THIS month brought Ireland the most exciting few weeks of bilateral cricket in their history. Yet Ireland were well-beaten in all five of their completed ODIs against England, Bangladesh and New Zealand; only against New Zealand in one game were Ireland well-placed for victory, before falling away.
Since the start of March, Ireland have played 12 ODIs, after years of pleading for more fixtures. Yet their team does not look any stronger at the end of this run than the start. The generation that sustained Irish cricket for so long looks exhausted. Kevin O’Brien was dropped for their las...