Cricket Ireland recently published its Strategic Plan 2012 – 2015. Although it does not figure in the Plan itself, media attention focussed on the announcement of Ireland’s longer-term aim of playing Test cricket. The Plan is to prepare Irish cricket for this.
But it is much more than a High Performance Plan for Elite Players. It is clearly recognised that to move the sport forward it must have stronger roots.
The Strategy Plan has a vision for growing the game in schools and clubs. By 2015 the number of participants is to double to 50,000, there are to be over 1000 qualified coaches and 250 clubs across the four provinces. For clubs there is to be a national T20 competition, the introduction of a club accreditation scheme, more help for volunteers and much more.
Grass roots cricket will be advanced by identifying at least 10 strategic development areas. It is good to see specific mention of cricket in Munster and Connacht and of women’s cricket in Ulster. It is also nice to see that Cricket Ireland are willing to learn from other sports and reference the success of the GAA in creating partnerships with local authorities. Something that is beginning to bear fruit in Leinster at present.
Achieving the targets set will not be easy and inevitably will cause an amount of disruption to club cricket. It is important therefore that clubs carefully examine what is proposed and submit their thoughts and any concerns to the LCU.
This is an exciting time for cricket in Ireland. There is clearly a willingness to drive the sport forward. But it is important that clubs, and the volunteers that keep them going, get behind the Plan and become involved in shaping the way the Plan unfolds.