Ireland plan West Indies return trip

Cricket Ireland chairman Ross McCollum has said there is the possibility of a return visit to the Caribbean next year, if dates can be agreed with the West Indies Cricket Board.


Hoping to build on the success of the last week, when Ireland achieved their first Twenty20 success against one of the major cricket nations, McCollum confirmed the future was all about Ireland's success on the field.

"For us to have the opportunity of playing the three games out here has been very beneficial and we have to thank the WICB, and hopefully they will give us the opportunity again," said McCollum.

"We'd love to come back next year, there is no guarantee and it depends on dates and finance.

"We are making progress on the field, but every game the lads play now they are under pressure to perform because we are only as good as our performance on the pitch, as that opens doors for us. If we don't perform that door closes very quickly."

That includes the World Twenty20 in Bangladesh and two one-day internationals against Sri Lanka, who could be as high as second in the world rankings when they come to Clontarf in May.

National coach Phil Simmons says the confidence from their T20 win over the West Indies last week will be a big positive going on to Bangladesh.

"That confidence is a boost for the players more than anything, but at the same time we should have won the second one but didn't bat as well," he said.

"Hopefully by the time we get to Bangladesh we will have put everything together."