s set-up at 15 and there were definitely conversations among pathway coaches about the need to challenge him. There’s already quite a few in the squad, but keep an eye out for O’Brien’s leg-spin.

Last year they lost the five-match Youth ODI series against Zimbabwe (4-1), but one of the standout performers was definitely Seb Dijkstra who was both the second-highest run-scorer and wicket-taker from both sides. With his leg-spin there’s a simple action, plenty of rip, and he was also someone turned to by the captain in tight spots. But the biggest surprise has been his batting. Dijkstra has effectively gone from a lower order batter to the top five. The Merrion man has developed at rapid pace so the only anxiety may be how to continue that growth in the set-up. However over the last few months he’s been ripping them at Brighton Cricket Club in Melbourne and been training with the International Cricket Programme. Watch this space.

Another player who has been training with the International Cricket Programme is the mustachioed Adam Leckey who is this year’s recipient of the Cricket Ireland Overseas Scholarship that’s run in partnership with Randwick Petersham Cricket Club in Sydney. Leckey, who was the leading run-scorer on that Zimbabwe tour, finished up with a very impressive 323 runs at 80.75 and also led Ireland to their only win in the final match with 91 not out. He’s a handy bowler and last year made his debut for the Northern Knights in both the IP50 and IP20. Like Dijkstra it will be fascinating to see how Leckey has developed while away in Australia.

Perhaps the real measure of this Under-19 Men’s World Cup cycle will be how many end up challenging for higher honours. Each cycle will have its big players. John McNally from the last batch looks possibly the likeliest to kick on currently and featured in the 2025 Emerald Challenge, there’s also off-spinner Scott MacBeth, while Philippe Le Roux who captained in the 2024 tournament also put in some good performances with the bat for Munster Reds last year.

The five players mentioned from this current group are probably the most likely to kick on. But who is to say. Left arm spinner Alex Armstrong has also been very impressive with his speeds and can bowl in different stages of the game. Another to mention is CSNI quick Thomas Ford who has recently been training in Adelaide.
Daniel Murray put in some brilliant performances with bat and ball in Zimbabwe but unfortunately missed out on this World Cup through injury. Ethan Marshall misses out through exams.

There’s an absolute feast of Irish cricket coming up over the next few weeks with the Men’s Under-19s as well as the Men’s and Women’s Senior teams on the road. But perhaps it’s the performances in this tournament which will tell us the most about the health of the sport on the island.

This article was originally published on the Substack: Dave Meets Ball