"For England this is the end of another unrelenting summer. Three Twenty20 internationals over the coming days will make it eight white-ball matches inside three weeks, excluding a rain-abandoned game against South Africa. Jacob Bethell is captain because Harry Brook merits a lie down in a dark room. For Ireland, their opponents in Malahide, north Dublin, it is a radically different story. It feels like the start of our winter programme, says Paul Stirling, the Ireland white-ball captain."
"We haven't played a home international series since the West Indies in June. It feels like we've closed the summer. Those three T20s in Bready three months ago included two washouts, adding to an already shrinking itinerary. A lack of cricket at home is an ongoing problem. Last year Cricket Ireland called off a tour by Australia, and Afghanistan's visit this summer was also cancelled, the governing body citing financial reasons."
"With no permanent stadium infrastructure, the costs of transforming club grounds into international venues has been a major stumbling block. We effectively have to build everything, says Warren Deutrom, who stepped away as CI's chief executive last month after 19 years in the job. Up go the temporary stands for England's visit. Yet these cancellations come as CI's annual income jumped from 10.2m to 16.4m in 2024 thanks to increased funding from the International Cricket Council."
England will play three T20 internationals in Malahide, forming eight white-ball matches inside three weeks, with Jacob Bethell captaining because Harry Brook needs rest. Ireland treats the series as the start of its winter programme, having played no home internationals since West Indies in June. Earlier T20s in Bready included two washouts, and recent tours by Australia and Afghanistan were cancelled for financial reasons. The absence of permanent stadium infrastructure forces Cricket Ireland to erect costly temporary stands to host internationals. Annual income rose from 10.2m to 16.4m in 2024 after increased ICC funding, prompting a strategic shift of resources toward the women's game.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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