Irish national cricket team

Ireland

Cricket Ireland logo
Personnel
Captain	William Porterfield
Coach	John Bracewell
Manager	Chris Siddell
International Cricket Council
ICC status	Associate (1993)
ICC region	Europe
WCL	N/A
Test Matches
First international	10 September 1855 v Gentlemen of England at Dublin
One-Day Internationals
World Cup Appearances	3 (first in 2007)
Best result	8th (2007)
As of 3 April 2016

The Ireland cricket team is the cricket team representing all of Ireland. They are an Associate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC), and ranked 12th in One Day International (ODI) cricket. Ireland played their first ODI in 2006 against England. Since then, they have gone on to play 117 ODIs, resulting in 51 victories, 57 defeats, 6 no results, and 3 ties. Contracts for players were introduced in 2009, marking the transition to becoming a professional team. Cricket Ireland is the sport's governing body in Ireland.

Cricket was introduced to Ireland in the 19th century, and the first match played by an Ireland team was in 1855. Ireland toured Canada and the United States in the late 19th century, and occasionally hosted matches against touring side. Rivalry with the Scotland national cricket team was established when the teams first played each other in 1888. Ireland's maiden first-class match was played in 1902.

In 1993 the Irish Cricket Union, the predecessor to Cricket Ireland, was elected to the ICC as an Associate member. Associates are the next level of team below those that play Test cricket. Due to their successes in the Intercontinental Cup and at the World Cup, they have been labelled the "leading Associate" and have stated their intention to become a full member by 2020. This would allow Ireland to become a permanent One Day International playing nation and eventually grant them Test status.

Ireland qualified for the Cricket World Cup for the first time in 2007, and has since played in the 2011 and 2015 tournaments. They also qualified for the 2009, 2010, 2012, and 2014 World Twenty20 competitions. Ireland also play international cricket in the ICC Intercontinental Cup, which they have won four times since 2005, including the most recent competition in 2013.