braveneutral wrote:Oh no... then Northants would only be destroyed by yet another side... and we would lose one of our best players...
But that would actually be a good idea and perhaps would allow for growth in the game in Ireland?
It would be a good idea, but the county championship is round-robin isn't it? If Ireland join then how many more games would be needed and how long would the championship take?
I think before Ireland join the County Championship at Div 2 it might be instructive for the ECB and CricketIreland to have Ireland play in one year in the Second XI Championship with their best players. If they can do really well there then one of three options could then be considered:
1. Keep Ireland in the Second XI Championship
2. Invite Ireland into the County Championship Division 2
3. Have the 4 Irish provinces of Leinster, Ulster, Munster and Connacht send teams into the Second XI Championship and see how they do.
Ireland may do well at the intercontinental cup and benefits from being in the Friends Provident Trophy and having players in the County Championship, but for Ireland to really develop it needs it's own multi-day domestic tournament (whether inter-provincial or inter-county) and having 4 Irish provincial teams playing multi-day cricket in the Second XI Championship might be a good start.