Ireland’s victory over West Indies proves Test status is warranted

Most of the Irish players play first-class cricket now and many of them are learning their trade in the demanding environment of the English county game. Almost on a daily basis they are being exposed to intense training and match situations and are doing so in very favourable conditions. This can only improve their game and that of their country.

If Ireland can reach the quarter-finals of the World Cup, which is now a very realistic proposition, it will be a huge achievement for them and will provide further evidence that Ireland are a fast-emerging nation in International cricket and one that cannot be ignored much longer.

I remember that a couple of world cups back people were saying similar things about Kenya. Unfortunately the team got no help from the ICC and they've gone backwards since then. I hope the same thing isn't allowed to happen to Ireland.

Don't think that will happen Gina ..... Ireland get exposure to English County Cricket to build on  ..

Well the West Indies will have it's place in test cricket challenged by Ireland in the years to come when the icc starts having a play off with the lowest ranked test team and the winner of the tournament among the associates. The West Indies will only have themselves to blame when the slip up and lose their test status.