It has been announced that the ICC have gone back on their decision to have the 2015 Cricket World Cup as a 10 team event which would have omitted the associate nations. The cricket governing body announced after the conclusion of the highly successful World Cup in India that the 2015 competition would contain just 10 teams. This decision received huge amounts of criticism and the ICC then decided to meet in June to discuss their decision. It was announced that the 2015 World Cup would contain 14 teams, which allows four associate nations to compete. The associate nations will have to qualify through a qualifying competition in which the four semi-finalists will progress.
Ireland and Netherlands will be firm favourites to qualify and this means there is only two more places for the remaining associate nations. Ireland and Netherlands are so far ahead of all the other associate countries and it constantly shows. The decision to allow 4 associate members in the 2015 World Cup is a massive boost for Irish Cricket who are currently searching for Test match status. The Irish have showed their quality over the past few years with some outstanding performances and results against the World's best. They are producing players who are currently impressing not just in England but on the World stage.
England's Eoin Morgan comes into mind straight away, currently a big part of England's ODI success. Former England player Ed Joyce has now returned to play for Ireland and he has been in fine form for Sussex this season. Not only do Ireland's bigger names continue to perform but the majority of Ireland's team are playing county cricket and succeeding. Niall O'Brien has firmly nailed down the wicket keeper- batsman position at Northants and recently scored his maiden first class one day century. His brother, Kevin has continued his fine World Cup form with some outstanding performances for Gloucestershire including an unbelievable century in a recent T20 match. Gary Wilson and Boyd Rankin both continue to get their games for Surrey and Warwickshire respectively. Ireland captain William Porterfield has had a terrific season for Warwickshire and has been a regular in the Bears' one day and four day sides. Youngster Paul Stirling has forced himself into Middlesex's team as an opening batsman with some scintillating performances in the shorter form of the game. 19 year old George Dockrell is yet to get a chance with Somerset thanks to injury but his time will certainly come. Ireland have also been buoyed by Hamish Marshall's decision to play for Ireland and the Irish side will be an even more dangerous outfit come 2015.
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