Cricket Ireland confident in application

Cricket Ireland are confident they can mount a strong case for inclusion among the game's elite Test-playing nations.The Irish authorities last week notified the International Cricket Council of their intention to apply for full membership status.Ireland's case is backed by the excellent performances in recent seasons of their senior side, who reached the last eight of both the 2007 World Cup and this year's World Twenty20.'Looking at most areas of the game, I would say we stack up well by comparison to the other countries that have been elevated to full-member status in the last 20, 30 or 40 years,' said Cricket Ireland chief executive Warren Deutrom.'Our playing record speaks for itself; off the pitch we have reformed our governance structures - we generate 70% of our income from outside of ICC and at junior level we are European champions at most levels.'When we took a good look at ourselves and our structures we felt the time was right to put this forward.'Cricket Ireland have almost become victims of their own success at associate level in recent years, with the likes of Ed Joyce and Eoin Morgan defecting to England to pursue Test ambitions.Deutrom said earlier this year that Ireland were becoming frustrated by the game's 'glass ceiling' and called for the ICC to identify a clear pathway for countries aspiring to reach top level.'The ICC's response to that was they hadn't seen an application,' said Deutrom. 'I think this is a response to their response.'It was, "Put your money where your mouth is" and apply for full membership. That's precisely what this is.'Deutrom is also encouraged the ICC are to discuss the implementation of a more formal process for applying for full membership.That will be considered in the coming months, and a formal application could be submitted by Ireland next year.Success could see Ireland become the first country admitted to the Test-playing fold since Bangladesh in 2000.The subsequent problems encountered by Bangladesh - who have struggled to compete in the Test arena - could count against the Irish.But Deutrom is prepared to adopt a conservative approach.'Cricket is unique as a sport in that you have to achieve a certain membership status to play a particular form of the game," said Deutrom.'By introducing a process for the first time, they are trying to put more structure to it. We would be prepared to be flexible in the form of full membership we take.'Perhaps the ICC, in retrospect, may believe Bangladesh and Zimbabwe got involved in Test cricket too quickly. Perhaps it might have been worth allowing them to settle as full members in limited-overs cricket and then play Test cricket eventually.'We'd love to play Test cricket eventually - but at first, I think we would be satisfied with a form of full membership.' It has also been suggested political issues could affect Ireland's chances, with their elevation a possible threat to the power of the game's Asian bloc.Deutrom said: 'We understand there are politics in world cricket, but I sincerely hope the application will be assessed on its merits and not on any other intangible aspects.'In Ireland we have a history of cricket as long as any full member nation. We first played cricket in the 1790s. Cricket was the major sport in the 19th century.'There is a strong affinity with the game here and we believe we have a very good argument.'