CRICKET IRELAND HAS unveiled plans for the construction of a new high-performance training facility as the building blocks for the sport’s growth on this island continue to be laid.
The national performance centre will be based on the National Sports Campus in Blanchardstown and will include 14 outdoor grass nets, a 90-metre outfield for fielding work and centre wicket practice and an artificial practice area.
The announcement of the €600,000 project comes as a major boost to Cricket Ireland, who have received support from the International Cricket Council, the Government, Sport Ireland and Denis O’Brien.
“The development of Cricket Ireland’s first-ever dedicated outdoor training centre is a huge step forward for Irish cricket,” Cricket Ireland CEO, Warren Deutrom, said.
“For the first time, our performance squads – male and female, senior and junior, national, provincial and academy – will be able to train on a day-to-day basis in a state-of-the-art facility controlled by Cricket Ireland.
“We are grateful to the Government and Sport Ireland for providing us with the land, and to the ICC which is clearly increasing its support for Ireland’s aspirations.”
The latest development project follows a joint venture with Cricket Scotland to build a warm-weather training centre in La Manga and the awarding of Ireland’s domestic interprovincial competition first-class status by the ICC.
Work on the new facility in Blanchardstown will begin in early 2017 and will be situated adjacent to the existing High Performance Training Centre on the Campus. This will enable Ireland’s top cricketers to avail of the training, analysis and rehab facilities on site.
“Sport Ireland is delighted to add cricket to the growing list of sports with a presence on the Sport Ireland National Sports Campus,” John Treacy added.
“Through its performances both on and off the field in the last number of years, Cricket Ireland has shown that cricket has become a sport of national significance.
“Earlier this year Cricket Ireland launched an ambitious strategic plan which aims to make cricket mainstream, and the development of these world-class training facilities at the Sport Ireland National Sports Campus will assist this objective as the sport continues to grow.”
Following elevation to the ICC’s 12-team ODI structure last year, and the granting of an additional $500,000 for hosting matches, Ireland have home fixtures against New Zealand, Bangladesh, Afghanistan and West Indies to look forward to in 2017.
Meanwhile, Ed Joyce was yesterday named as the KPC Group International Men’s Player of the Year having scored 522 runs during the 2016 season at an average of 58. Ciara Metcalfe won the Women’s award.
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