Cricket Ireland today announced the launch of a new Inter Regional Challenge Series. In 2011 the series will feature two games and the Series will be extended in 2012 to include three 50 over matches and a four team Twenty 20 competition.
The first game in the Series will take place on Sunday 15th May, 2011 at Bready Cricket Club. The game will feature a North XI versus South XI with the best cricketers available in the country playing under full ODI rules and conditions.
A second match will take place between the two sides later in the season and the winner of the Series will be decided on the basis of the results in the two games – in the event of both teams winning one game each in the series the winner will be determined on the basis of net run rate across the two games.
Mark Garaway, Cricket Operations Director at Cricket Ireland, will act as Tournament Director and he commented “the launch of the Inter Regional Series is an important step identified in the recent Domestic Review and has been built into Cricket Ireland’s new strategic plan. It is a great opportunity for players to showcase their ability in a competitive Series and provides a critical bridge between the club game and our International sides.”
The North XI will be coached by Ryan Eagleson with Brian Walsh as team manager and the side will be selected this week by the Northern based International Selectors (Ross McCollum and Peter Gillespie).
The Southern XI will be coached by Stephen Moreton and Jeremy Bray with Alan Lewis acting as team manager and the side will be selected by the Southern based International Selector, Brian MacNeice and Irish international Trent Johnston. Assistant coach to the Irish team, Peter Johnston, will provide video analysis support to both teams during the Series.
National team head coach, Phil Simmons said “I am really looking forward to the Inter Regional Series as it will give myself and the National Selectors a chance to see our best players compete against each other. We expect the Series to be highly competitive and it is a genuine chance for all involved to stake a claim for selection in the Senior squad.”
The extension of the Series in 2012 will see a three game 50 Over Series combined with a four team Twenty 20 event with details to be announced later in the year of the format and dates for these games in 2012.
All available players that are eligible to play for Ireland or are within one year of eligibility will be considered for selection
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