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Morgan, left, and Rankin, right, led England to victory in Ireland last September. Morgan Treacy/INPHO
The Slog Sweep

George Hook: 'No more than Keane in Saipan, they have abandoned their country'

Hook blasts Eoin Morgan and Boyd Rankin for pursuing their Test cricket ambitions with England.

GEORGE HOOK HAS slammed Eoin Morgan and Boyd Rankin and accused them of abandoning their country by declaring for England.

Irish cricket fans were left with a bitter taste when Morgan and Rankin led England to victory in a one-day international in Malahide last year.

The two — born in Dublin and Derry respectively — represented Ireland but then traded allegiances to pursue their dream of playing full Test cricket.

“It drives me mad,” Hook blasted in an in-depth interview on The Slog Sweep podcast.

“Every time that guy Morgan or that guy Rankin hit a four or take a wicket, I do my nut.

No more than Keane in Saipan, they have abandoned their country, and I’m appalled by that. I really am appalled.

Under Phil Simmons, Ireland have established themselves as the undisputed king of cricket’s second-tier Associate nations.

But until they receive ICC full member status — and with that, the right to play Test matches — there is a danger that more and more of their best young talent will look across the water.

“We’re this tiny, little island producing talent… and we’re allowing it to go away,” Hook added. “It’s not us who are allowing it, it’s cricket.

“It is like the chicken and egg. How do we become competitive if our best players are playing for England?”

“There are many examples of this in sport, where guys have said ‘No, I know there’s something else but I’m committed to this cause,’ and I think it is a cause.

“We’re only a spit away I think from Test status, and if we had Morgan and Rankin I think we’d be much closer.”

***

Click here to listen to this week’s episode of The Slog Sweep, hosted by Mark Robinson and Andrew Leonard.

The latest visit to ‘Club Corner’ is to St Johnston Cricket Club in County Donegal.

We also hear from Barry Chambers, Ger Siggins and David Holmes in ‘Around the Grounds’, this week’s ‘Performance of the Week’, the O’Neills ‘Team of the Week’, #AlmostCricketLegend stories and much, much more.

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